Under Section 215 of the federal USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56), records of your Internet/computer use and/or records of the books and other materials you use or borrow from this library may be obtained by federal agents. That federal law prohibits library staff from informing you if records about you have been obtained by federal agents.

Idaho Green Party activists have been working with local libraries to protect our intellectual freedom and privacy by asking libraries to take measures to protect patrons' privacy and placing USA PATRIOT Act warning signs so that people who aren't familiar with the Act's effects on libraries can be informed.

The Idaho Green Party deeply appreciates the steps that libraries have taken to safeguard our freedom.

In February 2002 the Northern Panhandle Greens convinced the West Bonner Library board to notify patrons that Section 215 of the Patriot Act permits the FBI director to seek records from libraries to find out what patrons are reading and prohibits the library staff from telling patrons about any such inquiries. It was a modest but important defense against the USA Patriot Act's sweeping violation of constitutional rights.

Patriot Act spurs formation of group, The Spokesman-Review, 2/12/03.

Idaho Green Party coordinators approached the Boise Public Library board members in May 2003 about putting up warning signs and destroying patron records. It took a few months and attending a few meetings, but by September the signs were in place, record destruction in practice, and the Boise Library also had produced a pamphlet for patrons on how the USAPA affects their privacy.

The signs are located at the Capitol Blvd branch's Circulation Desk, Information Desk, Youth Services Desk, Adult Services Desk on the second and third floors, and also at the Towne Square branch and the Bookmobile. Informational Patron Privacy brochures are also available to the public at the same locations.

Boise Public Library To Warn Patrons About Patriot Act, KBCI-TV, 7/14/03.

Boise Library board minutes, 8/6/03 (PDF).

Patriot for the read, white & blue, Thr!ve, 9/2/03.

Nicole Duke, an Idaho Green Party member who was appointed to the Emmett Library Board earlier this year, introduced an anti-PATRIOT Act resolution to her fellow board members on 11/18/03. Nicole also suggested that they place warning signs in the library that state:

WARNING: Although the Emmett Public Library makes every effort to protect your privacy, under the federal USA PATRIOT Act (Public Law 107-56), records of the books and other materials you borrow from this library may be obtained by federal agents. That federal law prohibits library workers from informing you if federal agents have obtained records about you. Questions about this policy should be directed to Attorney General John Ashcroft, Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20530.

The Emmett Library Board discussed the proposal and at their meeting on January 20, 2004 voted to place a sign at the library entrance.

Guest Editorial (Nicole Duke), Emmett Messenger Index, 12/12/03

Rebecca McNeill, Kootenai County Green Party coordinator went to the Coeur d'Alene Public Library to find that they had just put up Section 215 warning signs. She is researching the policies of other area libraries.

If you are willing to present a similar resolution and/or a proposal to put up warning signs to your local library board, contact Gwen at 388-4549 or enews@idahogreenparty.org. We'll give you all the support you need. We have handouts already prepared that you can distribute to your local library's board members, and we can give you advice on contacting the trustees before a meeting at which you can make a brief presentation. We can also help you prepare your presentation and get you in touch with Green Party members and other activists in your area.

The American Library Association passed a resolution objecting to the parts of the USAPA that compromise patron privacy and encourage all libraries to do everything they can to educate the public about how the Act affects them. Putting up information signs is part of this goal, so most libraries are already considering doing this, if they haven't already.

It's very easy and would be another step towards safeguarding our communities from the tyranny of the USAPA.