1998 Minnesota Statutes

     13.40 Library and historical data. 

    Subdivision 1.    Records subject to this chapter.  (a) 
 For purposes of this section, "historical records repository" 
 means an archives or manuscript repository operated by any state 
 agency, statewide system, or political subdivision whose purpose 
 is to collect and maintain data to further the history of a 
 geographic or subject area.  The term does not include the state 
 archives as defined in section 138.17, subdivision 1, clause (5).

    (b) Data collected, maintained, used, or disseminated by a 
 library or historical records repository operated by any state 
 agency, political subdivision, or statewide system shall be 
 administered in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. 

    Subd. 2.    Private data; library borrowers.  (a) Except 
 as provided in paragraph (b), the following data maintained by a 
 library are private data on individuals and may not be disclosed 
 for other than library purposes except pursuant to a court order:

    (1) data that link a library patron's name with materials 
 requested or borrowed by the patron or that link a patron's name 
 with a specific subject about which the patron has requested 
 information or materials; or 

    (2) data in applications for borrower cards, other than the 
 name of the borrower. 

    (b) A library may release reserved materials to a family 
 member or other person who resides with a library patron and who 
 is picking up the material on behalf of the patron.  A patron 
 may request that reserved materials be released only to the 
 patron. 

    Subd. 3.    Nongovernmental data.  Data held in the 
 custody of a historical records repository that were not 
 originally created, received, maintained, or disseminated by a 
 state agency, statewide system, or political subdivision are not 
 government data.  These data are accessible to the public unless:

    (1) the data are contributed by private persons under an 
 agreement that restricts access, to the extent of any lawful 
 limitation; or 

    (2) access would significantly endanger the physical or 
 organizational integrity of the data. 

    HIST: 1980 c 603 s 21; 1981 c 311 s 39; 1982 c 545 s 6,24; 
 1991 c 319 s 3; 1992 c 499 art 10 s 1; 1996 c 440 art 1 s 7