Online Petition Seeks Lifting of Library Gag Order

September 22, 2005

The sponsors of the Campaign for Reader Privacy (CRP) are encouraging booksellers, librarians, and other First Amendment supporters to sign a petition asking the Justice Department to voluntarily lift a gag order that is preventing a Connecticut library from revealing that the FBI is trying to obtain the records of one of its customers.

On September 9, Judge Janet Hall lifted the gag order and ruled it violated the librarian's First Amendment right to participate in the current debate over the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act. She further found that lifting the order would not pose a danger of exposing the FBI's counter-terrorism investigation. However, the Judge temporarily stayed her order, allowing the government to appeal. The stay was set to end on September 21, but the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit temporarily extended the stay pending the outcome of the government's appeal, as reported by the New York Times.

The Connecticut library case came to light in August when the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenged a National Security Letter (NSL) that had been issued to obtain the records of a patron's use of the Internet during a visit to the library. The Patriot Act expanded the use of NSLs, which allow the FBI to obtain the names of Internet users, as well as records showing what websites they have visited.

CRP, which is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, the Association of American Publishers, and PEN American Center, noted that ACLU's client "John Doe" has "critical, first-hand knowledge about the FBI's use of NSLs to demand library records and is eager to share that information with the public and Congress. John Doe could speak right now if the Justice Department would lift the gag."

To sign the petition, go to http://action.aclu.org/letjohndoespeak. The petitions will be delivered to the Department of Justice early next week, so CRP is urging supporters to act now. --David Grogan

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