STELLA Privacy Policy
This privacy policy explains how our organization uses the personal data we collect from you when you use our website, the STELLA app, or borrow materials from a STELLA member library.
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STELLA does not sell, rent or otherwise distribute information to outside companies or organizations unless legally required to do so. For example, library records may be subject to disclosure to law enforcement officials under provisions of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act) and we may under some circumstances be forbidden from disclosing that certain records have been requested or obtained.
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A fundamental component of our privacy policy is maintaining the confidentiality of your use of library resources as protected in the New Jersey Library Confidentiality Act. Under this state law we may disclose your private data only under the following circumstances:
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The records are necessary for the proper operation of the library;
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Disclosure is requested by the user; or
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Disclosure is required pursuant to a subpoena issued by a court or court order.
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What data do we collect?
STELLA stores the data collected by your local library, or data collected when using our STELLA app, including:
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Personal identification information (Name, address, email address, phone number, etc.) needed to issue your library card
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Records of materials you use from the library including materials you physically checkout and the digital materials you use
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Your Internet Protocol (IP) address
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Information about the type of technology you use to interact with our services
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Date and time of your visit
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Pages that you viewed on our website
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Certain searches/queries that you conduct
If you are using a Library device, we may also record your Library barcode, time and length of your session, and the websites that you visited. If you are using a public Wi-Fi network, we may, in addition, also collect the MAC address and name of your Wi-Fi device.
Cookies: A cookie is a small amount of data, which often includes a unique identifier that is sent to your computer or mobile phone or device browser from a website’s computer and is stored on your device. Each website can send its own cookie to your browser if the browser preferences you have set allow it.
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STELLA uses cookies to verify that you are an authorized user in order to allow access to licensed library resources; to customize Web pages for your use; to help make our site more useful to visitors; and to learn about the number of visitors to our site and the types of technology our visitors use.
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You may set the preferences in your web browser to refuse cookies or to tell you when a cookie is being sent. This may result in an inability to access some library services from computers outside the library. Some of the information we collect is anonymized and used to develop an understanding of how our services are used and assist us in expanding or planning new services. In such cases all personally identifying data is removed and only aggregate data is retained.
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How do we collect your data?
You directly provide to your library most of the data we collect. We collect data when you:
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Register for a library card
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Checkout or use library materials
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Use or view our website via your browser’s cookies
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Use your library card to access a digital service like eLibraryNJ or Hoopla
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Use the STELLA app
How will we use your data?
STELLA collects your data so that we can:
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Manage the circulation of library materials
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Maintain records of fines and/or fees paid or owed by library patrons
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Authenticate your use of digital resources
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Customize your online library experience (primarily through the use of cookies which allow us to remember information so that you do not need to re-enter it every time you use our services)
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Make you aware of library services and programs
We protect personally identifiable information from unauthorized disclosure. Once it is no longer needed to manage library services, we regularly delete, purge, shred, or anonymize personally identifiable information about library users and their use of library resources. Our data retention policy is provided upon request. Library patrons may opt to have us retain data regarding library materials borrowed. Data retained at your request is subject to the same confidentiality protections as described above.
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Privacy policies of other websites
The STELLA website contains links to other websites. Our privacy policy applies only to our website, so if you click on a link to another website, you should read that web site’s privacy policy. STELLA provides access to 3rd party services such as eLibraryNJ, Hoopla and RB Digital Magazines. The information you submit to STELLA may be provided to those third parties on a confidential basis so they can assist us in providing these services. In cases where patrons leave STELLA’s website to visit one of these websites, you are encouraged to learn about the privacy policies of those websites.
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Changes to our privacy policy
STELLA keeps its privacy policy under regular review and places any updates on this web page. This privacy policy was last updated in April 2019.
How to contact us
If you have any questions about STELLA’s privacy policy or the data we manage please do not hesitate to contact us.
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Email us at: eric@stellanj.org
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Call us: (732) 633-0777, ask for Eric Lozauskas, Executive Director
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Or write to us at: STELLA, 27 Mayfield Ave., Edison, NJ 08837
Approved by the STELLA Board April 25, 2019
Reciprocal Borrowing Policy
The members of STELLA recognize that, through our shared library catalog, we have created a valuable regional resource of shared library materials and shared patrons. The capabilities of existing technology allow us to extend our collections and services in ways we could not have done individually.
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STELLA encourages its members to make their collections accessible to all member library patrons as fully as local conditions allow. STELLA members are expected to participate in our intra-library service where patrons may request to borrow materials from other member libraries. Delivery services move materials to the libraries of the requesting patrons.
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Additionally, to enhance the services available to our members, we agree to extend reciprocal borrowing privileges to resident library cardholders of all STELLA members. Notwithstanding existing reciprocal borrowing agreements, STELLA members agree to abide by the STELLA Reciprocal Borrowing Procedures which outlines both lending library and home library responsibilities.
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STELLA recognizes that from time to time our members may be temporarily unable to provide services to patrons from other libraries. At such times members are required to inform STELLA of the reasons for the service disruption and the schedule for resumption of full services. During such times we strongly encourage our members to place notices on their websites that services are limited to local patrons only.
Policy on Confidentiality
The legal custodian of records for the Sharing Technology Enhancing Local Library Access (STELLA) is the Executive Director. As the legal custodian of records, the Executive Director is the person responsible for responding to any request for library records or information about a library user.
The Executive Director may designate one or more library employees to serve as persons responsible for responding to any request for library records or information about a library user when the Executive Director is absent or unavailable.
The circulation and registration records of library users contained within the databases of the Consortium shall not be made available to any third party or any law enforcement agency of a local, state, or federal government except as provided for under law.
No STELLA employee or volunteer may release library records or reveal information about a library user to any third party or law enforcement agent unless authorized to do so by the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designated alternate. In all circumstances, without exception, employees and volunteers shall follow the procedures set forth in Internal Procedures for Requests for Library Records.
No Member Library employee or volunteer is authorized to release records or reveal information about another library’s user to any third party or law enforcement agent. Such requests should be referred to STELLA. Member Libraries are strongly encouraged to have their own policies and procedures in place to address requests for their own library users’ records.
Approved by the STELLA Board September 2007
Collection Development Policy on Artificial Intelligence (AI)
STELLA and its member libraries respect the intellectual property and creative capacity of human authors and creators. For this reason, libraries belonging to STELLA will make the best possible effort to not purchase works that are partially or wholly generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-generated audio versions of human-created works.
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When known, AI-generated content errantly added to the collection will be identified and labeled in the catalog record according to professional best practices and will be subject to the home library’s criteria for weeding. AI-generated content is created by computer models that generate text, images, audio, and other forms of data by studying the underlying patterns of source material and using it to produce new content. AI-assisted content is permitted in STELLA member libraries’ collections, subject to the libraries’ same collection criteria as wholly human-authored works. AI- assisted content is defined as work that is written by a human who uses AI tools to edit, refine, or proofread the work.
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Approved by STELLA membership March 2026