Privacy Statement

LIBRARY CHAT PRIVACY STATEMENT

Effective date: September 4, 2026

Our commitment. Library Chat is an educational support service. We collect and use information only as needed to provide, secure, improve, and support the service. We do not sell or rent personal information.

Information we collect

We may collect information you choose to provide, such as your name, email address, account details, questions, messages, uploaded materials, and feedback. When you use Library Chat, we may also collect limited technical information, including browser or device type, Internet Protocol (IP) address, referring page, dates and times of use, and security or error logs. Cookies or similar technologies may be used to keep the service working, remember preferences, and understand aggregate use.

How we use information

We use information to authenticate users; respond to questions; provide relevant educational support; maintain and improve features; protect the service against misuse; communicate about service-related matters; and comply with legal obligations. Library Chat is intended to support learning and connect users to appropriate resources; it is not a substitute for an instructor, advisor, counselor, or emergency service.

AI and submitted content

Questions and materials submitted to Library Chat may be processed by the technology services used to operate the app in order to generate a response. Do not submit passwords, Social Security numbers, financial-account data, medical information, grades, student records, or other sensitive personal information unless Library Chat has been expressly approved and configured by the responsible institution to handle that information. AI-generated responses may be incomplete or inaccurate and should be verified using authoritative sources or a qualified person.

Sharing and disclosure

We do not sell personal information. We may share information with authorized service providers that help operate, secure, or support Library Chat, but only for those purposes and subject to appropriate safeguards. We may disclose information when required by law, legal process, or to protect the rights, safety, security, or property of users, Library Chat, or others. We do not knowingly permit third parties to use personal information for their own marketing purposes.

Education records and institutional use

When Library Chat is used by or for an educational institution, the institution remains responsible for deciding what information may be provided to the service. Education records and personally identifiable student information must be handled in accordance with applicable law and institutional requirements, including FERPA where applicable. Institutional access is limited to authorized personnel with a legitimate educational or service-related need.

Security, retention, and your choices

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. No Internet service can guarantee absolute security. We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide the service, meet legal or operational requirements, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. You may request access, correction, deletion, or account assistance by contacting Library Chat through the contact method provided on edu-chat.org; some information may be retained where required or permitted by law.

Third-party links and policy updates

Library Chat may link to websites or services it does not control. Their privacy practices are governed by their own notices. We may update this statement as the service changes; the current version will be posted on edu-chat.org with a revised effective date.

This Library Chat statement is adapted from the principles in Florida Tech's Web Privacy Policy—voluntary disclosure, purpose-limited use, no sale of personal information, appropriate retention, and notice of third-party practices. It is not an official Florida Tech policy and should receive institutional/legal review before representing a Florida Tech service.