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Calgary libraries to reopen Wednesday following cybersecurity breach

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Networking cables and circuit boards are shown in Toronto on Wednesday, November 8, 2017. The Calgary Public Library says its branches will reopen later this week with limited services after revealing it suffered a cybersecurity breach. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

CALGARY — The Calgary Public Library says its branches will reopen later this week with limited services after revealing it suffered a cybersecurity breach.

The library says in an update posted on its website that patrons will have access to spaces in its branches that "do not require technology" when they reopen Wednesday, and that people will be able to check out a maximum of 10 items per card.

They cannot return books, however, and the update says due dates will be extended until further notice.

Calgary Public Library had closed all of its branches effective 5 p.m. Friday due to the breach and said computer access would be offline as well, but it offered no details about the incident.

The most recent update states the breach has meant the library is "experiencing a significant service disruption," but a spokesperson Monday would not answer questions on whether personal information was compromised or if a ransom has been demanded, saying further information would be available Tuesday.

Earlier this spring, a hacker demanded ransom money after obtaining data from a server used by libraries throughout British Columbia, but a system manager said the leak was limited and no ransom was paid.

A cybersecurity incident also disrupted Toronto Public Library services late last year, and forensic investigators found the hackers stole the personal information of current and former staff members.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Monday, Oct. 14, 2024

The Canadian Press

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