In this Privacy Statement, “HOLLIS” refers only to the HOLLIS application managed by Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT).
See Privacy, Terms of Use & Copyright Information for a statement of Harvard Library’s general privacy practices.
Users
This Privacy Statement applies to all users of the HOLLIS application with HOLLIS user accounts, regardless of relationship to Harvard.
Information Gathering
The personal information about users that may be accessed by Harvard in connection with providing HOLLIS includes:
- HUID, name, email address, phone, and campus address
- Faculty/student/staff/other Harvard affiliation and status
- Records of searches and of resources consulted or borrowed
Personal information accessible by Harvard through HOLLIS also includes data related to use of the HOLLIS application.
Through HOLLIS, Harvard may also obtain log files of the IP addresses and browsers of computers accessing the application and the pages visited.
Other Policy on Access to Content
University access to content that Harvard users may create, transmit and store when using HOLLIS is governed by the University Policy on Access to Electronic Information (PDF).
Use of Information
The personal information that can be compiled by Harvard in connection with providing HOLLIS is used to authorize, enable and support access to Harvard Library resources. This information may also be used for application analytics, improvements, and to integrate with University teaching and learning initiatives.
Harvard may review users’ IP addresses and data on the files and resources they access to administer HOLLIS and to provide technical support and help diagnose problems. Harvard may use and retain email or other communications to staff in order to process inquiries, respond to requests, and improve services.
Other uses of personal information by Harvard are described in other parts of this Privacy Statement.
Sharing of Information
HOLLIS is provided and hosted by the third-party vendor Ex Libris. Data related to use of the HOLLIS application and identifiers and other information about a user’s Harvard affiliation and status may be released by Harvard to Ex Libris or accessible to Ex Libris in connection with providing the application, to enable individuals’ use of the application. This may include log files of the IP addresses and browsers of computers accessing the application and the pages visited. Ex Libris may also have access to other personal data provided by users in the course of their use of the application. For more information on Ex Libris’s use of data see the Ex Libris privacy policy on the Ex Libris Group website.
HOLLIS also contains links to other websites.
There are third-party services integrated with HOLLIS that support and facilitate searches for and access to Harvard Library resources. Such services may have access to personal data provided by users in the course of their use of HOLLIS.
Each such website and third-party service may have its own privacy policy. Harvard is not responsible for the privacy practices of such third parties or websites, or for the content of such websites.
Other sharing of personal information by Harvard is described in other parts of this Privacy Statement.
In addition, Harvard may share and disclose personal information if Harvard believes that doing so is necessary or appropriate to: satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request; investigate compliance with or enforce this Privacy Statement or any acceptable use policy for HOLLIS; detect, prevent or otherwise address fraud, security or technical issues; or protect, defend or enforce the operations, property, rights and safety of users, Harvard, Harvard affiliates, or others.
Cookies and Related Technologies
Harvard may use cookies and related technologies (“Cookies”) may be used in HOLLIS to gather information when users navigate through HOLLIS, in order to enhance and personalize the experience, to help provide services available through HOLLIS, to analyze application usage, and to help improve the application and related services. To find out more about cookies, visit www.internetcookies.org.
Some third parties may also embed Cookies in the HOLLIS application to collect information about user online activities over time and across different websites that users may visit. This information may be used by third parties to provide advertising tailored to user interests on other websites, apps and services that users visit.
You can review your Internet browser settings, typically under the sections “Help” or “Internet Options,” to exercise choices you have for certain Cookies or you can opt out of the collection and use of some Cookies through tools like the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page. Such opt-outs may not work for all browsers or devices. If you disable or delete certain Cookies in your settings, you may not be able to use features of HOLLIS.
See Privacy, Terms of Use & Copyright Information for information on Harvard Library’s use of Google Analytics.
Information Protection
There are security measures in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of the personal information under Harvard’s control. No data transmission, processing, sharing or storage by any party can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Contact Information
Please contact lts-support@harvard.edu with any questions or concerns about this Privacy Statement.
Users Located Outside the U.S.
If you are located outside the United States, please click here for additional Harvard privacy disclosures that may apply to you.
Changes to this Privacy Statement
This Privacy Statement may be amended from time to time. Any such changes will be posted on this page. This Privacy Statement was last updated on September 14, 2022.