Your Privacy in the Library
- The USA Patriot Act changes the way that the North Hall Library is
allowed to protect the privacy of its patrons.
- The employees of North Hall Library respect and protect the privacy
of all library users. Unless required by law, employees will not
give out any information kept in confidential library records.
- The library will continue to promote the free flow and unimpeded
distribution of knowledge and information for individuals, the campus
community,
and beyond.
Information on the USA Patriot Act
- The USA Patriot Act became law on October 26, 2001.
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The Patriot Act amends a variety of laws, including
those governing criminal procedure, wiretapping, and the privacy of
your student records. It overrides state library confidentiality laws
protecting library records.
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The FBI can gain access to your educational records
and library records including circulation records, Internet use records,
and registration information stored in any medium.
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Agents do not have to demonstrate “probable
cause” to obtain a warrant. They only need to claim that your
records may be related to an ongoing investigation related to terrorism
or intelligence activities.
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Search warrants can be for “any tangible thing”
(including books, records, papers, floppy disks, and computer hard
drives).
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The FBI can use wiretaps and “trap and trace”
phone devices to monitor your Internet and electronic communication.
This includes your e-mails.
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Under penalty of law, libraries/librarians served
with a search warrant may not tell you that a warrant exists, that
you are being investigated, or that your records were produced as
a result of a warrant.
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