Librarian's brush with FBI shapes her view of the USA Patriot Act

USAToday ^ | Wed May 18, 6:25 AM ET | By Joan Airoldi

[GarySpFc]

What good does publishing a private citizen's email do? Vigilante action by a mob of anonymous internet posters doesn’t exactly work to further political discourse, and is IMHO a pretty low thing to be engaged in.

Personally, IMHO I think it's very low of you to support lawbreaking. You belong on the Du boards.

[Redcitizen]

As a very avid reader,I should be able to read whatever I want and not have anyone put me on a list,especially government agencies.
I see that as a slippery downhill road to the statements " Your papers please" or "where is your travel authorization" ala Soviet bloc countries in the 1980's.

[wallcrawlr]

why dont they just put an agent in every library...if nothing else they can deal with the sicko's that sit on those comps and view porn all day.

[GarySpFc]

What good does publishing a private citizen's email do? Vigilante action by a mob of anonymous internet posters doesn’t exactly work to further political discourse, and is IMHO a pretty low thing to be engaged in.

BTW, that is her business email address. If she is going to make her decision to break our laws in the public arena, then publishing her public email address is clearly warranted.

[Redcitizen]

Way to go man! If someone did something illegal, then the Gov't has a cause to search records. I agree with you.

[jpsb]

This is all about government gaining more power over the inhabitains (I no longer refer to us as citizens, since we no longer have the rights of citizenship) of the usa. If security was important to "the boss" (government) then the borders would be security and immigration laws enforced. Keep voting for "the boss" to get more (much more) of the same.

[Publius Valerius]

I think I can live with the anguish of knowing that the government may look at my library record.

That makes one of us. I'd rather not have Uncle Sam going snooping around in my personal business, thank you very much. I don't particularly feel the need to justify my reading habits to the government.

[bigfootbob]

I seem to remember they were asked about that out here and they pooh-poohed it. The librarian's must have stepped out of line, you see, father fidel would never hurt his children. /sarcasm

We battled the Commie bastard library national association in my rural county for several years over filters for computers so kids didn't have to worry about the weirdo sitting next to them viewing hard-core porn.

We didn't want to limit everyone's browsing opportunities, just a little common sense policy of good citizenship. You'd have thought we wanted the Moon.

Another American institution that has turned into a pustulate abscess that needs lancing.

[NJ_gent]

"However, given the specifics of this case and that specific piece of marginalia, I think the correct act would have been for the Board of Trustees to release the list."

Considering the general nature of the comments written (basically copied from an old speech) and the fact that a blanket search would need to be carried out to find out who jotted down the general comment, I think the board was correct in fighting the subpoena. The fact that the FBI backed off tells me that even they knew they were on shaky ground at best. If there were a specific threat or a reasonable suspicion that information relating to a terrorist act or investigation could be obtained, then I (and likely the board) would feel differently.

I, for one, am not willing to cower and hide, allowing the government to conduct blanket searches, fishing expeditions, and blanket surveillance in the name of 'national security'. I don't think it's a good idea to let the government turn Orwellian while we sit back and beg agents of the government to not let the bad people come hurt us. People do become very childlike when they feel threatened, and for some, that means running to any authority figure who claims to offer them protection.

We've prevailed against every threat ever launched against the United States since the birth of the nation. This is the first time in 60 years that we've faced an enemy that has struck us at home. Perhaps we should toughen up a bit, secure our borders and coasts, and win this damn war.

[ikka]

My take: all of this crap is moot unless the border with Mexico is secured. Until then, stick a finger in the eye of the Federal Govt every chance you get.

[goodnesswins]

Bet Joanie finds great pleasure in helping her patrons to their DAILY DOSE OF PORNO, though!!!!! At YOUR expense!!!

[NJ_gent]

"The government's utter disinterest in securing the border (to the point of condemning citizens who try to do the job for them) shapes my view of all the other stuff they do under color of "security"."

Perfectly stated.

[Steve_Seattle]

Government has long had access to private financial transactions when they have probable cause to relate them to a crime. One way they caught Ted Bundy was by tracing his gasoline purchase receipts, which put him in the location of several murders at the time the murders were committed. So I'm wondering why some people think that the government checking on a library record is radically different from what the government has been doing for years.

[NJ_gent]

"If she is going to make her decision to break our laws in the public arena, then publishing her public email address is clearly warranted."

Which law has she violated?

[WoofDog123]

Your points are well taken.

"But just assuming that the person with the pen didn't check out the book, doesn't mean one shouldn't check it out to make sure. "

How will they ever be sure? Maybe a few people will end up on another list permanently as a result of the unresolved suspicion.

[NJ_gent]

"I'd rather not have Uncle Sam going snooping around in my personal business, thank you very much. I don't particularly feel the need to justify my reading habits to the government."

Nicely stated and good to see you again.

[Publius Valerius]

Heh; thanks. It's funny how we keep winding up on the same side of things.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I wonder if Joan Airoldi has been as active in denouncing Fidel Castro's recent arrest and imprisonment of several Cuban librarians for the crime of keeping counterrevolutionary literature in their collections.

Good rhetorical question. I think we know the answer.

[TKDietz]

Good for the librarian.

[WoofDog123]

"The government's utter disinterest in securing the border (to the point of condemning citizens who try to do the job for them) shapes my view of all the other stuff they do under color of "security"."

And to me means that their 'security' measures are as much for information/control over ALL citizens as anything to do with arab terrorists.