ALA Study Reports Law Enforcement Inquiries at Libraries

-- Library Journal, 06/21/2005

How frequently have law enforcement agencies requested records from libraries? According to a new study sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA), federal, state, and local officials have made 137 formal inquiries—and additional informal inquiries—regarding library records since October 2001. Undoubtedly even more requests were made; the study surveyed 1,500 public libraries and 4,008 academic libraries, of which some 460 and 840 libraries responded, respectively. However, the study does not answer how often the USA PATRIOT Act has been used, since there’s a gag order regarding such requests, so it’s unclear whether the requests regarded terrorism or intelligence matters.

The study, first revealed in the June 20 New York Times before results were released publicly by ALA, will undoubtedly be part of the debate about reauthorizing and partly limiting the Patriot Act. Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the ALA Washington Office said, "We now know with certainty that law enforcement is visiting libraries and asking for information on library patrons. We must ensure that the proper oversight is in place to ensure that the government doesn't conduct 'fishing expeditions' at America's libraries." A Justice Department spokesman, who could not comment directly on the findings, emphasized to the Times that it wasn’t clear what the inquiries regarded.