It may be a good thing that your local librarians are trying to warn you that you're subject to being snooped on by gov't agencies with secret administrative warrants. But, I thought everyone knew this since about 2006.

At least since the late 1960's although not electronically of course. It is probably just a required notice so you know that they can be accessed.

I remember it being quite controversial at the time.

Sad, when they switched from old school card checkout system to electronic, I was to be able to search my history and view the books I've read, but forgot about.

Got to keep an eye on the "Catcher in the Rye" patrons?

The Feds got access to library information early in the WOT. They can access your records & the library is forbidden to inform you of the inquiry. Librarians were incensed about this, and found ways to fight back.

This warning is probably just there as a caution intended to remind you of the law, and that your actions are theoretically open to police surveillance.

I couldn't get the name of a book I had read sometime earlier because of it. I couldn't remember the name of the book and thought they might be able to help me. Nope, not a chance...they didn't have a record of it.

several times a week including yesterday. Why today did they decide to inform me? Sure I will have to start asking questions, but thought maybe someone, who has been following the County Board of Supervisors and other law makers might know something. We do have a newly elected Tea Party member of the Board.

It's a simple, legit query, imo. ("What's this notice mean?&quot

The police have no right to access my personal information without a search warrant anymore than they should rummage through my makeup bag or purse for that matter without a search warrant. Also, I believe I have a right to know if they have been given some permission to do so without my consent. If they don't need permissions, then something really reeks of police state and I have lived in a police state and know what it smells like.

Mrs. 'Droid is a librarian, and when the Patriot Act came along with this little fascist nugget, her library joined most ethical libraries in removing the checkout data from the book record. This means that your patron record has a list of the books you checked out, but the book entry no longer has a record of the patrons who checked out the book. The book entry only lists the last person to checkout the book.

It's not a complete solution to a fascist state looking at our reading habits, but at least they can't go to the Anarchist's Cook Book record and pull a list of everyone who checked it out.

I get your gist, but hyperbole in this instance serves no one. I think it's a stretch.

I'm sure the people of Ferguson think it's all hyperbole as well. </sarcasm>

I toyed briefly with the idea that your post was convoluted sarcasm, but it sounds like you are serious.

<07>

The local PD is out of the picture as far as 1st Amendment free speech demonstrations go. Last night's gatherings were on the whole peaceful and unfettered by law enforcement. All has been widely documented by the media. I don't think we've seen the end of this by any means. The incident and the communities response clearly call for change. I think it will start with Ferguson and go on from there.

Find me a Mussolini in this scenario and I'll consider your claim of fascism. Otherwise I feel you're adopting the situations to fit some pre-conceived agenda.

Let it play out - in the communities, the various agencies and the public at large. You just might be surprised at the results of it all.

but perusing the privacy policy it seems like the two areas in which they may save info are

speak. I don't save searches or maintain a permanent reading list. Now the court order mandate seems logical, but wouldn't it mean that they have to notify me? I guess I'm going to have to ask questions. I know I'm not being singled out and that it should be the same for everyone. It just seems not so kosher to me that law enforcement doesn't have to tell you they are searching your records.

libraries are living up to best practices in privacy and civil liberties protection...

Also, the notice has disappeared since I posted this.

me that it was because of the Patriot Act. Well, that's not a mystery, but he said it was only if I made a list or kept track of my borrows. So since I do neither why was I given a warning? He couldn't answer that.

On another note I watched Citizenfour today about the Edward Snowden story and it's pretty scary just how wide a net our government is throwing into snooping into the daily lives of common people. It's all allowed because of this legislation, the Patriot Act, which I think should be repealed because it's unconstitutional and frankly not patriotic.