American Library Association Resolution on the USA PATRIOT Act and Libraries
WHEREAS, The SAFE Act in both the Senate (S. 737) and House (H.R. 1526) and the Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R. 1157) contain provisions that would restore the privacy rights of library users; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives took a stand against open-ended searches of library records when it passed on June 14, 2005, by a vote of 238 to 187, the amendment proposed by Representative Bernie Sanders to the House FY 2006 Science-State-Justice appropriations bill barring the Department of Justice from using appropriated funds to search library and bookstore records under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act; and
WHEREAS, The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence recently passed legislation (S. 1266) that would vastly expand the government's authority under the USA PATRIOT Act allowing the FBI to issue subpoenas, with no prior judicial oversight, to get any records from any entity; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urges the Senate, in the FY 2006 Senate Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill, to bar the use of appropriated funds by the Justice Department to search library and bookstore records under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urges Congress to pass legislation that restores the privacy rights of library users; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the American Library Association opposes any further initiatives on the part of the United States government to constrain the free expression of ideas or to inhibit the use of libraries as represented in the USA PATRIOT Act expansion bill marked-up in secret by the Senate Select Intelligence Committee; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the American Library Association urges librarians and library trustees throughout the country to continue their efforts to educate their users on the impact of Sections 215 and 505 of the USA PATRIOT Act on libraries.
Adopted by the Council of the American Library Association
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
In Chicago, Illinois