Download our App on
Privacy Information
The Kenosha Public Library is committed to protecting individual privacy and securing the personal information made available to us when you visit mykpl.info, our official social media pages, or use our digital partners. This page provides links to resources that describe what information is made available to the Kenosha Public Library and how that information is used and retained.
Library Computers & WiFi
The Kenosha Public Library understands that for many people, library computers are the only way to connect to the digital world. According to the 2020 census, ~17% of the residents within the City of Kenosha lack access to high-speed internet and a home computer. While no computer system is 100% secure, to help ensure your digital privacy and online security, KPL has taken the following actions:
- Installed "reboot to restore" software on all public computers. All personal information, logins, and any installed software are wiped from the computer when it's rebooted.
- Installed and maintain anti-malware software on library-owned computers.
- Ensured that all network traffic on library-owned computers is encrypted from point of origin to its final destination (aka end-to-end encryption).
- Encrypted the data on all servers, staff workstations, and staff laptops.
- Disabled all unused physical networking ports.
In addition, we are in the development of a fully secure WiFi network for patrons. In the future, patrons will be able to connect to the Library's wireless network via their library card number to have a more secure connection at every library location.
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)
The Kenosha Public Library uses Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), opens a new window for inventory control and systems automation. This system uses tags to help with:
- Checking out of items;
- Checking in and sorting returned items (such as the automated returns system at Northside); and
- Allowing staff to conduct quicker inventories of items on the shelves.
The tags are encoded with only the item's barcode number and do not contain any personal information or other identifying information. With this system in place, the library has been able to retrain and deploy staff to other functions such as the bookmobiles, adult & youth events, and home delivery services.
Visits to MyKPL.info
When you visit mykpl.info, the following basic information is automatically received and stored by the web servers hosting mykpl.info:
- The originating Internet Protocol (IP) address;
- The internet domain name;
- Information about your computer or mobile set-up (e.g., type and version of web browser, operating system, screen resolution, and connection speed);
- The pages on mykpl.info that you visit; and
- The internet address, or URL, of the website that connected you to our site, if you accessed mykpl.info via a link on another page (e.g., “referral traffic”).
The Kenosha Public Library also uses web measurement and customization technologies (such as “cookies”). You can choose not to accept cookies from any website, including mykpl.info, by changing your browser settings.
The Kenosha Public Library maintains official pages or accounts on third-party websites in order to better engage with patrons. Your activity on those sites is governed by the third-party website’s security and privacy policies. Users of third-party sites often share information with the general public, user community, and/or the third party operating the site. Consequently, you should review the privacy policies of third-party sites (listed below) before using them and ensure that you understand how your information may be shared and used. You should also adjust privacy settings on your account on any third-party site to match your preferences.
To comply with Wisconsin Open Records laws, the Kenosha Public Library may archive information that users submit or publish when engaging with the library through official pages or accounts on third-party websites (e.g., by sending a message, posting a comment, “following,” “friending,” or taking similar actions). This information may contain personal information, such as an individual’s username and other public account information, when such information is available based on the user’s privacy settings and the terms of the site.
For aggregate statistical analysis and to improve the quality of our services, we may integrate web measurement tools with our social media pages. These tools enable a basic analysis of social media traffic (such as the number of people visiting a certain page) and do not collect personally identifiable information.
| Youtube | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| @mykpl.info | @mykpl | @mykpl | @KenoshaPublicLibrary | @mykpl |
| Privacy Policy | Privacy Policy | Privacy Policy | Privacy Policy | Privacy Policy |
eMail Subscriptions
In order to manage the Kenosha Public Library email subscription lists, we retain the names and email addresses of our email subscribers, logs of emails we send, and automatically generated email data used to improve our email communications. This automatically generated email data (generated through simple tools such as “pixel tags” and link redirects) includes:
- The recipient’s email client;
- Whether the email was opened;
- If a link in the message was clicked; and
- Whether an email was delivered;
If, at any time, you wish to stop receiving our messages, simply click on the “Unsubscribe” link at the bottom of each email message.
