The Reader’s Shop writes “American
Library Association study surveyed 1,500 public libraries and 4,000 academic
libraries to ask how frequently federal, state and local agents demand records
from libraries. The study found that 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.
The study sought to determine the frequency of law enforcement inquiries at
all levels without detailing their nature because of secrecy provisions that
could make it a crime for a librarian to respond.
Kevin Madden, a Justice Department spokesman, questioned the relevance of the
data to the debate over the Patriot Act and states “Any conclusion that federal
law enforcement has an extraordinary interest in libraries is wholly manufactured
as a result of misinformation.”
Emily Sheketoff, the executive director of the library association’s Washington
office says “What this says to us is that agents are coming to libraries and
they are asking for information at a level that is significant, and the findings
are completely contrary to what the Justice Department has been trying to convince
the public.”
NY Times [Non Reg Req Link], Chicago Tribune both have more.”
The study doesn’t seem to have made it to the ALA site yet.
Really vague
200 inquiries in 4 years spread over 4,500 libraries. Let’s see, that averages to one a week for the entire country? Yikes. Isn’t anyone visiting libraries anymore? Informal inquiries? How are these inquirers identified? Does the librarian or the student staffer see them? Could be inquiring about pornographers, or flashers, or child molesters, or any number of criminal elements that might hang out in libraries. How many inquiries in the 4 years before 2001? I think I had such an inquiry back in the 80s, but come to think of it, I never asked HIM for ID. Could have been a divorce lawyer building a case, for all I know.
You’ll need a bit more alarming information to convince me our rights are in danger. I’m still trying to get them to stop using my SS number for ID.
A little perspective on privacy
I wonder if anyone around here knew the IRS stepped up its audit rate 14% in ’04?
850,000 Americans were forced to dislose every dry cleaning, Girl Scout cookie and ALA dues receipt within the confines of their own domicile.
Internal Matters
I can think of three different incidents I have been involved in over the past few years. None of them had anything to do with a federal agency and/or the Patriot Act. Frankly, incidents like mine or the one involving Steve Roberts don’t provide any reason to repeal the Patriot Act. Without some concrete findings, John Ashcroft and Robert Mueller have made much stronger arguments.
Re:A little perspective on privacy
While during the past decade, the corporate audit rate has dropped in half.
I guess if you want your privace, you need to incorporate.
Re:A little perspective on privacy
Apparently audits aren’t so random. I saw this list from the Clinton admin, citing a website no longer working, so I didn’t verify.
Juanita Broaddrick, who came forward to accuse Clinton of raping her in 1977
Katherine Prudhomme, who embarrassed Al Gore at citizen forum by asking him to address Clinton’s alleged rape
Bruce Bates, a former director of publications of National Religious Broadcasters
Paula and Stephen Jones, who had an ongoing lawsuit against the president for sexual misconduct. Received audit notice five days after rejecting settlement offer
Margie Gray, a retired businesswoman who criticized the president in an e-mail
Billy Dale, the former director of the White House Travel Office who was fired to create a place for friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton
Christopher Emery, a long-time White House usher who was fired by Hillary Clinton in 1994 during the Travelgate scandal. Ten weeks before his dismissal (presumably for for “disloyalty�), he agreed to submit to an IRS and FBI background check even though he had been checked just three years earlier in 1991. All White House employees are routinely checked every five years
Patricia and Glenn Mendoza. Patricia Mendoza shouted remark at the president during 1996 campaign stop in Chicago
Kent Masterson Brown, an attorney who represented the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons in 1994 to open up Hillary Clinton’s secret health-care task force
William Gazecki, who edited the documentary Waco, the Rules of Engagement
Shelley Davis, a former IRS historian and whistleblower as well as author of Unbridled Power
Probably similar hit lists for the current admin. We have always been told by our accountant that we are prime candidates for an audit because our charitable donations are above the national average and that alone can spit your name out. But now we are pensioners so let’s hope even with our high tax rate, it won’t be worth the effort.
If it wasn’t broke…………..
A retrospective assessment of whether legislation that diminished traditional civil protections is maintained should include a review of it’s necessity, it’s utility and whether the desired results were achievable under the existing or less intrusive measures.
If I read the consensus that’s reflected in these posts correctly – that conditions since passage did not require the law being used, that there is no evidence that when used it had any positive effect and that the previous measures were clearly up to the task – the contention that the new legislation was or is needed seems hard to support.
A return to traditional standards would seem justified by the results since the change. It doesn’t seem too great a hardship for law enforcement to flash a badge and a subpoena. Flashing just a smile seems a tad insufficient – even if they were cute. Though – all bets are off if Mulder or Scully drop by. G-Men- Mmmmmmmmmm. (with apologies to Homer)