Bill Would Weaken Patriot Act in Libraries

Boxer's Library and Bookseller Protection Act specifically requests the "exclusion of libraries from authorities on access to telephone and transactional records for counterintelligence purposes" and would require investigators to obtain a court-ordered warrant before conducting a search.

Congressman Bernard Sanders (I-VT) introduced similar legislation to the House in March. The Library and Bookseller Protection Act has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the American Library Association is urging library advocates to ask their senators to cosponsor the bill.—D. L. W.