How Information is Used
The Kenosha Public Library may use the information provided via contact forms or during registration to contact you, respond to your message, or provide you with the information or services you requested. In order to serve you better, we may analyze multiple sources of data you have provided (for example, to look up whether you previously contacted the library about the same topic so that we do not send you a duplicative response). We may also use messages, comments, or usage statistics collected through mykpl.info, the SHARE catalog, or official social media pages for our own purposes, such as to inform library collection decisions or in public advocacy.
We may use data you provide and automatically generated data for statistical analysis to assess, for example, what information is of interest to users, technical design specifications, and system performance. This allows us to make general improvements to our site as well as to offer tailored content to email subscribers (e.g., a newsletter to subscribers interested in a specific topic based on information they have provided or automatically generated data).
Digital Partners
| Resource Name | Resource Use | Contract Type | Privacy Policy Link |
| Access Newspaper Archive | Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers | KCLS | |
| Ancestry.com | Genealogy Research | KCLS | |
| ePRINTit | Secure, wireless & remote printing | KCLS | |
| Hoopla | eBooks, eAudiobooks, streaming & music | KCLS | |
| NewsBank | Archive of Southeast Wisconsin Newspapers | KCLS | |
| Pronunciator | Online Language Learning Platform | KCLS | |
| UW Digital Collections | Archive of local, historical images | KCLS | |
| ValueLine | Investment Research | KCLS | |
| BiblioCommons | Library Website, Event Management, Catalog | KPL | |
| Foundations in Wisconsin | Grant Research | KPL | |
| Google Workspace | Library Staff cloud-based productivity and collaboration | KPL | |
| NuWav Legal | Legal Documents | KPL | |
| OrangeBoy | Library Newsletter & Customer Intelligence Platform | KPL | |
| Reference Solutions | Business Research | KPL | |
| SpringShare | Library Room Booking & Appointment Scheduling Software | KPL | |
| LinkedIn Learning | Online Learning Platform | SHARE | |
| SirsiDynix | Track items owned, orders made, bills paid, patron contact information, and patrons who have items checked-out | SHARE | |
| BadgerLink | Compilation of Online Resources | State | |
| Beanstack | Reading program management system | State | |
| Overdrive/Libby | eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines | State |
Term Glossary
State
State contracts are negotiated by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction or the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium to ensure the best discount possible and that all public libraries within Wisconsin will have a standard level of access to online resources.
SHARE
The SHARE Consortium (or, “SHARE”) is an automation and resource-sharing partnership. Membership may include public libraries, individual K-12 schools, school districts, and other types of agencies. Cost reduction and resource sharing are the primary benefits to the partnership. This partnership consists of public libraries in the Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, and Rock counties plus the Waterford High School library. Contracts are negotiated by the Director of the Lakeshores Library System, who also acts as the Director of the SHARE Consortium, and are approved by the SHARE Directors' Counsel.
KCLS
The Kenosha County Library System (KCLS) is an agency of Kenosha County established according to Chapter 43 of the Wisconsin Statutes to provide for the extension and improvement of library services throughout the county. It is governed by a 7 member board appointed by the County Executive. KCLS carries out its objectives through service contracts with the Kenosha Public Library and the Community Library, the 2 public libraries in the county. Contracts are negotiated by Kenosha Public Library's Digital Strategies Librarian & Division Head of Support Services and are approved by the KCLS Director.
KPL
The Kenosha Public Library (KPL) is a public library that serves the City of Kenosha and consists of 4 locations plus a fleet of 3 bookmobiles. The Kenosha Public Library is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Mayor of Kenosha and approved by the City Council. The Board is composed of 9 members, 8 City of Kenosha residents, with no more than 2 being from surrounding municipalities, and 1 representative of the Kenosha Unified School District. Contracts are negotiated by various library staff members and are approved by the Library Director.
Social Media