Books signed out at public libraries must be reported

c.i.
Big brother is watching.

au, I'm just wondering how far this president is willing to go for the American People? c.i.

Hi, ci...I doubt the accuracy of the report . Librarians are very emphatic that they should not be required, and in fact would not comply with any order to disclose records of library useage. This story pops up periodically.

They are not "required to report" anything. They are required to produce records when served with a warrant.

"Section 215: Access to Records Under Foreign Intelligence Security Act (FISA):

Allows an FBI agent to obtain a search warrant for "any tangible thing," which can include books, records, papers, floppy disks, data tapes, and computers with hard drives.

Permits the FBI to compel production of library circulation records, Internet use records, and registration information stored in any medium.

Does not require the agent to demonstrate "probable cause," the existence of specific facts to support the belief that a crime has been committed or that the items sought are evidence of a crime. Instead, the agent only needs to claim that he believes that the records he wants may be related to an ongoing investigation related to terrorism or intelligence activities, a very low legal standard.

Libraries or librarians served with a search warrant issued under FISA rules may not disclose, under of penalty of law, the existence of the warrant or the fact that records were produced as a result of the warrant. A patron cannot be told that his or her records were given to the FBI or that he or she is the subject of an FBI investigation."

http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/usapatriotlibrary.html

"Libraries or librarians served with a search warrant issued under FISA rules may not disclose, under of penalty of law, the existence of the warrant or the fact that records were produced as a result of the warrant. A patron cannot be told that his or her records were given to the FBI or that he or she is the subject of an FBI investigation."
and that, in my mind, constitutes a police state

Thanks, fishin, Sounds like something they might already have done before the Patriot Act, if a warrant is required. c.i.

Here's an interesting link on the Waco Warrants on the Branch Dividian compound, and what went wrong. http://i2i.org/SuptDocs/Waco/warrant.htm

c.i.

Yikes we might as well be in Iraq.

"Thanks, fishin, Sounds like something they might already have done before the Patriot Act, if a warrant is required. c.i."
the change is that no justification is now required for the warrant other than the statement "reason to believe"

Maybe, Saddam is going to win the war. We lose all our freedoms, and Saddam survives this war. He'll end up with more freedoms than Americans. c.i.

You do tend to hyperbolize, C.I.-

just a widdle bit.

i only exaggerate

What chat-room was he visiting!?!

Come on, now. I know I blow it up way out of proportion... but that's part of the 'fun.' Gotta keep a 'lil humor going, or these things can get way too serious. c.i.

This was seen in a library in Santa Cruz:





people, shouldn't this worry us?

snood, This administration continues to attack many of our 'freedoms,' but people don't seem to know or mind. They all think it's justified in the war against terrorism. I wonder if anybody is keeping track of all the ways this government is constricting our freedoms? When we consider the short time span in which this government has implemented so many new laws and regulations on keeping track of our personal information, it does make one wonder how much farther they will go in two more years? As long as it doesn't seem to affect "me," I think we're going to see more laws and regulations as the Patriot Act. c.i.