Librarians Have Catalog Of Issues To Share With Lawmakers

Wed. May 14, 2008


Librarians are not thought of as lobbying heavyweights, but when it comes to protecting patron privacy, lawmakers could get an earful today. Hundreds of literature lovers plan to canvass Capitol Hill armed with talking points about revisions to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, national security letters and a host of other topics important to the 110th Congress.

On FISA, American Library Association members have joined other watchdog groups to urge support for a bill by House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers. They believe it contains needed reporting requirements for congressional oversight; protections against unconstitutional surveillance. It also has a 2009 sunset provision; stronger judicial oversight, and a "probable cause" requirement for spying on Americans overseas.

Regarding FBI-issued security letters, the ALA believes Congress should embrace bills by Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., that would place strict safeguards on and ensure the legality of the administrative subpoenas that let agents obtain --without warrants -- private records about citizens' communications for terrorism and espionage investigations.

Those letters are "intensely offensive" to countless librarians who have received them but were barred from telling anyone due to accompanying gag orders, ALA President Loriene Roy said.

When confronted with this issue, her normally mild-mannered members' "fangs come out," she said. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft learned that the hard way in 2003 when he accused the group of fueling "baseless hysteria" about the government's ability to access the public's reading records.

His comments prompted widespread criticism and the ALA distributed buttons to members that read: "Another 'Hysterical' Librarian for Freedom."

Roy said individual libraries around the country have begun posting signs to inform patrons if the facility had not received a government request for user records. "The real message was to be warned when the sign was taken down," she said.

Around 400 librarians, who come to Washington to meet with lawmakers each spring, are in a unique position to "talk about how legislation like this impacts real Americans" because they are well-liked and trusted members of communities they serve, said Emily Sheketoff, who runs the Chicago-based group's D.C. office. "We have a real moral authority and we use it for good," she said.

ALA members' self-described mission to "protect the public interest" has compelled them to weigh in on the importance of educating citizens, especially in rural areas, on the February transition to digital television. They have worked with the Association of Public Television Stations and PBS to reach out to communities with information about the switchover.

Additionally, librarians will meet with their congressional delegations on a range of issues, including FY09 education appropriations; proposed changes to U.S. copyright law; e-government and open government initiatives, and the preservation of a federal program known as "E-rate," which provides computers and Internet access to economically disadvantaged schools and libraries.

by Andrew Noyes