OIF Blog

From May 2 through May 8, 2010, libraries across the nation will celebrate Choose Privacy Week for the first time. This new campaign invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age. The campaign gives libraries the resources they need to educate and engage their users, helping citizens think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy. Print and online tools provide libraries with out-of-the-box programming and outreach.

Posters, buttons, bookmarks, and a resource guide are now available for purchase in the ALA Online Store. (You can receive a 20% discount to these materials if you order before November 15, 2009 by using code PRIV20.) Be sure to visit the Choose Privacy Week website to learn more about the campaign, programming, and the privacy issues that libraries and their users face every day.

If you have questions or want to get more involved, contact Angela Maycock at (312) 280-4221 or amaycock@ala.org.

(Note: You also can follow Choose Privacy Week developments on Twitter at “privacyala“.)

Tags: General Interest, Office for Intellectual Freedom, Privacy by admin
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Today the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-8 to send the PATRIOT Act reauthorization bill to the full Senate. The New York Times and the Associated Press provide an overview of the hearing.

Senator Sessions (R-AL) offered several amendments (apparently sought by the Obama administration) that further limited provisions intended to increase civil liberties protections. All the amendments were adopted.

Of greatest interest to the library community is Sessions’ amendment to the proposed higher Section 215 standard for library records. The amendment eliminates the language “records pertaining to libraries” so that the higher standard only applies to library circulation records. Library records other than circulation records will therefore be subject to the same relevance standard applicable to all other business records and tangible things sought by a Section 215 order, even if such records associate users with the use of electronic books and other resources. For library circulation records, the government would have to prove that the records sought pertain to an agent of a foreign power, to a person in contact with or known to an agent of a foreign power, or to the activities of an agent of a foreign power.

Sessions’ amendments also alter proposed language that would have placed limits on NSL gag orders. One amendment eliminated the requirement that the FBI review all NSL non-disclosure orders on an ongoing basis and rescind the gag order when circumstances no longer warrant continuing it; instead, the FBI will only be required to review the facts supporting a gag order when an NSL recipient notifies the FBI that it would like the gag lifted. The second NSL amendment eliminated the court’s discretion on lifting a gag order: if the government makes the necessary showing, the court has no discretion to lift the gag; it “shall” keep it in place (previous language used “may”.)

The remaining Sessions amendments limited the minimization requirements for pen register/trap-and-trace orders.

Notably, Senator Durbin (D-IL) offered an amendment that would have imposed higher standards on NSLs. It was voted down.

Senator Feingold (D-WI) offered an amendment to impose minimization standards on the data collected by NSLs; it passed. But Senator Kyl (R-AZ) asked for, and won, an amendment that eliminated the requirement that the FBI offer “specific and articulable” facts to show that the NSL is relevant to an investigation; instead, the FBI will only be required to show “specific facts.”

(Thanks to the Center for Democracy and Technology for sharing their report on the hearing.)

Tags: Intellectual Freedom Issues, Privacy by Deborah Caldwell-Stone
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OIF has four new videos up featuring programs from the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  Check them out!

“My, those novels certainly are… graphic!”

One of the most popular intellectual freedom programs in years, this panel discussion was sponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee, Association of American Publishers, and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.  Speakers: Neil Gaiman, Terry Moore, and Craig Thompson. Moderated by Charles Brownstein of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

“Privacy in an Era of Change”

An engrossing conversation about the status of privacy under the new administration.  Cosponsored by the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee and the ALA Washington Office.  Speakers: Mary Ellen Callahan, Chief Privacy Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; David Sobel, Senior Counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation; and Craig Wacker, program officer for the MacArthur Foundation’s Digital Media & Learning initiative.

“Libraries, Librarians, and America’s War on Sex”

Sex ed advocate Marty Klein discusses the importance of having sexual information available to all library users.  Sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Round Table.

“Intellectual Freedom on the Front Lines”

Librarians and library supporters from West Bend, Wisconsin share their perspective on the protracted censorship challenges going on in their community at this issues briefing session, sponsored by the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Freedom to Read Foundation.  (See a blog post on the session from American Libraries’ Inside Scoop here.)

Tags: Censorship, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Privacy, Special Events, Uncategorized by Jonathan Kelley
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(Cross-posted from PrivacyRevolution.org)

Universal online access to search the full text of all the world’s books — it’s a vision that speaks to the heart of libraries’ mission to connect people with ideas. The Google Books Library Project has a noble goal — “to work with publishers and libraries to create a comprehensive, searchable, virtual card catalog of all books in all languages that helps users discover new books and publishers discover new readers.”

What could go wrong?

Plenty, as it turns out.

Google was sued by a group of publishers and authors to address copyright and other intellectual property issues, and the resulting proposed legal agreement — the Google Books Settlement — outlines the terms under which Google will be able to provide access to the 7 million books it has already scanned, and the millions more it will make available in the future. For more information on the settlement, including wonderful summaries that help simplify this very complex document, see the GBS page created by ALA’s Washington Office.

