Many libraries seeking to protect user privacy find navigating vendor contracts and policies frustrating. Contract language can be opaque and obfuscate potential risks to users’ privacy, making it difficult for libraries to determine the level of privacy protection, or lack thereof, for patrons. Contract language can be opaque and obfuscate potential privacy risks. Libraries are often part of a procurement team, working with others in the institution who might not fully understand the priority importance of preserving privacy, and encounter barriers when advocating for privacy-conscientious vendor contract language

This webinar presents the Vendor Contract and Policy Rubric and discusses how attendees and their libraries can use the rubric to evaluate how well vendor platforms follow library privacy guidelines, standards, and best practices. In addition, the webinar discusses practical ways to use the rubric in advocating for privacy during vendor selection and contract negotiation. 

The Vendor Contract and Policy Rubric and related resources are available from the Licensing Privacy website (https://publish.illinois.edu/licensingprivacy/contracts/).