Interesting one.  I have a tiny book, given to me by the European
Parliament:

Article 8: Protection of personal data
(2) Such data must be processed fairly, for specified purposes and on the
basis of the consent of the person concerned or some other legitimate
purpose, laid down by law.

I can't see in my tiny book anything that you have done which is against the
Human Rights Act, especially as they gave their consent in signing the
agreement as part of the library rules of registration.  (Under the above,
Article 8.

I would also argue that the spirit of the law does not infer greater rights
upon one individual than any other - ie by keeping the book overdue, in
contravention of the library rules - to which the person has signed
agreement, they are depriving others of the right to use that material in
the furtherance of their professional and working life.  The library is  (I
think) right in insisting that all members are treated equally and that no
one person can take precedence over others.

'Course, I am not a lawyer!

Suggest it is the usual aggrieved hissy fit, because they want to behave
like a spoilt child and have all the jelly babies to themselves....try to
scare the poor and perceivedly defenceless librarians into giving them what
they are demanding...

Best wishes
Diane

Diane Pritchatt
Senior Information Professional
NHS Blood and Transplant
Vincent Drive
Edgbaston
BIRMINGHAM
B15 2SG

Tel: 0121 254 0512
Fax: 0121 254 0516



-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Woodley Zena (RQ8) Mid
Essex Hospital
Sent: 29 May 2007 11:31
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Human rights and overdues


Suggest you respond that anyone so quick to cite "hooman rites" ought
also to be aware of human responsibilities.

And of course you didn't.  Probably means that she's in trouble for
something else, & this was an added reminder to the manager!

Cheers - Zena
Zena Woodley B.A.(Joint Hons), MCLIP
Library Resources Manager
The Warner Library
Broomfield Hospital
Chelmsford CM1 7ET
T: 01245-514310
e : [log in to unmask]



-----Original Message-----
From: UK medical/ health care library community / information workers
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Charlotte Boulnois
Sent: 28 May 2007 11:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [LIS-MEDICAL] Human rights and overdues


Hi all

We've just had a user in stating that because, after numerous attempts
to contact her, I copied an overdue letter to her boss asking the boss
to contact the person, I contravened her human rights. I must admit,
that after I took my jaw off the floor, I pointed out that we had
lettered her at both ward and home address, that the book was a weekly
loan which was 6 months overdue and she had signed our membership form
which stated that she agreed to abide by our rules and regs - one of
which is that we reserve the right to contact people's line managers in
these cases. I also told her that when we give out the membership form
she would have been asked for a line manager countersignature and why (
to cover us for just such an eventuality). Anyway she went away having
paid the fine, but it got me thinking, did she have a case ?

I looked up the convention and there is 


RIGHT TO RESPECT FOR PRIVATE AND FAMILY LIFE 1. Everyone has the right
to respect for his private and family life, his home and his
correspondence.

However further on in this article it states
There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise
of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is
necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security,
public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the
prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals,
or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Does this mean that she contravened others' human rights by depriving
them of the right and freedom to borrow the overdue book, or that I had
the right to contravene this article as I was trying to prevent a crime
(theft of hospital property) So what does everyone think ? Did my
contacting and informing her boss of her overdue contravene her human
rights?

Charlotte



Charlotte Boulnois 
Library Services Manager 
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Acute Services Division (South) Central
Library 
Southern General Hospital 
1345 Govan Rd 
Glasgow 
G51 4TF 
Tel :- 0141 201 2163 
Fax:- 0141 201 2057 



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