[WEB4LIB] RE: FBI to monitor libraries

[GRAY, PAUL]

> When was the last time you had sex?
Last week

> With whom?
My wife

> Did you enjoy it? 
Yes

> Did your partner?
As far as I know

> Please share your answers with the entire list.
I just did - 

>Surely you are not uncomfortable with publicly responding to these questions
>as "you have nothing to hide".

and another rule of thumb is not to ask a question unless you are ready for the answer 
:-)

> . . .

> What level, type, and amount of information regarding patron behavior should
> a library be legally and ethically required to collect and maintain? and
> why? 

These are VERY good questions.
>From my experience - both librarians and computer types are notorious gatherers of data.
(Yes this is a generalization but I feel an honest one and not in the least derogatory)

If you don't NEED to gather the information for your own organizational needs -- 
And you aren't reguired by law to gather it -- then don't gather it to start with - then the other questions become moot. Not to mention the time and paper you save. 

My only issue is with those who would destroy data primarily to avoid turning it over to authorized investigators.

> Under what circumstances should the library share this information?

When called upon to do so by a duly authorized law enforcement official or investigator.
And yes -- believe it or not -- I DO share the concerns voiced over how easy it may soon become to get such authorization.  Conducting a search without a warrant stomps all over the 4th amendment.

>And if the "three Middle Eastern guys" happen to be fourth generation US
> citizens of Armenian Christian decent?

These are EXTREMELY valid questions. 
Cutting someone out based solely on appearance is very much against the spirit of what it SHOULD mean to be an American.

Hey - I wear black - have long hair and a beard - and a somewhat rugged complexion.
You think that makes me look suspicious in a library -- you should have seen the looks I got when I used to step into a pulpit.

I have no problem with my use of library systems being monitored or checked - so long as I am either being treated the same as everyone else -- or there is some tangible reason I am a suspect.

> This is a very serious professional question that warrants continual
> examination and discussion.

And NOT just in the library community - this is a national issue

> Just what is the librarians professional obligation to answer a question?
> When can a librarian ethically refuse to answer a question?

You left out -- legally -- 
If you choose to hold back information you are legally required to share -- 
Do you feel strongly enough about your ethics to go to jail for them.
By the way - if you do -- even though I would probably disagree with you - I would respectfully salute you.

PHG