Overview

The USA Patriot Act may be the most complex and controversial federal statute in American history, argued to undercut American civil liberties in countless ways, including a dramatic extension of domestic surveillance. Providing a broad picture of how the new surveillance powers affect all Americans—citizens and non-citizens alike—the lessons of this book will be relevant to any businesses that maintain personnel records and electronic data that were considered confidential before the Patriot Act, as well as a broad range of individuals, including librarians, bookstore owners, students, scholars, journalists, businessmen, and anyone concerned with American civil liberties. Informative appendices include the historic University of Illinois survey of public library surveillance since September 11, 2001, and copies of some of the standard court orders that may be served to libraries and bookstores.

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9781591581390

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One of the undeniable effects of the USA Patriot Act is that many libraries have begun to rethink the user records they maintain. Author Herbert N. Foerstel addresses this and other implications of the very complex and controversial legislation in DEGREESIRefuge of a Scoundrel: The Patriot Act in Libraries. DEGREESR Beginning with the origins of library surveillance and continuing on to the specifics of the Patriot Act-including gag orders for librarians and the laW's effects on library policies on patron records-Foerstel also discusses state versions of the law, congressional oversight, and resolutions opposing the act. - American Libraries

This is one of the single most important resources for anyone curious about the sweeping effects on personal privacy under the Patriot Act. Although librarians and library administrators will find useful information about their responsibilities in regard to the provisions of the Patriot Act, the book is also an important resource for all individuals concerned about government surveillance techniques and concomitant responsibilities and personal freedom and privacy to use and exploit the resources of their local information sources (libraries, both academic and public, and bookstores)...This book is recommended for all libraries, small or large, public or academic; further, it is a must for any individual interested in a very careful, thoughtful, and detailed portrayal of governmental surveillance issues in information centers...Highly recommended. - Libraries and Culture If you only read one professional book this year, I suggest that you make it this one. From directors, reference librarians, systems librarians, to catalogers and other professional staff, this book is a must read...This book is especially important for all librarians who actively engage in protecting First Amendment activities because it thoroughly explores and chronicles governmental efforts to restrict these rights. For those who may think that things are really okay and that all of the necessary battles took past in the distant past, you will think again after reading this book!...This work is well written, carefully researched and documented, and recommended reading for every citizen, and especially librarians. - Technical Services Quarterly Foerstel has given a major portion of his energies over the past two decades to writing about this ongoing struggle. During this time, he has been on the front line to observe and particpate in many of these skirmishes. His latest book continues this important work and should be a source of pride for all library workers. - College & Research Libraries Foerstel, a librarian and author of several works on the First Amendment, has written a passionate attack on the law and describes its negative impact on library users, librarians, and libraries throughout the country...[a] book entitled ^IRefuge of a Scoundrel^R does not puport to offer a balanced perspective, and one can't fault an author for not writing the book some readers may want. The worst terrorist attack in American History has placed in stark relief the debate about maintaining national security while preserving our civil rights and liberties. Foerstel has done an admirable job in advocating the latter. - Booklist/Professional Reading [A]nalyzes all aspects of the USA Patriot Act directly affecting libraries and offers advice on what to do if your library is approached by law enforcement under authority of Section 215 of the act. - C&RL News One of the undeniable effects of the USA Patriot Act is that many libraries have begun to rethink the user records they maintain. Author Herbert N. Foerstel addresses this and other implications of the very complex and controversial legislation in ^IRefuge of a Scoundrel:The Patriot Act in Libraries.^R Beginning with the origins of library surveillance and continuing on to the specifics of the Patriot Act-including gag orders for librarians and the laW's effects on library policies on patron records-Foerstel also discusses state versions of the law, congressional oversight, and resolutions opposing the act. - American Libraries This is the most important book this reviewer has read this year--and the most frightening. It succinctly details the latest effort by the U.S. government to undermine the rights of Americans to free expression and privacy, with a particular focus on libraries and librarians...Foerstel's impressive documentation proves that despite the book's brevity, it covers the subject fully and deeply. Highly recommended. - Library Journal

Foerstel, a librarian and author of several works on the First Amendment, has written a passionate attack on the law and describes its negative impact on library users, librarians, and libraries throughout the country....[a] book entitled Refuge of a Scoundrel does not puport to offer a balanced perspective, and one can't fault an author for not writing the book some readers may want. The worst terrorist attack in American History has placed in stark relief the debate about maintaining national security while preserving our civil rights and liberties. Foerstel has done an admirable job in advocating the latter. -Booklist/Professional Reading

Author Information

HERBERT N. FOERSTEL is former Head of Branch Libraries, University of Maryland, College Park, and currently serves on the advisory boards of the Freedom to Read Foundation and the National Security Archive. He has authored nine books on First Amendment topics and numerous articles and reviews, the most recent of which was the review of the four-volume set, Censorship: A World Encyclopedia for the Journal of Information Ethnics. Among his previous publications: Freedom of Information and the Right to Know: The Origins and Applications of the Freedom of Information Act (1999), From Watergate to Monicagate: Ten Controversies in Modern Journalism and Media (2001), and Banned in the Media: A Reference Guide to Book Censorship in Schools and Public Libraries, revised and expanded edition (2002).

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