New York Times article Four Connecticut librarians who had been barred from revealing that they had received a request for patrons’ records from the federal government spoke out yesterday, expressing frustration about the sweeping powers given to law enforcement authorities by the USA Patriot Act.
For the local angle on this story, see article and video available from the Hartford (CT)Courant, and more information on Connecticut’s Library Connection here.
Not a librarian
From the article: “Mr. Christian was a surprising name to have emerged as the person who brought one of the only known challenges to the law. Though he was a conscientious objector in the Vietnam War, he has not been overly political since then. And unlike his co-plaintiffs whose backgrounds are in library science, his is in computer development. He said he was not even sure whether he would call himself a librarian.”
Re:Not a librarian – but now PAC director
After receiving a National Security Letter Library Connection Inc. has entered the ranks of a political action committee (PAC) with all the responsibilities that status demands. Detailed records are now required of what resources as funded by the users of its members, mostly central Connecticut cities and towns, have been spent in its political activities.
Financial reporting to the citizens of Connecticut is not a high point in Library Connection Inc.’s profile. Unlike other Connecticut library consortiums, Library Connection, Inc. fails to file an annual report with the Connecticut Secretary of State of how it spends the money of citizens of Connecticut.
However, it is know that of its $1.2 million dollar budget, the executive director receives over $77,000 and four employees receive a total of $225,000.
four whiners
After you read about all the awkward silences these poor souls had to go through because they couldn’t talk about the case please remember that we still don’t know what records were requested. The first thing these people should have said, the only thing they should have said, when they walked up to the microphone was “So-in-so’s records were requested, somebody tell him the FBI is looking at him”. Instead its all about the librarians. So what was the point of all this?
Confused Bloviate But Don’t Address Real Issuest ml each of the Connecticut Four give statements about their ordeal. They seem to have been inconvenienced by the events they caused themselves. Given a chance to speak they only moan about being victims. I wonder how accurate their library records are?
At http://www.aclu.org/natsec/gen/25702prs20060530.h
Re:Not a librarian – but now PAC director
And all that information might actually mean something if a) you weren’t posting anonymously and/or b) you cited your sources with online links an added bonus.
Until then, I’ll the treat the info with the amount of trust it deserves from an anon poster. None.
Re:Not a librarian – but now PAC director
Until then, I’ll the treat the info with the amount of trust it deserves from an anon poster. None.
Then why did you even respond?? BTW I did not make the original post that you are commenting on.
Re:Not a librarian – but now PAC director
Then why did you even respond?? BTW I did not make the original post that you are commenting on.
For the same reason the anons post: Because I could.
It seems like there are more of this type of post on LISNews lately and I felt like commenting and I didn’t want to waste my journal space on it. *shrug* Does my explanation satisfy your curiousity?
s/
Re:four whiners
Since you have to ask you’d never get it anyway, but it’s about freedom and liberty.