LISNews: Librarian News

Kelly writes "This article, "Careful: The FB-eye may be watching: Reading the wrong thing in public can get you in trouble," is about the adventures of a bookstore employee who was seen reading something thought to be unacceptable, terroristic, wrong — it's not clear — at a coffeeshop, and because of his reading, he was paid a visit by two FBI agents. Here's a link to the tale: http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Conten t?oid=oid%3A12715&status=rate&ratebtn=5 Here's a link to the article the FBI was investigating him for reading: http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content? oid=oid%3A2752"

In her new book (Library Journal interview here), Chicago writer Sara Paretsky (author of the V.I. Warshawski mysteries) who spoke at Authors! Authors! four years ago says she was asked in advance by the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library to rein in her political remarks on the night the United States invaded Iraq.

Library officials vehemently deny the charge, which seems now to boil down to a difference in what each party recalls.

Clyde Scoles, library director, said the library has never censored writers who appear at Authors! Authors!

"I find the whole thing very interesting and kind of sad," said Mr. Scoles, adding that he and his staff were "totally floored" to read Paretsky's essay in the Tribune. Report from Toledo Blade.

One From The AP: A librarian who fended off an FBI demand for computer records on patrons said Wednesday that secret anti-terrorism investigations strip away personal freedoms.

"Terrorists win when the fear of them induces us to destroy the rights that make us free," said George Christian, executive director of Library Connection, a consortium of 27 libraries in the Hartford, Conn., area.

mdoneil writes "The FBI has been playing fast and loose with the powers given it under the USA Patriot Act. The AG Gonzalez said that he may possibly prefer charges against FBI lawyers or agents accused of violating the law. Well that certainly is reassuring.
The FBI flouts the law, the city manager of the next city over is having a sex change, and the priest from my high school is getting married to his second wife. I'm going to a bar."