You Lose Some, You (sorta) Win Some

I’ve been following the Bruce Ivins tragedy recently, and was struck by this judicial ruling  that the FBI can search public library computers it seized as part of the anthrax investigation. What I hadn’t realized initially was that the computers were taken without a warrant from the C. Burr Artz Library.

The director, Darrell Batson, was “persuaded to give them access”,  even though the library’s procedure for such requests usually requires a court order. Hmmm. The library system supposedly subscribes to the Library Bill of Rights, (it’s posted on their website anyway). Think maybe the director hasn’t read it?

On the other hand, let’s rejoice that the Batavia Public Library Board voted to keep a link to Planned Parenthood’s Teenwire on its website. Unfortunately, TeenWire was moved from the Young Adult Library Web, where it was very easy to find, (there are only 5 links in the teen health section) to the general Web Reference area, where it competes for attention with 26 other “general health” sites…once you’ve navigated there from the gargantuan “health and medical information” site. Think teens are gonna find it there? I doubt it. Read about it in the Kane County Chronicle.

Responding to Challenges

A former library director sent me this wonderful letter by Jamie LaRue, director of the Douglas County Libraries in Colorado, in which he defends retaining a children’s book about gay marriage. The book is Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, and yes, we do have this in my library.

I admire LaRue’s calm, compassionate and thoughtful response, but I gotta admit, my gut reaction was closer to that of another poster: “F*ck you, bigot.” (Cranky librarians do not make good directors.)

I also admire LaRue’s willingness to share his response, in order to help other libraries facing reconsideration challenges. That’s what I love about our profession: library staff always go out of their way to help each other out!

“First they came for the Library computers…”

A children’s librarian in Vermont stood up to 5 state police detectives who had demanded to seize  all of the Kimball Public Library’s public access computers WITHOUT A WARRANT. Librarian Judith Flint refused to be intimidated, and was backed up by her director (yea!). Read all about it here in the Green Mountain Daily.

Librarians, time to review your Patriot Act procedures?

Librarian Threatens McCain!

Colorado librarian Carol Kreck attended a McCain rally holding a poster which read “McCain=Bush”. For this she was escorted out of the rally by police. Setting aside the legal issues, do we want a politician who discourages voters from expressing dissenting opinions at his events? Read about it here in the Denver Post, or watch this video of the event: