American Library Association Statement responding to the Department of Justice May 20 report and testimony to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee

American Library Association Statement


responding to the Department of Justice May 20 report and testimony


to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee

Maurice J. Freedman, President


May 21, 2003

The documents released yesterday by the U.S. Department of Justice raise more questions than they answer.
Although the Justice Department referenced an informal survey, the real number of libraries visited and the circumstances of those visits are still not known.

The Justice Department, however, was forced to admit in a Congressional hearing on May 20 that it had brought its expanded powers under the USA Patriot Act to bear against libraries and library users.
The report and testimony before the House Judiciary Committee yesterday was in response to an April 1 letter from Congressmen James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wisconsin) and John Conyers, Jr. (D-Michigan)

The American Library Association (ALA) agrees with Rep. Conyers, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, that the Justice Department “could have been more forthcoming in terms of the manner in which and how freely the new powers have been used.”

The ALA joins the Justice Department and all Americans in its opposition to terrorism.
Laws already exist, however, to fight terrorism without the need for incursions into the civil liberties of library users and the dismantling of due process.

This vague admission by the Justice Department reinforces the need for legislative remedy, such as HR1157, the Freedom to Read Protection Act, and S436, the Domestic Surveillance Oversight Act 2003, especially when the First Amendment protects every citizen’s right to receive information without fear of government scrutiny.

The ALA applauds House Judiciary Committee Chair Sensenbrenner, Jr., for holding this oversight hearing and looks forward to more Congressional oversight.

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Larra Clark at the American Library Association, 312-280-5043.