July 30, 2003
DAILY SHOUTOUT: THE BOULDER PUBLIC LIBRARY
Iíve never been a fan of the ěUniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001,î or, what is more commonly referred to in the media as the USA Patriot Act. The 56,000-word Act, which was signed into law in October of 2001, broadly expands law enforcement's surveillance and investigative powers in the post 9/11 world. Nowadays, under the Act, bookstores are required to turn over sales receipts to law enforcement officials if said officials feel that you pose even an inkling of a threat to national security, and librarians are similarly required to turn over an individualís library records upon demandÖ that is, of course, until the Boulder (Colorado) Public Library stepped in.
According to yesterdayís Denver Post, if a federal agent asks a Boulder librarian for a list of the books checked out by John Q. Public in the last month, the answer will be "Records? What records?" From the Post:
"People have a right to read what they want to read without other people looking over their shoulder," said Priscilla Hudson, manager of the Boulder Public Library's main branch.".
"The library has decided to almost completely stop recording what books patrons have checked out. The library will keep tabs only while a book is checked out; when the book is returned, that record will be purged from the library's computers."
I tip my hat to the Boulder Public Library for protecting its customers civil liberties. (As an aside though, the Post also reports that the Library will continue to keep records of late fees. Apparently, those records are needed in case disputes arise as to whether or not perople like me have been paid up :-)
Posted by Mikal at July 30, 2003 6:22 AM
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