BiBottomBoy Posted August 29, 2011 Posted August 29, 2011 A library in London makes you tell them your sexual orientation and if you are HIV positive before they will give you a library card. Because, you know, that's really important to know before they lend you a copy of Game of Thrones. Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted August 29, 2011 Posted August 29, 2011 Oh my that's uncalled for. Why do they have to know? Quote
Guest Anton Posted August 29, 2011 Posted August 29, 2011 This sounds as a violation of the European Privacy Directive, which applies in the UK as well. One of the things the directive says is that an organisation can only collect data from individuals if there's a reasonable ground why they need that information. They must need the information to fulfill their services or if law demands that they ask the information. Unfortuntely, probably it takes someone to sue them before they'll stop doing it. LOL, or does the management of the library want to organise gay parties and they want to send out invitations? Sincerely, Anton. Quote
BiBottomBoy Posted August 30, 2011 Author Posted August 30, 2011 Maybe they are just bored that they've gone a full two weeks without riots? "No library card! No peace!" Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted August 31, 2011 Posted August 31, 2011 I didn't have to fill out any information like that when I got my library card in London. They just asked for my work permit number since I was an American in London and a local address/phone which I had of course. Quote
caeron Posted August 31, 2011 Posted August 31, 2011 Well, here it seems it is helpfulness run amok. http://jezebel.com/5835109/if-you-want-a-london-library-card-youre-going-to-need-to-answer-some-very-personal-questions They want to know so they can tailor library services and the like to their diverse audience. Quote
Members Lucky Posted August 31, 2011 Members Posted August 31, 2011 The library should be able to tell the needs for, say, gay books, from the demographics of the neighborhood. But somehow those demographics were collected by asking folks about these same questions. So, who should do the asking? Quote
BiBottomBoy Posted August 31, 2011 Author Posted August 31, 2011 And asking HIV status shouldn't have any impact on the types of books they stock at all. Quote
Members MsGuy Posted August 31, 2011 Members Posted August 31, 2011 And asking HIV status shouldn't have any impact on the types of books they stock at all. Might be used to justify a subscription to POZ magazine. Just saying. Quote
BiBottomBoy Posted August 31, 2011 Author Posted August 31, 2011 I'm guessing you wouldn't have to poll everyone who came in to know if POZ magazine would be of interest. Quote
