Search Data Privacy in Academic Libraries: Qualitative Perspectives of Members of Marginalized Groups

Abstract

This article examines undergraduate students’ attitudes towards search data privacy
in academic libraries, with a focus on the experiences and perspectives of members
of underrepresented groups. Using the qualitative framework of interpretive
description and constant comparative analysis, 27 undergraduate students at Virginia
Commonwealth University—an urban research institution in the southeastern
region of the United States—were interviewed. Most students were comfortable
with search data collection if it benefited them; however, a notable number of those
who opposed it expressed strong concerns about potential harm to vulnerable or
underrepresented groups. These privacy concerns were primarily voiced by members
of marginalized groups, emphasizing the importance of considering student
perspectives, especially those who may be most vulnerable to adverse effects of
data use as academic libraries increasingly employ learning analytics and individuallevel
data. The purpose of this article is to amplify those voices