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Recommendation on Automatic Seating Ticket Dispenser at Public Libraries [2005] KRNHRC 14 (1 February 2005)

Public libraries adopted a new automatic system, called 'automatic seating ticket
dispenser.' But the new system required the library users to present their resident
registration number (RRN) to issue a seating ticket. People got to think that the
libraries collect private information excessively and filed petitions with the
administrators of the libraries many times to establish a privacy protection measure.
Public libraries, however, kept turning down the requests with an excuse to protect the
library facilities.

From July 2004 to February 2005, the Commission surveyed twenty one public
libraries which installed the automatic seating ticket dispenser system on the practices
of privacy protection As a result, it was revealed that the public libraries collected,
controlled, stored, and utilized citizens' personal information at their own discretion.
The Commission made recommendations to the Superintendent of the National Library
of Korea and the directors of the respective libraries as follows:
1) to seek alternative means to identify users instead of requiring the RRN only;
2) to remove unnecessary or unused CCTVs in the 14 libraries;
3) to establish and comply with internal regulations on operating the CCTV even before
the establishment of related legislation;
4) to stop monitoring the PC monitors that users are using at the digital resources room;
5) to seek an alternative method to replace RRN on a library card;
6) to revise the related legislation and regulations that unilaterally force responsibilities
and obligations on the library users to better protect privacy;
7) to make a privacy protection plan of Korean public libraries.