[Libs-Or] INFORMATION: ALA: Senate Judiciary Committee takes step toward fix for PATRIOT’s ‘library provision’

[Diedre Conkling]

ALA: Senate Judiciary Committee takes step toward fix for PATRIOT’s ‘library
provision’ <http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=5763>
March 10, 2011 ( No
Comments<http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=5763#comments>)

Contact: Jenni Terry
Press Officer
ALA Washington Office
(202) 628-8410
jterry at alawash.org

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2011

*WASHINGTON, D.C.* –  The American Library Association (ALA) says the Senate
Judiciary Committee’s passage of the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act of
2011 (S. 193) today was a critical step in reauthorizing and reforming
Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act. The committee passed the bill with a
vote of 10-7.

Section 215, the business records provision in the PATRIOT Act, has often
been referred to as the “library provision.” The bill reported by the
committee requires the government to demonstrate a connection to terrorism
or espionage before it can obtain library and bookstore records in
intelligence investigations.

“The Senate Judiciary Committee has done the right thing by recognizing that
there should be a higher level of judicial review for law enforcement to
obtain readers’ records from libraries and bookstores,” Lynne Bradley,
director of the ALA Office of Government Relations (OGR), said.

“How people use their libraries should be subject to greater privacy
protection because reading and accessing information is such an inherent
part of First Amendment activities.”

Section 215 and two other sections of the USA PATRIOT Act are scheduled to
sunset on May 27, 2011.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced S. 193 in
February.  As introduced, it required that the government prove a connection
to a terrorist or spy before it can access an individual’s library records
under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act.  Under current law, the government
need only demonstrate mere relevance to an investigation. Today the
committee adopted an amendment to extend this special protection to
bookseller records as well.

“We thank Senator Leahy and all of the senators who supported the readers’
privacy language,” Bradley said.

“The library community will be working with all stakeholders to preserve
this important provision as S. 193 moves to the Senate floor and as the
House proceeds with its work on reauthorization of Section 215.”
http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=5763

-- 

*Diedre Conkling**
Lincoln County Library District
P.O. Box 2027
Newport, OR 97365
Phone & Fax: 541-265-3066
Work email**: **diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org*<diedre at lincolncolibrarydist.org>
*
Home email: **diedre08 at gmail.com* <diedre08 at gmail.com>
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