I recently discovered Don Wood’s blog Library 2.0 (thanks Library Juice!). Don is the Program Officer/Communications at the American Library Association‘s Office for Intellectual Freedom, whose goals is to educate librarians and the general public about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.
A recent post discusses the ALA’s response to statements by the director of the FBI that they say reveals the Bureau’s continued lack of understanding of libraries and the sanctity of library users’ privacy. Don’s post provides so many helpful links, I am reproducing it in full below:
In an ALA Washington Office press release, FBI Director’s Comments to Senate Reveal Continued Hostility Toward Libraries, Privacy, it is noted that in a written response to the U.S. Senate, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert S. Mueller III again demonstrated that “the Department of Justice fails to comprehend the role of libraries and the importance of privacy in the United States.”
“It’s been made clear on several occasions that the Senate intends for libraries to be protected,” said ALA President Leslie Burger, “but the FBI willfully ignores the intent and maintains its correctness in the law.”
See also Mueller’s answers in their entirety(PDF) and USA PATRIOT Act and Intellectual Freedom.
See also Privacy Lost and Regained and The Erosion of Privacy.
Amazing stuff.