Generally, anyone can visit the Richmond Hill Public Library's Web site without revealing any personal information. There are times, however, when information needs to be collected. Personal information like your name and e-mail address is obtained only when voluntarily submitted, like when you use the Ask a Librarian online reference service. Information that you supply relates to the customer relationship the Library has with you or your organization.

Like many organizations, the Richmond Hill Public Library monitors Web site traffic information using log files on its Web site server. The purpose of this is to keep track of how many visitors come to the Web site a day, the time of day they visit, and how long they visit. This information is then analyzed and can result in changes to the Web site content and navigation in order to ensure it meets the needs of libary users.

Should the Library receive personal information contained in e-mail correspondence, the Library restricts access to any personal information collected on the Web site to designated employees of the Library that require this information in order to fulfill their assigned duties and formulate responses to the e-mail(s) received.

The Library does not share or sell any personal information gathered from this Web site, including e-mail addresses, with any other organizations or government departments, subject to law.

The Richmond Hill Public Library complies with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act.

The privacy statement outlined in this section only applies to the Library's Web site www.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca and does not apply to any other Web sites that appear as links and are not managed by the Richmond Hill Public Library. For these, you may wish to view their individual Webs site's privacy statement before browsing through the site.

The Library is concerned about the security of your information. To prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the appropriate use of information, all reasonable physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information collected online have been put in place.

There are various technologies, including one called "cookies," which can be used to provide tailored information from a Web site. A cookie is an element of data that a Web site can send to your browser, which may then store it on your system. Some Library pages use cookies or other technologies so that we can better serve you when you return to our site. Cookies do not allow for the collection of personal information about any Web site visitor. You can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, giving you the chance to decide whether to accept it. For more information, please refer to user information provided with your Web browser.

By using the Library's Web site, you signify your acceptance to this Privacy Statement. If the Library updates or changes this Privacy Statement, the changes will be made on this page. Your continued use of this Web site following the posting of changes to this Privacy Statement will mean you accept those changes.