WTOL.com, Toledo's News Leader, News 11 | ALERT -- Social security numbers found in area library books
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Posted by Nick Dutton - email
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTOL) -
Folks have been warned about not giving out personal information, but never knew an old library book could hold clues to their identities.
At the University of Toledo, books from the 1980s and 90s with readers' social security numbers may still be in circulation.
Today, when UT students check out a book, their Rocket Cards are swiped and tracked by a number chosen by the university. But in previous decades, many libraries simply used the pockets in the back of books. Students and faculty would put their name and sometimes, their social security number, on the cards.
The university recently discovered books in circulation with borrowers' personal information. “We are hoping there's only a few. Yes that's right,” said Associate Dean of Libraries Marcia Suter.
However, it only took a couple of minutes to locate a book with a social security number in the sciences section of the Carlson Library. Social security numbers were listed right next to the borrowers’ names.
WTOL-News 11 first learned about this from a local woman whose son checked out this book from one of UT's libraries. On one of the books was a card with the name and social security number of one of her former professors.
Suter says there's no way UT can go through all two million volumes of books to root them out, so circulation staff is pulling the cards out and shredding them, whenever one comes to the counter.
That way, they don't fall into hands of identity thieves. “It's a sad commentary on society today and we do everything we can to eliminate the problem,” said Suter.
Current students are relieved that new technology has replaced the cards.
“I don't want anyone with my information. I didn't know they used to take things like that,” said senior Sam Watts.
“There are a lot of people that try to do that kind of thing -- just to make a quick buck off somebody. So I think the people should be worried,” said sophomore Kyle Maloy.
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