[Tacis]

Is this really a problem? What do they have in their circulating collection that would identify an evil doer? Haven't they accomplished nothing more than warn bad guys that they'd better steal the books they want, but not check them out?

[zeromus]

I'm wondering why they can't just sit in the library and read the books and take notes and even photocopy graphics and stuff. Surely thats less risky than checking them out, whether the records of your having checked them out last for two days or two years or forever or not at all.

[Brian S]

Haven't they accomplished nothing more than warn bad guys that they'd better steal the books they want, but not check them out?

Any effective terrorist would realize this just as any effective terrorist would realize that if they needed to send operatives into this country, you do so through the open, pourous southern borders...

Further, no "terrorist" in their right mind would be using a library for resource these days. A resourceful terrorist will find a WIFI hot zone, a good parking space and have at it. 100% anonymous.

[WOSG]

"Is this really a problem? What do they have in their circulating collection that would identify an evil doer? "

That's not the point. ... if you have a suspected terrorist under investigation, suspected of say planting a bomb, and they get a court-ordered warrant for computer and library records and find he checked out a bunch of chemisty brooks, bought suspicious amounts of materials, and did web searches on 'how to' or had this video on hand:
http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/08/21/terror.tape.main/

... then they know they are to something. what would be creepy is if they discovered the terrorist went here ...
http://home.clara.net/nybbles/oldestuff/vik/nuke/contents.html

"Haven't they accomplished nothing more than warn bad guys that they'd better steal the books they want, but not check them out?" ... or at least do it in a "Patriot Act"-free city.