Assessing the sensitivity of images in research collections: A new approach at the Wellcome Library

Abstract

In 2014 The Wellcome Library, part of the Wellcome Trust, introduced a new policy in order to address research access to personal data within its collections. The policy has now been used by library staff for almost a year. The policy was devised using a multi-stage approach which consisted of internal surveys and 1:1 interviews. Library staff can use the policy to guide decisions based on what level of access to award material donated or contributed to the Wellcome collections. The policy has been applied to 1 – a series of victorian medical photographs supplied by University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, and 2 – an album of family photographs from the collection of the psychiatrist Dr Ann Dally. Following almost a year in circulation the advantages and disadvantages can now be summarised.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

i Broadly speaking, ‘personal data’ is an image, piece of text, visual recording etc. that identifies a living individual and is held in a ‘relevant filing system’ as defined by the DPA e.g. a filing system in which particular information about specific individuals can be readily retrieved (including information held electronically), or an accessible health record. ‘Sensitive personal data’ is personal data consisting of information on specific topics as defined by the DPA e.g. an individual’s physical or mental health or sexual life.