Department of Information Services
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Basic Information Collected
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When you visit the Lane County web site to browse, or to read or download information we automatically collect and store the following information about your visit:

• Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Address and domain name used. The Internet Protocol address is a numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer and is used to direct Internet traffic to you
• Type of browser and operating system you used
• Date and time you visited this site
• Web pages or services you accessed at this site
• Web site you visited prior to coming to this web site

This information is used to improve the content and delivery of our web services to help us understand how people are using our services and to determine what technology people use to access our site. We analyze our web site logs to improve the value of the materials and services available on our site and the ease of accessing them. We do not attempt to link the logs with the individuals that browse our site.
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Email and Surveys
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If during your visit to the Lane County web site you participate in a survey or send an email, the following additional information will be collected:

• Email address
• Contents of the email
• Information volunteered in response to a survey

Generally, this information is retained in accordance with Oregon Public Records Law, ORS 192.410 – 192.505.

Our intent is to make reasonable efforts to respond to your e-mail and in an appropriate manner.   This may include addressing issues you identify, further improving our web site, or forwarding the email to another agency for appropriate action.   We encourage you to assume responsibility for confirming that your e-mail has been received by the appropriate department or person.
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Discussion Groups
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Lane County may make use of online discussion groups (“bulletin boards”) to gather input and facilitate community dialog.  Generally, you will be asked to provide your name and address or email address along with your posting.  The information you post to a discussion group, along with your name and address, is available to the public.  We encourage you to be thoughtful in your comments and considerate of other discussion group participants.  For further information, see our web site liability disclaimer.
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Online Services
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Lane County offers services online as a means to improve services and to make them more convenient and accessible.  If you access any online services during your visit to the Lane County web site we may collect additional information related directly to the service you are accessing.  We will attempt to limit the information requested to only that required to conduct the service and to limit the use to that service. You may be offered opportunities related to the service, for instance to be put on a mailing list for information updates, but your permission will be solicited for such an alternative use.

Lane County may use private vendors to provide online services as a means to reduce costs and improve services.  Vendors will be acting on behalf of Lane County and will be required to abide by this Privacy Policy.
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Personal Information and Choice
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"Personal information" is information that is readily identifiable to a specific individual. Personal information includes such things as an individual's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. A domain name or Internet Protocol address may not be considered personal information.

It is Lane County’s intent is to limit our request for personal information to instances in which we believe it is necessary to provide a service/complete a project.  Otherwise, our intent is to not collect personal information about you on the web site unless you voluntarily provide it  (i.e. sending an email, participating in a survey, discussion group or accessing a service). If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way effect your ability to use any other feature of our web site.
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Public Disclosure
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Lane County is governed by Oregon's Public Records Law, which is primarily a disclosure law, rather than a confidentiality law.  Lane County will strive to request only personal information from you, which is required in order to provide a particular service/complete a project (survey).  Due to Oregon Public Records Law, there are a few instances in which the County can protect confidentiality, e.g., when state or federal law prohibit disclosure.  Examples may include among others social security number, credit card or bank account information, as well as certain health or medical information.  Lane County will consider reasonable and appropriate security measures to protect such information from public disclosure when it specifically requests such information.

As to personal information which you may voluntarily provide without a specific request from Lane County, the general rule is that such information becomes a public record subject to disclosure, unless exempt.  (However, for discussion groups, any information disclosed by a website user is disclosed to the public and Lane County is not able to protect it in any way.)  The applicability of most other public records exemptions depends on a case-by-case balancing of public interests, weighted in favor of disclosure.  For example, if a third party requests disclosure of information located on the website, Lane County will strive to, whenever possible, keep personal information about a user confidential if public disclosure would lead to an unreasonable invasion of privacy, unless the third party sufficiently demonstrates that the public interest requires disclosure under particular circumstances.  If you voluntarily provide personal information without a specific Lane County request, Lane County is not agreeing to keep such information confidential.
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Access and Correction of Personal Information
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You can review any personal information we collect about you through your participation in surveys, discussion groups, and online services. You may recommend changes to your personal information you believe are in error by submitting a written request that credibly shows the error. If you believe that your personal information is being used for a purpose other than what was intended when submitted, please contact us. We will attempt to take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections. See the Contact Information section.
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Limits to Use of Website
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The e-mail, survey, bulletin board and online services provided through the Lane County website are not intended to act as a substitute for other specified means of submitting information to Lane County, e.g., information to be considered and included in the record of a land use or other quasi-judicial proceeding or legal service on Lane County or its employees.  If you need to communicate with a particular Lane County department or employee, including submitting information to a specified place within a particular time deadline, it is your ultimate responsibility to confirm that this has been accomplished.  It is also your responsibility to confirm that information has been transmitted to and received by individuals or agencies outside of Lane County government. 
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Cookies
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To better serve our users we employ the use of "cookies" to customize your browsing experience with the Lane County web site. Cookies are simple text files with a unique number stored on your computer by your web browser. They provide a method of identifying each visitor’s session while using an application on our web site.

Cookies created on your computer by using this web site do not contain personally identifying information and do not compromise your privacy or security.  You can refuse the cookie but you may not be able to properly use or view some web pages or online applications. You can also delete the cookie file after your visit from your computer by using your web browser software.
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Security
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The security and integrity of the Lane County web site are essential for its success both to deliver services and information and to maintain reasonable privacy of its visitors.  The Department of Information Services, as developer and manager of the Lane County web site, has the day-to-day responsibility to provide reasonable safeguards to maintain integrity of this site.  The department uses a variety of techniques, including but not limited to authentication, monitoring, auditing, and encryption. Such security measures have been integrated into the design, implementation and day-to-day practices of the County web environment.
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Privacy Disclaimer
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The Lane County web site has links to other web sites. These include links to web sites operated by other government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private businesses. When you link to another site, you are no longer on the Lane County web site and this Privacy Policy will not apply. When you link to another web site, you are subject to the privacy policy of that new site.

Please read the  “Website Liability Disclaimer” that addresses other liability issues associated with the Lane County web site.
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Lane County Web Site Contact Information
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To access your personally identifiable information we have collected, if any, or request correction of factual errors in your personally identifiable information, contact the appropriate County department that collects and administers the information or [email protected] by email, or write to the Department or webmaster at 125 East 8th Avenue, Eugene, OR, 97401 or telephone 541-682-4011

You can also contact the Lane County Webmaster or Public Information Officer to offer comments about the Lane County Web Site or about the information presented in this Privacy Information document.