[WEB4LIB] Re: FBI to monitor libraries

[Karen Harker]

Based on what I've read, it seems that the new changes in the FBI apply to what the agents do, not the records that are liable to be requesting.  That was covered in the PATRIOT ACT.  The changes to what agents do seem to imply that an agent may come into the library and *observe* library patrons/staff/etc.  The rules should enable the FBI agents to be a little more nosy, but it should not apply to our records.

The PATRIOT ACT, however, allows the FBI/CIA/etc. to request records that could tie users to materials viewed/borrowed/etc. with (and possibly without?) a warrant and certainly *without* the knowledge of the suspect.  

And while most ILS systems do not store circulation records after the items are returned, the backup tapes do.  These, too, may be requested.  We may feel we are supporting the privacy of our users, but we are doing little better than when we had cards people signed to check out books.  

We used to collect IP addresses in our "Search the Library" logs, but are no longer doing this.  However, I wouldn't be surprised if this info is being saved somewhere in IR for the sake of information management.

Any casual Web user should know that what they view, no matter from where, even (eventually especially?) a library, may be traced back to him/her.



Karen R. Harker, MLS
UT Southwestern Medical Library
5323 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX  75390-9049
214-648-1698
http://www.swmed.edu/library/

>>> Daniel Messer <dmesser at yvrls.lib.wa.us> 5/30/02 3:24:05 PM >>>
    You know, I saw a headline on a website soon after the tragedies of the WTC,
Pentagon, and Pennsylvania that said "America Attacked By Terrorists, Civil
Rights Crackdown Soon To Follow." I think most of us good cynics knew this was
coming. Me, I've always been slightly weirded out by the fact that Ashcroft
looks a LOT like the cigarette smoking man in X-Files, or vice versa. So this
raises a question, what if a library doesn't keep track of its server logs,
OPAC logs, proxy info, and stuff like that? Would they now be forced to? If
someone went and told our IT crew right now that they'd be responsible for
maintaining a log of such computer activities you'd be able to hear them
scream from here to Seattle. And they'd be even more upset if they had to hand
over such logs to the FBI simply because the FBI asked for them.
    Here in Washington we have state laws that protect the information libraries
have. In short, you need a search warrent to look at our database and it had
better be a very well written one at that. I'm not a legal expert, so this may
be a dumb question. Do the new events related to us in the Yahoo article allow
the FBI to obtain this information without a warrent? In other words can they
a) simply order the database over to them in the interests of "national
security" or b) hack our system ala Carnivore and offer no reason or
explanation?
    Don't know about all of you, but I find BOTH prospects to be extremely
disturbing.
    And one last shot, if you haven't heard about the recent escpades of
Carnivore, you should check this out...

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/05/28/national1704EDT0711.DTL

Dan


"Andrew K. Pace" <andrew_pace at ncsu.edu> said:
> 
> Interesting that we have been on a thread of OPAC logs.  Is everyone ready
> to turn those logs over to the FBI?  Better get the web logs, proxy, and
> patron records out while we're at it.  Is there a patron field or web
> server log delineation for "foreigner?"  It's always refreshing to see
> professional ethics described as "bureaucratic restrictions."
> 
> That was sarcasm, just in case anyone has mistaken my ethical concern for
> sympathy with Mr. Ashcroft's new plans ;)
> 
> -Andrew

-- 
Mondai wa
The subject in question...
-------------
Daniel Messer
Assistant Circulation Manager
Yakima Valley Regional Library
dmesser at yvrl.org
509-452-8541 ext 761
102 N 3rd St  Yakima, WA  98901
-----------
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
                                         -Hunter S. Thompson
Just because nobody complains doesn't mean all parachutes are perfect.
                                         -Benny Hill



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