One of the most significant issues with the Google Books project is reader privacy, which is not addressed in the settlement. In a library, readers can browse anonymously and the privacy of library records is protected by state confidentiality laws, library policies, and the shared ethical framework of librarians. How will Google protect reader privacy?

In response to concerns from the library community, privacy activists, and others, Google has released a privacy policy specific to its Google Books service, which addresses many of the issues that have been raised. It’s a great start, but does it go far enough in ensuring that readers’ First Amendment rights aren’t chilled by the potential for monitoring and surveillance?

The Google Books Settlement impacts the rights of publishers, booksellers, libraries, authors, Google itself, and — most significantly, yet perhaps least considered — the rights of consumers and readers of digital books. Libraries and privacy advocates will continue to follow this situation and to fight for the privacy rights of all readers.

Tags: Privacy by Angela Maycock
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The American Association of School Librarians is presenting an informative and helpful preconference this year at its national conference in Charlotte, North Carolina:

“Law for School Librarians: Knowing Minors’ Rights” (Preconference)
Thursday, November 5, 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Charlotte, North Carolina
Fee: $109 (AASL member) / $214 (Non-member)

Preconference Summary: Learn how the First Amendment, state and federal laws, and judicial decisions affect the intellectual freedom of students using school library media centers. Topics to be covered include minors’ rights in school libraries, challenges to resources, labeling of resources, filtering Web resources, and privacy. Presenters will differentiate between public and private school libraries in terms of how laws apply, and will discuss the rights of younger versus older minors. Experienced library media specialists will facilitate group discussions and role playing related to challenges and students’ privacy, and will provide strategies for teaching students about their rights and responsibilities.

Presenters:

For more information and to register, please visit the AASL National Conference Web site.

Tags: Intellectual Freedom Issues, Intellectual Freedom Trainings, Privacy, Special Events, Uncategorized by admin
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Here are some intellectual freedom-related activities happening on Monday, July 13, 2009 at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.  Check out the conference wiki for more:

8:00 – 10: 00 a.m.

IFC/FTRF Issues Briefing Session: “Intellectual Freedom on the Front Lines: West Bend Library Supporters Share Their Story”
McCormick Place West, W-194a

The West Bend Community Library in West Bend, Wisconsin, faced an onslought of challenges earlier this year — including a lawsuit demanding that Lia Francesca Block’s Baby Be-Bop be publicly burned.  We have invited some of the library’s key supporters to share their insights.

10:30 a.m.– noon

IFC/Washington Office program: “Privacy in an Era of Change”
McCormick Place West, W-474

We have assembled a panel of thought-leaders on privacy – Mary Ellen Callahan (Department of Homeland Security), Craig Wacker (MacArthur Foundation), and David Sobel (Electronic Frontier Foundation) – to discuss the balance of privacy, security, and civil liberties in today’s digital age.

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.

IFC/AAP/CBLDF program: “My, Those Novels Certainly Are … Graphic!”
McCormick Place West, W-184

From the Comics Code to recent cases involving obscenity and child pornography charges, graphic novels seems to always be under the censors’ microscope. Neil Gaiman, Terry Moore, and Craig Thompson will discuss the effect of censorship on comics. Moderated by Charles Brownstein, director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.  Cosponsored by the Association of American Publishers and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Merritt Fund “Reception for a Cause”
Hilton Chicago  (720 S. Michigan Ave.), DuSable Suite #2567

Please join other supporters of the LeRoy C. Merritt Fund as we celebrate another year of assisting librarians who are facing discrimination or defending intellectual freedom. Appetizers and wine will be served.  $25.00 suggested donation.

Tags: Censorship, Intellectual Freedom Committee, LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Privacy, Special Events by Jonathan Kelley
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There is a change of speakers for Monday’s ALA Annual Conference panel “Privacy in an Era of Change,” sponsored by the Office for Intellectual Freedom and the Washington Office.

Jeff Jarvis will be unable to join us.  In his place will be Craig Wacker, program office for the Digital Media & Learning initiative of the MacArthur Foundation.  Thanks to Craig for filling in on such short notice!

The program is 10:30-noon in room W474 of McCormick Place West.  Following will be a tweet-up!

We hope you’ll be able to join us for what promises to be a terrific panel on an extremely important issue.  Joining Craig will be Mary Ellen Callahan, the Chief Privacy Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, and David Sobel, General Counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.  What has changed about the prospects for privacy – both under a new administration and given all of the changes wrought by technology?  Come to this panel and participate in our discussion!

For more on ALA’s privacy initiative, visit www.privacyrevolution.org.  And for a listing of other privacy programs happening at ALA Annual, visit http://www.oif.ala.org/oif/?p=393.

