Q. Are questions that I ask at the Research Help Desk confidential?
However you choose to contact us, if you ask a question to a research services worker, your question is confidential.
We will not share your question or name without your permission, although we may ask our team members to collaborate with us to give you the best support possible.
This is in line with our professional standards from the Reference and User Services Association from the American Library Association:
"3.1.10 Respects patron privacy; maintains confidentiality after the transaction."
Limits of privacy
One exception to this standard is if you or another person appears to be in danger.
If you contact us via email, we keep our conversation with you in our email archive. For Ask a Librarian chat transactions, your IP address is recorded in the password protected chat archive, as well as any personally identifiable information that you choose to share.