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Greetings LM_Netters, I am a future school media specialist currently working on my MLS, not in the trenches yet, still trying to sort out how my particular = contribution to the profession will take shape. I've been lurking for several months = now, and this is my first attempt at a post, so I am really nervous. =20 Please bear with me if I sound na=EFve or just plain ignorant. =20 I am researching the issue of student patron privacy, partly for my own=20 edification, but also for a small research assignment. I am familiar = with=20 and understand the ALA position on student privacy and its implications=20 for automated circulation records, dealing with overdue notices, etc. =20 It is my understanding that our ethical position is based on our=20 Constitution through the ALA Library Bill of Rights and its = Interpretations. =20 Here is my dilemma. In support of our professional ethics position, I am trying to find legal justification for refusing to show parents = their=20 children's circulation history. I have searched Academic Premier and=20 ERIC on EBSCOhost, FirstGov, LexisNexis Academic, and the OIF=20 on the ALA website, but so far legal support for that stand eludes me. =20 I've searched on ["student privacy" AND schools], "freedom of=20 information", "parental rights", FERPA, and a couple of other=20 keyword combinations that went nowhere. =20 What I've found is that according to FERPA, parents do indeed=20 have full access to student educational records. In fact, parents can=20 control who sees those records outside the educational context. =20 Am I totally misunderstanding this law, or missed something important? =20 If it boils down to a definition of what constitutes student educational = records, is there some legal precedence for us to stand on? Or a court case on the interpretation of the right to privacy? Just as a special = ed=20 IEP cannot override US and international copyright laws, I do not see=20 how a profession's code of ethics can override the requirements of=20 FERPA. So, I must be missing at least one key piece to the puzzle,=20 maybe several! =20 =20 I respect the collective wisdom and knowledge of this group. I would really value any insights and clues you all could share with me. = =20 Please respond to me privately, let me know if you do not want your reply to be public, and I will attempt to figure out how to post a HIT.=20 If I can use your comments in my assignment, I will contact you=20 for permission. =20 Many, many TIA, Susie Steeves "Librarian in Training" University of North Texas Denton ssteeves@1scom.net=20 =20 -------------------------------------------------------------------- All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/ LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------