Libraries Confirm the Patriot Act is Being Used Against Their Patrons

[Modem Butterfly]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/20/politics/20patriot.html?pagewanted=print

WASHINGTON, June 19 - Law enforcement officials have made at least 200 formal and informal inquiries to libraries for information on reading material and other internal matters since October 2001, according to a new study that adds grist to the growing debate in Congress over the government's counterterrorism powers.

In some cases, agents used subpoenas or other formal demands to obtain information like lists of users checking out a book on Osama bin Laden. Other requests were informal - and were sometimes turned down by librarians who chafed at the notion of turning over such material, said the American Library Association, which commissioned the study.

The association, which is pushing to scale back the government's powers to gain information from libraries, said its $300,000 study was the first to examine a question that was central to a House vote last week on the USA Patriot Act: how frequently federal, state and local agents are demanding records from libraries.

The Bush administration says that while it is important for law enforcement officials to get information from libraries if needed in terrorism investigations, officials have yet to actually use their power under the Patriot Act to demand records from libraries or bookstores.

:grr:

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[izzie]

5. No

I did ask and they got real up-tight about it. Said they would need a court order to get the list. Who knows as some people think their is a spy under every bed.

[vinessa4freedom]

7. they don't need a real court order

they (the FBI) just need a rubber stamp warrant from a FISA court judge. They don't have to tell them what they are looking for, and the judge can't ask.

edited for early morning spelling errors. Sorry.

[vinessa4freedom]

8. By the way, welcome!

:hi:

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[vinessa4freedom]

10. DU has really been an oasis for me.

I usually stay in my groups, though. My time is pretty limited, so I have to stay out of general discussion or I'd be here all day. The Patriot Act is a pet of mine, though, and I saw the headline in the lobby. Glad to meet you, and I think you'll enjoy DU.

[cornermouse]

2. So according to the Patriot Act,

terrorists are NOT going to spend money on computers and internet access which they can search in the privacy of their homes, but ARE are going to get a library card and either check out books from a local library, which may or may not have the information that they're looking for, or take the books off the shelves and read them in the library and, I'm guessing, maybe use the copy machine extensively?

That's just stupid.

[rodeodance]

3. recall-Sensenbrenner wanted names of these people from libraires.

I hope this satisfies him!!!!!!--as he said the previous 9 meetings had not uncovered any abuses. Of course he only had witnessess sympathetic of the WH position--and that is why Conyers insisted on a meeting with witnesses he wanted.

[bklyncowgirl]

6. Librarians who report that they've been contacted under the Patriot Act

can get sent to jail.

Just maybe this threat might explain why librarians who are reporting these contacts might wish to remain anonymous.

[vinessa4freedom]

4. According to the Patriot Act

The FBI can get into every aspect of your life. They can crawl into it with a microscope. Computers and internet access can be monitered (as well as demanding a list from your server of every website you've ever visited and every e-mail you get or send). They can tap your phone. They can contact your kindergarden teacher for your complete 5 year old character profile. They can do just about anything they want to, and the kicker is, nobody can talk. If the sales clerk, librarian or kindergarten teacher tell, they are violating federal law.

Section 215 of the Patriot Act (the one the RW calls "hysterical librarian" provision) is just one dinky part of the Patriot Act. I really think it's one of the most benign.

The Patriot Act nullifies the Bill of Rights.

http://action.aclu.org/reformthepatriotact/

[fasttense]

11. If it is against the law to even say you have been contacted for

information on books people read, how did they do the study?

[vinessa4freedom]

12. that's a good question

maybe it was conducted by poll and done anonymously. It's not illegal for them to talk about normal warrants or informal requests. It is if they get a National Security Letter. Then, they must take the records to the FBI--no phone, no e-mail no snail mail. and they can't tell. One person (an internet service administrater) got one and went straight to the ACLU instead. He did break federal law to do it, but felt that large numbers of his customer's civil liberties were being violated. (They go after long lists, not usually individuals).

Maybe the study was involving regular warrants or non-NSL inquiries.