Original Question June 20, 2013

Joyce Chapman (NC)

The definition says “files should have been purged within the past three (3) years.” What’s the definition of “purged”? You get rid of everyone who… what? Hasn’t used the card in X amount of time? What is X?

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SDC Comments

Michael Golrick (LA)

I interpret that somewhat loosely (and wish that more of my libraries were more diligent). As a director, we used to purge those who had no activity over the past three years and who did not have any outstanding items or fines. One library (in Wisconsin), had a one year renewal period for library cards. That partly related to the county reimbursement/aid formula. Staff at that library had plat books behind the desk to double check addresses and coded them in the proper community. Those patron records were wonderfully up to date.

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Diana Very (GA)

Many libraries flag patrons who have not had their home addresses verified within a specific amount of time. Those patrons who have not visited the library within that specific time to validate their home address will be taken out of the active patron list. This question suggests that the patron list would be purged of inactive patrons within a three year timeframe. Whether an inactive list is kept by the library information system would be determined by the library system. Some libraries may destroy library records for a patron that has not visited within a specific time period.
That's my view of the question.