[alancarp]

And after the cheering finished, they all went "SSHHHHH!" to one another. The convention thus continued. Quietly.

[NormsRevenge]

U.S. librarians say they have been asked at least 268 times since 2001 to give law officers data about readers, despite repeated Justice Department denials that it is interested in patrons' reading habits. A survey released this week by the American Library Association found the inquiries from law enforcement came formally and informally -- that is, without a formal legal order -- to public and academic libraries. That is despite laws in 48 states and prevailing opinion in the other two that library information is private. A woman stands among the bookshelves in the main reading room of The New York Public Library, December 14, 2004. Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters

[river rat]

The leftist bastards want me to register firearms, and use serialized cartridges --- but they don't want their reading material reviewed?

Oh the hipocricy!

Semper Fi

[Paleo Conservative]

Libraries should be "sanctuaries of learning where we are free to read and consider what we please without the fear that 'Big Brother' may be peering over our shoulder," Obama said in the keynote address at the American Library Association's annual conference.

I thought they were santuaries for homeless people who are strangers to soap.

[Tacis]

I've never understood this issue. What useful information can there possibly be in what the library knows about my reading choices? We have a good local library but they don't have a single book that I can charge out that would cause any one any concern. I can read and copy from (only ten cents a copy) any book in the library and not leave a paper trail.

Large academic libraries might have theses and dissertations but, again, they won't circulate but can be read or copied (paper trail?).

No, the interesting stuff isn't available, Hillie master's thesis and Traitor John's military records, the Congressional Record prior to 1984 or the New York Times online prior to 2001. No, there is more interesting stuff on Cryptome than in my library!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Osama? What would you expect?

Oh. Obama.

[Hacksaw]

Saint Obana Makes A Pronoucment!

[satchmodog9]

If a government is providing the Internet access they should be allowed to have oversight over its use. I am totally against government interference in my life, but if you want to use a government computer expect to be monitored. If you don't like it loser, get your own computer.

[Gabz]

Libraries are public places therefore their records are public. Book stores are not, they are private entities - totally different situation.

OOOOOOPS I forgot about those pesky little things like smoking bans that declare private businesses public places and supreme Court rulings that claim increased tax revenue is public use even though it's private property.....silly me. /sarcasm