# 2026-23010: NIH Updates Library Privacy Files, Somehow Without Extra Costs 2026-23010, Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records, is a Federal Register notice from Health and Human Services Department, National Institutes of Health published 2026-11-12, effective 2026-11-12; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-12). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23010 - As of: 2026-11-12 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-23010 - Title: Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records - Type: Notice - Agencies: Health and Human Services Department; National Institutes of Health - Citation: 91 FR 72884 - Published: 2026-11-12 - Effective: 2026-11-12 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-11-12 ## In one line NIH Updates Library Privacy Files, Somehow Without Extra Costs ## Summary The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is updating its Privacy Act system that manages library user records to keep things current and clear. These changes affect who’s covered, what info is kept, where it’s stored, and how long it’s kept. You’ve got until December 14, 2026, to share your thoughts, and no extra costs are involved—just smoother privacy rules for NIH library users! ## Abstract In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is publishing notice of modifications to an existing system of records maintained by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), "Administration: National Library of Medicine, User Services and Collection Division (NIH Library)," System No. 09-25-0005. The modifications affect the: System name, Routine uses, System location, System manager(s), Purpose of the system, Categories of individuals covered, Categories of records, Retention and disposal, Policies and practices for retrieval, and Record source categories. The changes to the System of Records Notice (SORN) are fully explained in the "Supplementary Information" section of this notice. ## Effects PRIA read - Authors added to covered individuals: mixed, low. The system now explicitly covers "authors and other responsible individuals associated with works in the NLM and NIH Library collections" — meaning people whose names appear in NIH or NLM catalogs, archival, or descriptive records are included. This change is part of the revisions published Novembe… - Types of records changed (photos removed): benefit, low. The categories of records were updated to add citation and bibliographic information for works and to remove record types that are no longer collected, specifically user codes and photographs. The change is part of the SORN modifications published November 12, 2026. - Records retention schedules updated: cost, low. Retention and disposal rules were updated: records are retained indefinitely pending National Archives approval; master bibliographic records are permanent and should be transferred to NARA when no longer needed; database change history and audit records are destroyed 10 years after superseded. The… - New breach disclosure routine uses; billing use removed: mixed, low. The SORN removes the routine use tied to billing because the NIH Library system no longer provides billing, and it explicitly includes HHS-wide Routine Uses (added in 2018) that allow disclosures to other agencies or entities to respond to suspected or confirmed breaches (e.g., Routine Uses describ… - Identity verification for record requests tightened: cost, low. To request notification or access to records, you must verify your identity by either providing a notarization of the request or a written certification that you are who you claim to be; the notice reiterates that knowingly requesting a record under false pretenses is a criminal offense subject to… ## Related documents - [2026-22871](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22871): Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings, 2026-11-10 - [2026-22558](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22558): Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings, 2026-11-05 - [2026-22550](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22550): Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings, 2026-11-05 - [2026-22339](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22339): Prospective Grant of Exclusive Patent License: Catheter-Based Intramyocardial Ablation for Treating Ventricular Arrhythmia in a Human, 2026-11-02 - [2026-22196](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22196): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Notice of Meeting, 2026-10-30 - [2026-22114](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22114): Fogarty International Center; Notice of Meeting, 2026-10-29 ## Sources - [2026-23010 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/11/12/2026-23010/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records) - [2026-23010 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-11-12/pdf/2026-23010.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-23009, Notice of OFAC Sanctions Action](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23009) - [Next: 2026-23011, Inventory of Mercury Supply, Use, and Trade in the United States 2026 Report; N…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23011) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-23010 (as of 2026-11-12).