Get Informed about the
USA Patriot Act

On October 25, 2001, Congress passed the “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act” (USA PATRIOT Act.) This law broadly expands the powers of federal law enforcement agencies investigating cases involving foreign intelligence and international terrorism. (cited from the ALA home page: http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/usapatriotact.html#usapatriotact

Why is this law important to the library community? There is a fear that the Patriot Act will curtail Americans' civil rights. This affects the library community because users have always felt that whatever research they did in a library or the material they checked-out was always held in the strictest confidence. But after attending the satellite teleconference “Safeguarding Our Patrons’ Privacy: What Every Librarian Needs to Know About the USA Patriot Act & Related Anti –Terrorism Measures,” cosponsored by, American Association of Law Libraries, American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, Medical Library Association and Special Libraries Association, I think that it is important for libraries to be aware of the recommendations suggested in the broadcast. For example, in the handout there is a section listed below which has useful information. Strong emphasis was placed on training your library staff and knowing the policies of your library.

The Library Respects the Privacy of all its Patrons

• Adopt the confidentiality legislation of your state as Library Policy
• Establish procedures for staff to follow if they are approached by an individual
• Law enforcement at any level of government
• Fellow staff member
• Patron concern

Create Relationships

• With law enforcement at all levels
• Other institutions to share information
• With your professional library associations
• Have Policies & Procedures in Place Before You are Visited
• Review all policies and procedures
• Make necessary amendments now
• Brief your board of Trustees, city officials, general counsel, senior management
• Orient staff in public service and IT functions to library protocol

Many students work the circulation desk on weekends and at night so it is especially important that all staff including part-time employee have the information they need to react properly in any given situation. If your institution/library has a policy (or policies) for addressing issues related to law enforcement and patron privacy, invite someone from the appropriate office to discuss this policy with the group. It may be the case there are both institutional and library policies that are relevant. Make copies of the policies available.

The following are web site addresses, taken from the teleconference handout, which you may want to visit:

Association of Research Libraries. “The Search Seizure of Electronic Information: The Law Before and After the USA PATRIOT Act” (.pdf file) http://www.arl.org/info/frn/other/matrix.pdf
Center for Democracy and Technology. “Response to September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attack” http://www.cdt.org/security/010911response.shtml
Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). “The Attorney General’s Guidelines” http://www.epic.org/privacy/fbi/
NASULGC/AAU, “Post September 11 Resources for Universities” http://www.aau.edu/resources/resources.html
OMB Watch. “Homeland Security Act Resource Page” http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/943/1/18
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Policy. “Attorney General Guidelines Regarding Information Sharing Under the USA PATRIOT Act” http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/

NewsLetter Articles: Neal, James. “Reaction to Terror: Gauging the aftermath and the Impact of the USAPATRIOT Legislation. “College & Research Libraries News (Forthcoming, Spring 2003)