This policy covers the types of information that RegionalOneSource receives and collects about its clients and users and how RegionalOneSource treats personal information, including information related to past use of RegionalOneSource products and services.

Clients are subscribers to one or more RegionalOneSource products. A typical client is a public, university or school library, a for-profit or not-for-profit company, or a government agency. A typical user is a library cardholder or employee of a subscribing organization.

Information Gathered about Users

RegionalOneSource does not collect any of the following types of information from or about individual users in the normal course of use of its products:

Information Not Collected

• Name
• Address
• Phone number(s)
• Email address(es)
• Contact information of any other sort.

As a result, RegionalOneSource is generally unable to contact individual users of its products or to share contact information regarding users with other entities. Exceptions to this occur when a user submits a question or comment to RegionalOneSource, in which case the user is provided an opportunity to submit an email address to which a response is to be addressed (Note: anonymous comments are welcome).

RegionalOneSource does collect search-related information from users in the course of conducting their research. As users move from "page" to "page" in the process of conducting their search, they enter text phrases and/or make selections that the program must "remember" in order to create a data report that is responsive to their selections. In general, this information is lost once a user session has ended. The two primary exceptions to this are:

• When a user elects to "save their search" in order to recall it easily at a future time. In this case, users provide a username and password which is stored in our database and which they can use to retrieve their search selections and results. This information cannot be used by RegionalOneSource or by any third party to contact the user.
• On a random basis, information is sometimes gathered on text phrases that users enter and some of the selections that they make. This information is not linked to, and is not attributable to, any individual user. This information is stored in a RegionalOneSource database to enable RegionalOneSource to better understand usage patterns and to infer consumer demand. For example, we analyze the text search phrases that users enter so that we can understand the types of information that users are seeking, and so that we can, in turn, attempt to secure information that is responsive to that demand. We also measure the relative frequency of use of various report types, so that we will know which types of reporting are popular. This enables us to focus effort on enhancing the popular features of our reporting system.

This information is also used to develop statistics on session characteristics such as:

• frequency distribution of use, including frequency distribution of use by client,
• typical session duration, and frequency distribution of session duration,
• typical number of reports produced per session, and
• regions, and types of regions, most frequently searched, etc.

These statistics are used for various purposes, including product development, strategic planning, marketing and sales.

No statistics are produced about the use patterns of any single user. Only aggregate statistics are compiled for any purpose.

Information Gathered about Clients and Prospective Clients

RegionalOneSource collects client information that is needed for normal business purposes, such as billing and customer relations. This information is collected primarily via publicly available databases and personal contact, such as telephone conversations and email.

Information is also gathered from clients when they request a price quote or free trial account, including organization name, type of organization, address, phone, email addresses of the client's designated contact(s) and population served.

Some information is gathered when a prospective client accesses our web site via a marketing CD. This information is limited to IP address, if one is discernable, and date and time of access.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

RegionalOneSource updates this privacy policy from time to time and publishes the updated version at www.RegionalOneSource.com/PrivacyPolicy.asp. Updates supercede prior online and CD versions.

Questions and Suggestions

If you have questions or suggestions concerning our privacy policy, please complete a feedback form or contact us at:

REGIONALONESOURCE
PO BOX 32176
BALTIMORE, MD 21208
800-682-2250