Privacy and Security A librarian\'s dilemma

February 3, 2003 - 3:01pm — Blake

Robert Teeter sent over A librarian\'s dilemma from The San Francisco Chronicle.
The editorial talks about the bind in which many librarians find themselves: As citizens, they have a clear interest in helping law enforcement track down terrorists. As librarians, a basic principle of their creed is to protect their patrons\' privacy.

\"Librarians are left in this difficult position because the surveillance powers of the Patriot Act were cast so broadly. Our founders understood the value of open access to knowledge. One of the measures of a great democracy is the ability of ordinary citizens to explore ideas without government interference, a value the librarians are trying to balance against the government\'s need to search for terrorists. \"