Posted on 06/24/2002 3:34:40 PM PDT by Asmodeus
WASHINGTON –– The FBI is visiting libraries nationwide and checking the reading records of people it suspects of having ties to terrorists or plotting an attack, library officials say.
The FBI effort, authorized by the antiterrorism law enacted after the Sept. 11 attacks, is the first broad government check of library records since the 1970s when prosecutors reined in the practice for fear of abuses.
The Justice Department and FBI declined to comment Monday, except to note that such searches are now legal under the Patriot Act that President Bush signed last October.
Libraries across the nation were reluctant to discuss their dealings with the FBI. The same law that makes the searches legal also makes it a criminal offense for librarians to reveal the details or extent.
"Patron information is sacrosanct here. It's nobody's business what you read," said Kari Hanson, director of the Bridgeview Public Library in suburban Chicago.
Hanson said an FBI agent came seeking information about a person, but her library had no record of the person. Federal prosecutors allege Global Relief Foundation, an Islamic charity based in the Chicago suburb, has ties to Osama bin Laden's terror network
The University of Illinois conducted a survey of 1,020 public libraries in January and February and found that 85 libraries had been asked by federal or local law enforcement officers for information about patrons related to Sept. 11, said Ed Lakner, assistant director of research at the school's Library Research Center.
The libraries that reported FBI contacts were nearly all in large urban areas.
In Florida, Broward County library director Sam Morrison said the FBI had recently contacted his office. He declined to elaborate on the request or how many branch libraries were involved.
"We've heard from them and that's all I can tell you," Morrison said. He said the FBI specifically instructed him not to reveal any information about the request.
The library system has been contacted before. A week after the Sept. 11 attacks, the FBI subpoenaed Morrison to provide information on the possible use of computer terminals by some of the suspected hijackers in the Hollywood, Fla., area.
In October, investigators revisited the county's main library in Fort Lauderdale and also checked a regional library in Coral Springs.
At least 15 of the 19 hijackers had Florida connections.
The process by which the FBI gains access to library records is quick and mostly secret under the Patriot Act.
First, the FBI must obtain a search warrant from a court that meets in secret to hear the agency's case. The FBI must show it has reason to suspect that a person is involved with a terrorist or a terrorist plot – far less difficult than meeting the tougher legal standards of probable cause, required for traditional search warrants or reasonable doubt, required for convictions.
With the warrant, FBI investigators can visit a library and gain immediate access to the records.
Judith Krug, the American Library Association's director for intellectual freedom, said the FBI was treading on the rights it is supposed to be upholding.
"It's unfortunate because these records and this information can be had with so little reason or explanation," Krug said. "It's super secret and anyone who wants to talk about what the FBI did at their library faces prosecution. That has nothing to do with patriotism."
Krug tells worried librarians who call that they should keep only the records they need and should discard records that would reveal which patron checked out a book and for how long.
She is frustrated by the hate mail she says she receives when she speaks out against the Patriot Act.
"People are scared and they think that by giving up their rights, especially their right to privacy, they will be safe," Krug said. "But it wasn't the right to privacy that let terrorists into our nation. It had nothing to do with libraries or library records."
Some libraries said they will still resist government efforts to obtain records.
Pat McCandless, assistant director for public services for Ohio State University's libraries, said, "State law and professional ethics say we do not convey patron information and that is still our stance.
"To the best of our ability, we would try to support patron confidentiality," she said.
The FBI is visiting libraries nationwide and checking the reading records of people it suspects of having ties to terrorists or plotting an attack,
How about the FBI checking out the library records of the White Supremecists who supposedly 'helped' Tim McVeigh plan and execute the ... (-er- that's about *two* generations behind the *current* conspiracy theory)
Will they be checking Padillo's (infamous and 'supposed' Johnny Doe #2) library record now?
I'm sure they would not be interested, but a guy named Mohammed Arafat, who checks out a book about nuclear waste, or a book about anthrax, could be a valuable lead.
