Colleagues:
I am forwarding to you a recommended action item from ALA's Washington
office. It invites you (as an individual citizen) to voice (to senators)
your concerns about the PATRIOT Act, support a possible amendment that
challenges specific provisions of the PATRIOT Act vis a vis libraries, and
to counter Ashcroft's unflattering characterization of librarians.
Regards,
Vanessa Kam
Co-chair, Public Policy Committee
Associate Art Librarian and Exhibits and Publications Manager
Stanford University Libraries
>>> "ALAWASH E-MAIL" <[log in to unmask]> 09/28/03 02:55PM >>>
ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 12, Number 88
September 28, 2003
In This Issue: ACTION ALERT
The Attorney General has characterized ALA and librarians in general
as "dupes" of civil liberties groups (i.e., we are too dumb to figure
out
the problems with the USA PATRIOT Act ourselves and are easily misled)
and as "hysterical." Please contact your Senators to tell them how you
feel about the portrayal of librarians by the Attorney General. You
know what to say.
We also ask that you inform them of how important the protection of
the privacy of library users is and ask for their support of
legislation
that would restore that protection.
BACKGROUND
There is a developing bi-partisan interest in the Senate for
legislation, possibly an amendment to the Senate FY 2004
appropriations bill for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State
(aka CJS), that would address the use of funds for implementation of
FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Court orders under Section
215 of the
USA PATRIOT Act.
ACTION
Please call your Senators as soon as possible to let them know that
you would like them to support legislation that seeks to recognize the
problems of the PATRIOT Act related to libraries and library records.
Advise them that you will be back in touch with them in the near
future
as legislation moves.
It is most important that REPUBLICAN Senators hear from their
constituents. You should ask them both for their support AND for them
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