Library Trustees Protest Patriot Act

February 27, 2003
by Janet Steiner, Library Director

At the February 27, 2003 meeting of the Tompkins County Public Library Board of Trustees, trustees voted unanimously to formally protest certain provisions of the Patriot Act which infringe upon citizens' rights to privacy in their search for information.

In addition, the trustees urged users of the library to learn about the provisions of the Patriot Act that may affect the privacy of their records or their use of the Internet. Informational signs will be posted within the library. Library Director Janet Steiner said that the library will comply with federal law.

Tompkins County Public Library's resolution supports similar resolutions adapted by the New York Library Association and the American Library Association. All three organizations recognize the importance of preventing terrorist acts, but point out that provisions of the USA Patriot Act, the Homeland Security Act and new FBI guidelines "undermine constitutionally protected rights of Americans by expanding the authority of the government beyond already existing laws to investigate the private lives of citizens."

Under the current library policy, any request for patron information must be accompanied by a search warrant, court order or subpoena. However, under the new law, the library may not disclose 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. Background information as well as the full text of the American Library Association's Patriot Act Resolution can be found here.

Tompkins County Public Library Board of Trustees Resolution on Patriot Act http://www.tcpl.org/patriot/patriotactboard.html

The USA Patriot Act in the Library from the American Library Associationhttp://www.tcpl.org/patriot/nylapatriot.html

Public Officials Guide 2003 from the Finger Lakes Library Systemhttp://www.flls.org/2003advocacy/pubofficials2003.htm

Legislative Action Centerhttp://capwiz.com/arthritis/home/