INFO: USA Patriot Act

[Drew, Bill]

Forwarded for your information.  Sounds like McCarthyism is returning in the
guise of trying to save the nation from its self.
 
Bill Drew
-----Original Message-----
From: Audrey Gorman [mailto:agorman at ALA.ORG]
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2001 8:34 AM
To: AXSLIB-L at MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: INFO: USA Patriot Act


The following information about the USA Patriot ACT was prepared by the
Office for Intellectual Freedom and reviewed by legal counsel.  More
information on the Act is being developed and will be made available on
ALA's website.  Please pass this message on to as many library staff and
library supporters as possible.
 
On October 25, 2001, Congress passed the "Uniting and  Strengthening America
by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism
Act" (USA PATRIOT Act.)  This law broadly expands the powers of federal law
enforcement agencies investigating cases involving foreign intelligence and
international terrorism.
 
The new legislation amends the laws governing the Federal Bureau of
Investigation's access to business records.  One provision orders any person
or institution served with a search warrant not to disclose that such a
warrant has been served or that records have been produced pursuant to the
warrant. 
 
The existence of this provision does not mean that libraries and librarians
served with such a search warrant cannot ask to consult with their legal
counsel concerning the warrant.   A library and its employees can still seek
legal advice concerning the warrant and request that the library's legal
counsel  be present during the actual search and execution of the warrant. 
 
If you or your library are served with a warrant issued under this law, and
wish the advice of legal counsel but do not have an attorney, you can still
obtain assistance from Jenner & Block, the Freedom to Read Foundation's
legal counsel.  Simply call the Office for Intellectual Freedom and inform
the staff that you need legal advice without disclosing the reason you need
legal assistance.  OIF staff will assure that an attorney from Jenner &
Block returns your call.  You do not and should not inform OIF staff of the
existence of the warrant.   
_____________



*********************************************************************
Due to deletion of content types excluded from this list by policy,
this multipart message was reduced to a single part, and from there
to a plain text message.
*********************************************************************