Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy governs the manner in which the Belleville Area District Library (BADL) collects, uses, maintains, and discloses information collected from users of our website and digital services.

1. Personal Identification Information We collect personal identification information only if you voluntarily submit it (e.g., when applying for a library card online, submitting a contact form, or registering for an event). We treat all personally identifiable information regarding your library use as confidential under the Michigan Library Privacy Act (MCL 397.601 to 397.606). We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal identification information to others.

2. Non-Personal Identification Information & Analytics We may collect non-personal identification information whenever you interact with our site, such as the browser name, device type, and technical connection information. To do this, we use Matomo, a privacy-focused analytics tool configured strictly without tracking cookies and with anonymized IP addresses. We use this data solely to understand overall website trends and do not build profiles of individual visitors, follow you across other websites, or use advertising trackers.

3. Web Browser Cookies The Belleville Area District Library website (belleville.lib.mi.us) does not use cookies to track, record, or identify users. Please note that when you navigate away from our site to use third-party library services, those external platforms may deploy their own cookies to authenticate your session or operate their services.

4. How We Use Collected Information We collect and use personal information strictly for the following operational purposes:

To provide library services: Issuing your account and granting access to the catalog.
To respond to inquiries: Using your provided contact information to answer questions or feedback.
To send periodic library notices: Sending operational notifications regarding holds, due dates, or account status.

5. Law Enforcement & Legal Requests The Library will not disclose your personal library records to law enforcement, government agencies, or other third parties unless compelled by a properly executed court order, subpoena, or as otherwise strictly required by state or federal law.

6. Third-Party Services & Websites (Disclaimer of Liability) To provide digital collections and services, we utilize third-party vendors and our consortium network.

Primary Vendors: These include, but are not limited to, The Library Network (TLN), Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy.
Data Sharing: We transmit only the minimum data necessary (typically your library card number and PIN) to authenticate your access to their platforms.
Legal Disclaimer: We do not control the content, links, data collection, or cookie practices employed by these third-party platforms. Some vendors may collect your device information, reading history, and usage data for their own analytics or targeted advertising. By accessing these external apps or websites, you acknowledge that your activity is governed entirely by that specific vendor’s independent privacy policy and terms of service.

7. Changes to this Privacy Policy We have the discretion to update this privacy policy at any time. We encourage users to frequently check this page for any changes to stay informed.

8. Contacting Us If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact the Library Director at: Belleville Area District Library 167 Fourth Street, Belleville, MI 48111 (734) 699-3291 info@belleville.lib.mi.us