Libraries

Research Panel Privacy & Security

We are committed to the privacy and security of our users.

The Research Panel is unobtrusive, easy to deactivate and remove, and does not collect or transmit any personal information from your computer. The panel does only what it's supposed to do: help you use the library website (and related resources/services) more effectively.

The research panel DOES NOT:

  • spy on your browsing habits
  • transfer or collect any personally identifiable information such as a name or an email address (though it does direct you to secure (https) library webpages that may ask you to provide such information for authentication purposes)
  • launch pop-ups or advertisements
  • modify pages you visit
  • block uninstallation. The panel can be removed in seconds with the standard browser uninstaller

The research panel DOES:

  • use standard Google Analytics services to anonymously track generic panel usage in the aggregate (e.g., we collect "how many times [in total] all users click the panel's "Search WestCat" button")
  • open browser tabs in your main browser window to display your search results