Last reviewed: October 2, 2025
Your privacy while using the UC Irvine Libraries website and services is an important element of intellectual and academic freedom. UC Irvine Libraries are committed to protecting the privacy of our library users. Our policies also support the California Digital Libraries (CDL) commitment to user privacy and the precepts of confidentiality described in the Code of Ethics of the American Library Association (ALA), which states that "We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted."
Confidentiality of Library Records
In the course of providing services, such as UC Library Search, Interlibrary Loan, and Reference services, the Libraries acquire personally identifiable information about you, including your name, university ID, and items borrowed. When it is necessary for the Libraries to identify users in the course of normal library business, it is our goal to keep personal information for the shortest amount of time necessary to complete transactions or provide service. Access to personal information is restricted to authorized library staff who need it to conduct library business. Personal information is never revealed to external parties unless required by law and never used for commercial purposes. The Libraries adhere to the UC Irvine Guidelines for the UC Electronic Communications Policy and campus policies regarding Privacy and Access to Information.
Library Search
In order for the UC Irvine community to conduct business with the Libraries (e.g., library circulation records, "My Library Account" portal service, and interlibrary loan requests), the Libraries maintain a user database in the UC Library Search that stores personal information. Transaction records are deleted from UC Library Search system after each transaction is completed. Inactive user records are periodically removed from the user database. The Libraries use the information in your user record only to interact with and provide service to you (e.g., fulfilling interlibrary borrowing requests, placing holds, and collecting overdue fines). Browsing UC Library Search to look up titles and check book and journal locations does not require any personal information from you.
Ask a Librarian Reference Services
The Libraries continually strive to improve our services. As part of this effort, we may use your questions and transcripts from our interactions for research and library employee training purposes. UCI uses Springshare's LibAnswers software for Email and Chat. Please see their privacy statement.
UC Irvine Libraries Websites
UC Irvine Libraries routinely collect information to help us manage the site and improve service. Examples of such information collected and stored by the UC Irvine Libraries website include
- Internet address (approximate location/domain and IP address)
- Type of browser and operating system used to access our site
- Date and time our site was visited
- Pages visited on our site
- Search terms used on our search engines
The Libraries' websites link to internet sites and services outside the administrative domain of the UC Irvine Libraries and the University of California, Irvine. The privacy practices of external websites are not governed by the UC Irvine Libraries. Users should read the privacy statements at these sites to determine their practices.