Be careful which books you check out at the library

Hiya laglen, I am reading that right there every Book you take out of The Libraries will be checked by them who is them exactly? I am a bit puzzled does that mean every Book in the land out of any Library is going to be checked I can imagine why and what for but I don´t know if I have grasped the meaning of that. I know what you mean by that they are already going against the grain with what they have stated before. That happens here already and we are used to that. We all have a sort of game going here it´s sort of like "Spot The Deliberate Mistake" (grin) we listen to them one Day and see if they stick to what they say the next Day.

The extension means that they will *still* be able to see what books you check out. That was already in effect. The vote just keeps it in play. What it means is that libraries are supposed to keep a record of every book that's checked out and that government agents can ask for anyone's reading record. In practice, that's hardly ever happened, since it's intended to (supposedly) keep terrorism under control. If you read a lot of books about making bombs, killing people, or overturning the government, that might mean you're a potential terrorist. Of course, it's more likely that you're doing research for a school paper or something like that, or those are just interesting subjects for you. Legally, libraries can't refuse to keep those records, but some head librarians have refused. And some librarians have fought openly against the law, even though it's stated in such a way that, legally, they can't even talk about it, and could be prosecuted for it.

They have been doing this for years - long before Patriot Act II. In Houston and surrounding cities in Texas, you cannot even use the computer with a library card! They have computer cards for visitors and anyone who chooses not to use his/her assigned library card. I always request the temporary computer card to get online in the library - It is amazing how a government can be so insecure that it believes it ought to keep constant track of people! We are only free in words only in this great nation.

beside budget cuts to the poor (cutting in the area of health care, dissability and food stamps) and now this? i have to say i am glad i am not an american!

I can only tell you that, as a librarian who has worked in 4 different library systems, NOT ONE OF THEM has used a system that tracks what books people check out after they're returned. If you check out a book at any of the libraries I've worked at, it is only on your record till you bring it back. There is no way to look up your history. The only exception is that people can typically track the books they've read on the website if they CHOOSE to opt in. By default, nobody's history is kept. I started working in libraries in 2003 and the people who designed the Millennium software that many libraries use specifically told us that they made it that way to thwart the Patriot Act when they were pitching their software to us.

I knew they would put it up for another vote, but I liked the fact that it failed the first time. I agree that this bill doesn't follow the rule about citing the part of the Constitution that grants congress these powers. They will tell you they are not breaking their rules, they are working for our protection. Meanwhile, more and more people start to feel like they need protection from the government as it encroaches more and more into their private lives. I hate filling in passwords and such every time I log into sites, but I am afraid that I am going to have to get used to it, because I am going to start using private browsing mode full time. There's a kind of paranoia afoot, and I see no reason not to join in and get my share. This is why the Republicans are their own worst enemy. They need to have a stronger spine, really stand for the Constitution no matter what. It's very disappointing...

Is that not the same when they tell you what sorts of things you have to discuss? I guess if you say that you are a writer and you want to do research on bomb makers or terrorist weapons that will be allowed, but why should anyone justify the reason they are checking out certain books at the library? Will they then go to the internet if you want to do research on the subject?

I had to shake my head in sadness when I hear they pushed the partriot act again after it failed. Neither side has a clue about what the citizens of this country want. Or how unconstitutional something is.I mean really...whose business is it what I read. Oh and by the way it is not just the library...they can find out what books you are buying at the book stores too if you use a credit card or their "membership" cards. Got an e-reader? They can trace what you download to it. More lip service. No follow through.

The Patriot Act is an erosion of civil liberties in the U.S. It is unfortunate that that is has been extended. The library issue has been present in the Act since its inception. I don't know that it has been enforced much, but I agree that it constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy, much like phone taps and the like.

Fortunately, I don't check out books at the library . But they can find out everywhere I've been on the internet And no, I don't like it and you're right about telling us one thing and doing another. Let's see if it continues. If it does, we'll vote yet another way, until they finally get the messages...