Videoconference Offers Advice
on Coping with Patriot Act
A December 11 videoconference offered expert advice to librarians on what the USA Patriot Act, the FBI’s expanded surveillance powers, and other homeland security measures mean for libraries and their patrons.
Panelists for the two-hour program were Tracy Mitrano, director of computer law and policy at Cornell University; Columbia University Librarian James Neal; Queens Borough Public Library Director Gary Strong; and attorney Thomas Susman. They all agreed that federal requests for data should be dutifully complied with when a proper court order was served, the New York Times reported December 12. They urged libraries to retain as few records as practicable; the fewer records that are kept, the less information the government can view.
According to a report posted by Librarians’ Index to the Internet Director Karen Schneider, Neal stressed the need to “reach beyond the reach of our libraries, administrations, etc.” and build broad coalitions. Strong called for “protocols, procedure, and training.” Susman feared that posting notices in libraries alerting patrons to the provisions of the Patriot Act might have a “chilling effect,” but Neal countered that “people need to understand that what they do may be subject to investigation.”
The American Library Association’s Washington Office estimates that some 10,000 librarians and others viewed the event, which was broadcast to more than 250 sites. It was sponsored by ALA, the American Association of Law Libraries, the Association of Research Libraries, the Medical Library Association, and the Special Libraries Association. The Washington Office will be selling videos of the program at a future date.
Posted December 16, 2002.
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