Week 3, Thing 7: Create a blog post about anything technology related.

Oh technology! I guess I want to post about privacy issues and the library. If someone is making threats on My Space while using an OPAC, what role (if any) does the library play in helping law enforcement? Can we release info about an alleged threat maker? I do not think we can...I feel the hosting website (My Space) should investigate its members' behavior, and then decide if any wrong doing has taken place. If so, they could terminate the account or take other appropriate measures. I know the whole Patriot Act issue has been a hot topic; but if police have served a warrant, what then? Can they access patron info with that authority? The bottom line is accountability-personal responsibility. Folks need to police themselves and their actions, but given human nature, we know many who do not practice this. New issues for the new century I suppose.

A fellow co-worker pointed this out to me: this posted 2 July 2007:

USA Patriot Act Guidelines
For FCPL Staff

(Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept Terrorism)

In October 2001 President Bush signed the USA Patriot Act into law. The act is intended to assist in curbing terrorism in part by improving law enforcement agencies access to electronic information. The law particularly affects libraries because they offer patrons access to the Internet and electronic mail, tools terrorists are known to use.

Libraries are committed to the confidentiality of patron records. Before the USA Patriot Act became law officials were required to show due cause before they could get a court order to view patron records. The USA Patriot Act releases them from that requirement.

Staff Response to Law Enforcement Officers

If law enforcement officials approach you your response is simple. Verify that they are who they say they are by scrutinizing their identification. Call administration immediately or, if after hours, call the CBA LIC who can contact someone from administration. Ultimately the Library Director will be the person who interacts with the officers. It is important that you understand you are not allowed to discuss this interaction with anyone except your administration.

Read More At:

American Libraries Association:

www.ala.org/oif/usapatriotact.html

American Civil Liberties Union

http://forms.aclu.org/L/www.aclu.org/safeandfree/index.cfm?MX=491&H=O

Lawyer’s Committee on Human Rights

www.lchr.org/aftersept/loss/report.htm