User privacy and data protection practices in academic libraries: A case study of Makerere University Library

Abstract

The study examined the user privacy and data protection practices in academic libraries using Makerere University as the area of study. The objectives were; to establish what kind of user data is collected and handled by academic libraries, to identify the measures in place to ensure user privacy and data protection in academic libraries, to identify the challenges faced by academic libraries in the promotion of user privacy and data protection and to establish the academic library users’ perceptions in regards to collection and use of their personal data. The population of this study comprised of the library staff and the online library users. The study adopted a case study design using a mixed method approach. Convenience and census sampling techniques were used to obtain samples for the study. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the library users and interviews were used to obtain data from the library staff. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS Version 20 software, while qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The study established that the user data collected and handled academic libraries includes name, email, faculty, contact, registration number, age and title of the user. Use of firewalls and proxy systems, an ICT team, google docs and strong passwords were the established measures to ensure user privacy and data protection. The identified challenges in ensuring user privacy and data protection included network connectivity and electricity challenges, server failures, unreliable data backup systems, inadequate skills in the use of technologies and poor attitudes to change. The study recommends that academic library staff extend efforts to increase awareness of user privacy and data protection to the library users, academic libraries to come up with documented user privacy and data protection guidelines and LIS training institutions should integrate data management in their curriculum.