Tags: Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Privacy, Special Events by Jonathan Kelley
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We invite all those who are new to ALA’s Annual Conference, to librarianship, to ALA itself, or to the world of Intellectual Freedom to attend the following session:

Intellectual Freedom 101
Friday, July 10, 2009
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

McCormick Place West, Room W-194a

This session is part of ALA’s “Conference 101″ series of programs.

Our excellent speakers will discuss the history and ongoing work of OIF, IFC, IFRT, FTRF, COPE, the Merritt Fund, and more! Curious to know what these acronyms mean? Want to get more involved in this critical aspect of librarianship?  This is the session for you!

Tags: Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE), Freedom to Read Foundation, General Interest, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Intellectual Freedom Issues, Intellectual Freedom Round Table, LeRoy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Office for Intellectual Freedom, Privacy, Special Events by Jonathan Kelley
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In our era of social networks, online databases, and cloud computing, more and more individuals’ personal information is available online and elsewhere. Personal privacy has emerged as one of the most pressing concerns in libraries and beyond. ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom invites you to take up these issues and join with us as we kick off our year long National Conversation on Privacy, an initiative that will culminate in Choose Privacy Week, May 2 – 8, 2010.

This civic engagement campaign calls upon libraries and librarians to stand up as leaders and educators in communities all across the country – calling attention to the value of privacy as the foundation for civil liberties and highlighting growing threats to our privacy rights.

At ALA’s Annual Conference, OIF and the Washington Office invite you to attend an exciting program on these issues. “Privacy in an Era of Change: Privacy and Surveillance Under the New Administration” will feature Mary Ellen Callahan, Chief Privacy Officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; David Sobel, Senior Counsel at the Electronic Frontier Foundation; and Jeff Jarvis, author of What Would Google Do? (HarperCollins, 2009).**  The panel will discuss various aspects of privacy, from civil liberties and consumer protection to social networking and security. Please join us on Monday, July 13 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in Room 474, McCormick Place!

**Update: 7/11/09 – Jeff Jarvis will be unable to join us.  In his place will be Craig Wacker, program office for the Digital Media & Learning initiative of the MacArthur Foundation.  Thanks to Craig for filling in on such short notice!

Learn more about privacy and the privacy revolution at these other ALA Annual programs:

• The Secret Life of Our Data: Privacy in the Digital Age (RUSA STARS), Saturday, July 11, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., McCormick Place, Room 474
• Who Cares About Privacy? Boundaries, Millennials and the MySpace Mindset (RUSA MARS), Sunday, July 12, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Sheraton Ballroom II/III
• Libraries and Mobile Devices: Public Policy Considerations (OITP), Sunday, July 12, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., McCormick Place, Room 192a

Learn how you can join ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom in rallying Americans to choose privacy – protecting the freedom to read, search, and learn in a digital age. Please visit www.privacyrevolution.org to get involved and provide your input as we kick off the conversation! For more information, contact Angela Maycock, Assistant Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom, at amaycock@ala.org.

Tags: General Interest, Intellectual Freedom Committee, Midwinter Meeting/Annual Conference, Privacy, Uncategorized by Angela Maycock
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So often in library land the only IF stories we hear of are the long drawn out battles in library boards, school boards, city councils and the courts. Here’s an uplifting story sent in this week by a reader. It’s just one of those seemingly small battles which when taken with all of the other unknown victories is the reason why we still have the freedom to read in this county.

Last week Gail Robinson director of the Bridgeton Public Library, Bridgeton, N. J. received a “subpoena” from the state police seeking the borrowing records for a particular book. The specific book is actually unimportant as you will see. Gail, having attended several workshops given by the New Jersey Library Association, was well aware of New Jersey’s confidentiality statue. It requires a “subpoena issued by a court, or a court order.” After insisting on reading (great idea!) the “subpoena,” guess what? There was no indication that a judge or magistrate had been anywhere near it.

So, Gail took it over to the court house to have it checked out. The assistant prosecutor told her there was nothing wrong with the subpoena and that it would be some time before a judge would be available. When Gail offered to come back later, she was told that she couldn’t leave. No explanation.

She sat down and prepared to wait (as Gail said later, librarians should always have a book with them). When the prosecutor realized Gail wasn’t going to wilt, he quickly found a judge. The judge signed the subpoena making it conform to NJ law and the information was eventually provided — after consultation, of course, with the Library’s attorney, Ms Grayson Barber.

A seemingly small incident that could have blown up into something really big, if Gail hadn’t first, been knowledgeable and second, followed the rules — along the way getting law enforcement to follow them too, too their ultimate benefit. Way to go, Gail.

As for the original reason, apparently a library patron had found a “disturbing” photo inside the book in question and had taken the book with the photo to the police. When responding to the subpoena Gail included a note indicating that the book had been stored on an open shelf so that literally anyone could have had access to it. The borrowing records would prove nothing.

Thanks to Grayson Barber for bringing this story to my attention and once again many thanks to Gail for “doing the right thing.”

Tags: Intellectual Freedom Issues, Privacy by Doug Archer
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