Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you use GirqOn, we may collect the following information.

Account Information

When you create or use your GirqOn account, we may collect information such as:

• First and last name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Account credentials
• Preferred language
• Other information required by the library to maintain your reader account

Library Activity

When you use library services through GirqOn, we may process information related to your activity, including:

• Books currently borrowed
• Borrowing and return dates
• Expected return dates
• Borrowing history
• Extension requests and their status
• Overdue returns
• Book condition or return-related information
• Notes associated with library operations or your reader account

This information is used to operate library services and maintain accurate borrowing records.

Face Recognition Information

Participating libraries may use a dedicated face recognition device to identify registered readers during in-person library operations.

Face recognition is not the same as Face ID or other biometric authentication provided by your mobile phone.

During initial setup, a library employee may help associate your face profile with your GirqOn library account. On future visits, the library’s face recognition system may use this profile to identify your account when processing library operations such as borrowing books.

Because facial recognition information may constitute biometric or otherwise sensitive personal data, it is used only for library identification and related operational purposes.

GirqOn does not use facial recognition information for advertising, profiling for marketing purposes, or sale to third parties.

The exact technical processing and storage of facial recognition information may depend on the recognition equipment and infrastructure used by the participating library.

Book NFC Information

Physical books may contain NFC tags that allow library employees to identify individual book copies.

NFC tags are attached to books, not users.

When an employee scans a book, GirqOn may record information such as the book copy identifier and the associated borrowing or return transaction.

Device and Technical Information

When you use the GirqOn application, we may collect limited technical information necessary to operate, secure, diagnose, and improve the service. This may include:

• Device type and operating system
• Application version
• Technical logs and error information
• IP address or similar network information
• Notification-related identifiers

The exact information collected may depend on the features and service providers used by GirqOn.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to provide and manage library services, including to:

• Create and maintain your GirqOn account
• Identify you during library visits
• Process book borrowing and returns
• Display your currently borrowed books
• Calculate and display return dates
• Process extension requests
• Maintain borrowing history
• Identify overdue books
• Maintain library operational records
• Send reminders and service notifications
• Help library employees assist readers
• Maintain security and prevent misuse
• Diagnose technical problems
• Improve GirqOn and library operations

We do not sell users’ personal information.

3. Notifications

If you enable notifications, GirqOn may send notifications related to your library activity, such as:

• Upcoming return dates
• Overdue books
• Extension request decisions
• Important account or library updates

You can control application notification permissions through your device settings.

4. Who Can Access Your Information

Access to personal information is limited according to the user’s role and operational need.

Authorized library employees may access information necessary to provide library services, such as your account information, current loans, borrowing history, overdue status, extension requests, and relevant library notes.

Authorized administrators may access information necessary to administer the GirqOn system and participating libraries.

Technical service providers may process limited information where necessary to host, maintain, secure, or operate GirqOn.

We do not provide personal information to third parties for their independent advertising or marketing purposes.

5. Sharing of Information

We may share or disclose information:

• With the library responsible for providing services to you
• With service providers necessary to operate GirqOn
• When required by applicable law, regulation, court order, or lawful government request
• When reasonably necessary to protect the security, integrity, or rights of GirqOn, participating libraries, or users

Service providers should only process information for the purposes for which they have been engaged.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide library services, maintain required library records, comply with applicable legal obligations, resolve disputes, and protect the security of the service.

Different categories of information may have different retention periods.

For example, borrowing records may need to be retained as part of the library’s operational history even after a particular loan has been completed.

Face recognition information should be retained only while it is required for the identification service or where retention is otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Where appropriate, information may be deleted or anonymized when it is no longer required.

7. Security

We take reasonable administrative, organizational, and technical measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, loss, or destruction.

Access to administrative and employee functionality is restricted to authorized users.

However, no electronic system or method of storing or transmitting information can guarantee absolute security.

8. Your Rights

Depending on applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information held about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of certain personal information
• Ask questions about how your information is processed
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Request that your face recognition profile be removed or disabled, where applicable

Some information may need to be retained where required by law or where it is necessary to maintain legitimate library records.

Requests regarding your personal information can be submitted using the contact information below.

9. Face Recognition and Alternative Identification

Face recognition is intended to simplify identification during library visits.

Where required by applicable law or library policy, users should be informed about the use of face recognition before enrollment and any required consent should be obtained.

If a user does not wish to use face recognition or requests removal of their face profile, the library may provide an alternative method of identifying the user’s account where operationally available.

Removing a face recognition profile does not necessarily require deletion of the user’s GirqOn account or borrowing history.

10. Children’s Privacy

Libraries may provide services to children and young readers.

Where personal information relating to minors is processed, GirqOn and participating libraries should apply any additional consent, parental authorization, or privacy requirements required by applicable law.

11. International and Third-Party Services

GirqOn may rely on third-party infrastructure or technical services to operate certain functionality.

Where personal information is transferred or processed outside the country in which it was collected, appropriate measures should be taken where required by applicable data protection law.

12. Languages

GirqOn may provide its services and privacy information in Armenian, Russian, and English.

If different language versions of this Privacy Policy are provided, the version designated by GirqOn as controlling will apply in the event of an inconsistency, to the extent permitted by law.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as GirqOn develops, new functionality is introduced, or legal requirements change.

When significant changes are made, we may notify users through the application or other appropriate means.

The latest version of this Privacy Policy will include the date on which it was last updated.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or the use of face recognition within GirqOn, please contact:

For matters relating specifically to your library membership or borrowing records, you may also contact your participating library directly.