Building Anonymous-Friendly Computer Libraries?

H310iSe writes "Listening to NPR today and caught a story on All Things Considered about how the FBI has demanded information on borrowing and browsing habits, including computer seizures, from 85 libraries since Sept. 11 (utilizing their new-found powers from the PATRIOT act). Similar stories (which don't require RealAudio) are here and here. The American Librarian Association is providing information for librarians to help deal with this, and it seems heavily tilted towards supporting individuals' rights to privacy. It seems like the Slashdot crowd could come up with a great library computer setup that would protect anonymity (I'm thinking about things like creating a RAM disk and loading the OS onto it). How about ways to enable people to borrow books anonymously without opening the door to large-scale theft? I bet if we offered a packaged, free, easy to install Safe Browsing computer or Anonymous Checkout program, libraries across the U.S. would enthusiastically embrace it." According to the articles, these checks can be made for any reason, not just for suspected terrorism. It seems that if the American people are going to protect their rights, they are going to have to do so actively. Is the idea presented above, feasible? How would you improve upon it?

Comments

Concerning anonymity

[Fizzlewhiff]

Considering that terrorists and the like usually have many aliases and false identities I think these folks already have the anonymity they need. What is the privacy advocate afraid of if the FBI has access to public library records? I'm not trying to troll but I just don't see it. As for bookstores and purchased books I can see the argument. The buyer and seller are both private entities and their transaction should be a private manner. A libary is however a public entity and I don't really see a problem with records being public for that matter.