I stated this on a post that is newer, but I'll say it here. Most ciculation datatbases out there (horizon, etc) do not record items that have previously been checked out by a patron. Once the item is returned, it is permenantly erased from the patron's record. The only exceptions being if the item was turned in late or damaged. This prevents anyone from monitoring a patron's past reading habits. The item maintains the number of times it circulates and that is all.
This is done, acctually. A measure that was instituted in most circulation databases (Horizon, etc.) prior to the 9/11 hesteria. Law enforcment agencies trying to use patron's records against them in court is no new thing. Only the books which are currently checked out, any problem items, and any requests which have been placed and not filled are on a patron's record. As a book is checked in, the trail of it ever being on one's record dissapears. As a result of this preventative measure, not much information is still available. For the most part, law enforcment agencies are really reaching when they go to retrieve a person's library record to see what books they have checked out. Whether or not the FBI gains anything from such assinine seizures is unimportant, the acquisition of information on a patron's account is illegal and unconstitutional. PERIOD! Gag order be damned! In fact, I hope the FBI come walking into my branch asking for a list of records so I can tell them to sod off!
The Office for Intellectual Freedom at 800-545-2433, extension 4223. IF you call them, I am sure they will be glad to get you in touch with people who are fighting this or tell you what the average Joe can do about this.
subgroove
I am a librarian, and nothing pisses myself and my fellow librarians off more than the government, religious action groups, or any other group of ignorant fools trying to stomp on the very ideals that have made this country what it is. The problem is that over the past decade these groups have only increased in numbers. The Patriot Act (as if enforcing or acquiescing to such assinine acts is a show true patriotism...) is just the latest (and most visible) in a long line of such infingments upon our civil liberties.
As you can see in the link to the American Library Association website, the ALA has numerous lawsuits pending against the FBI regarding such draconian acts. All of the librarians I know are violently opposed to this act. Those who aren't; how dare they call themselves librarians! WE are commited to the preservation of knowledge and making said knowledge available to the masses. Any attempt to censor what a person may choose to read or persecution (and that is exactly what this is) of a person for their choice of reading goes against everything we stand for. There are countless librarians out there who are fighting this tooth and nail, often at the risk of our own jobs, to protect the civil liberties these acts attempt to toss in the gutter. I for one can not believe the librarians mentioned in this article are not screaming bloody murder at this heinous act.
If you are opposed to these "patriotic" acts which "protect" our nation from unsubstantiated threats (and I know most of us/.ers do) talk to your local libraian about what you can do to FIGHT, contact the ALA and see how you can help, write your local newspaper, and most of all CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE and tell them how YOU were NOT represented when this was passed.
This MUST be fought! This MUST be beaten! Otherwise we will lose much more than we have already lost.
"Librarians are the secret masters of the world. They control information. Don't ever piss one off."
-Spider Robinson
Slashdot Mirror
I stated this on a post that is newer, but I'll say it here. Most ciculation datatbases out there (horizon, etc) do not record items that have previously been checked out by a patron. Once the item is returned, it is permenantly erased from the patron's record. The only exceptions being if the item was turned in late or damaged. This prevents anyone from monitoring a patron's past reading habits. The item maintains the number of times it circulates and that is all.
This is done, acctually. A measure that was instituted in most circulation databases (Horizon, etc.) prior to the 9/11 hesteria. Law enforcment agencies trying to use patron's records against them in court is no new thing. Only the books which are currently checked out, any problem items, and any requests which have been placed and not filled are on a patron's record. As a book is checked in, the trail of it ever being on one's record dissapears. As a result of this preventative measure, not much information is still available. For the most part, law enforcment agencies are really reaching when they go to retrieve a person's library record to see what books they have checked out. Whether or not the FBI gains anything from such assinine seizures is unimportant, the acquisition of information on a patron's account is illegal and unconstitutional. PERIOD! Gag order be damned! In fact, I hope the FBI come walking into my branch asking for a list of records so I can tell them to sod off!
The Office for Intellectual Freedom at 800-545-2433, extension 4223. IF you call them, I am sure they will be glad to get you in touch with people who are fighting this or tell you what the average Joe can do about this. subgroove
I am a librarian, and nothing pisses myself and my fellow librarians off more than the government, religious action groups, or any other group of ignorant fools trying to stomp on the very ideals that have made this country what it is. The problem is that over the past decade these groups have only increased in numbers. The Patriot Act (as if enforcing or acquiescing to such assinine acts is a show true patriotism...) is just the latest (and most visible) in a long line of such infingments upon our civil liberties. As you can see in the link to the American Library Association website, the ALA has numerous lawsuits pending against the FBI regarding such draconian acts. All of the librarians I know are violently opposed to this act. Those who aren't; how dare they call themselves librarians! WE are commited to the preservation of knowledge and making said knowledge available to the masses. Any attempt to censor what a person may choose to read or persecution (and that is exactly what this is) of a person for their choice of reading goes against everything we stand for. There are countless librarians out there who are fighting this tooth and nail, often at the risk of our own jobs, to protect the civil liberties these acts attempt to toss in the gutter. I for one can not believe the librarians mentioned in this article are not screaming bloody murder at this heinous act. If you are opposed to these "patriotic" acts which "protect" our nation from unsubstantiated threats (and I know most of us /.ers do) talk to your local libraian about what you can do to FIGHT, contact the ALA and see how you can help, write your local newspaper, and most of all CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE and tell them how YOU were NOT represented when this was passed.
This MUST be fought! This MUST be beaten! Otherwise we will lose much more than we have already lost.
"Librarians are the secret masters of the world. They control information. Don't ever piss one off."
-Spider Robinson