Many of you here on FR can't or won't face the fact that this country is in a struggle for its very existence. Many of you would prefer that we cease to exist, than to forfeit one little freedom.
Our constitution will be worthless if we fail to overcome those who plan to destroy us.
Good advice. Wise advice even.
We should apply that to both major political parties.
And you know this how? Are you privy to everything the FBI knows and has done to foil Al Qaeda? How do you know how much information they have developed from the 1,000+ Muslims they are holding who were in the country illegally? You don't.
Not only that, excluding the war on terror, there are plenty of other reasons for the FBI, not the least of which is interstate criminals of the ordinary type. That's why the FBI was created in the first place. The bottom line is if you are going to have a Federal government, you are going to have Federal laws, and need some way to enforce them.
Ond more thing, your arguments are contradictory. One the one hand you say the the FBI is weak and ineffectual, but you are afraid they are going to impose some kind of dictatorship. How are they going to do that if they are such bumbling idiots?
Rubbish. Most of us are concerned about the aftermath of this Viename War on Terrorism. We are concerned about how powerful the police will be once its over. It takes 5 days to restrict your rights in the name of a "higher cause" but it takes at least 5 years, if ever, to get them back. If our country destroys the legal value of the Bill of Rights in the process of fighting the VWoT then fighting it was pointless because we've lost in the end. Reread the 2nd amendment, a free and armed people are the best defense force for a republican government. The passengers on board the aircraft-missiles of 9-11 did more to protect our country than their government.
Please get off this Hillary fantasy. If you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to hide. There is nothing it the constitution that forces you to incriminate yourself.
And yes, it is/was in my local community library. I didn't check it out, I bought one for my own little library.
It is because of people like you that we have the kind of big and intrusive government that we have had for so long.
Back to the point of the article, how does the FBI looking at library records violate the Bill of Rights? The Fourth Ammendment says you have a right to be secure in your person and property. Library records are not your property. Most public records are open to the public. If they aren't, that is by statute, not the Constitution.
Its that type of stuff they are looking for. Maybe an interest in infrastructure, detailed maps, aviation. There's stuff you can get in some libraries that are not on the internet.
BTW your scrawny little pop shooters of your armed citizens, are no match for the modern day warfare. You will have no chance against missiles, nuclear bombs, tanks etc.
When our forefathers wrote the constitution, a well armed militia meant that they were armed with compatible weapons. Your F**king little hunting rifles and pistols will be useless against a modern day armed force.
The Feds will learn I read Nora Roberts and Carl Hiiassen.MZB and Piers Anthony.I checked out the Satanic Verses, but it was kind of lame and I couldnt get through it(the librarian will vouch for that).I read Bias and Hell to Pay.The Pagan Nun and all of Anne Rice's books.Occasionally I pick up a biography or a history book.
I wonder what they will get from my Douglas Adams and Kahill Gibran history.Toss in some Tanith Lee and Richard Bach with Joanna Lindsey
The largest records on my file are childrens sections books and videos.Dr Seuss is heavily represented.I forget which of the WWF titles I picked up(for the articles ;^).
I successfully hide all my devious and dangerous reading habits by buying books at flea markets and yard sales.
D@mn, I'm busted!I just remembered I read almost every Dave Barry book from library resources!
We're already worried about you....
NeverGore :^)
Absolutely not. Shooting down an airplane-turned-missile is an appropriate response for the military.
BTW your scrawny little pop shooters of your armed citizens, are no match for the modern day warfare. You will have no chance against missiles, nuclear bombs, tanks etc.
You sound like a good member of Handgun Control Inc.
I served in the military, and know better than to bring a knife to a gunfight.It is also important to remember to bring your gun to a gunfight.
My back is not so broad I can cover those who have no skill or will to defend themselves.I sincerely hope it does not come down to that point,as it has historically, but if it does, I am sure you will forgive those of us who can take care of our own not jumping out to save those who rely on "someone" else.
Since when is a LOCAL library under any obligation to a Federal agency?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.