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Refuge Of A Scoundrel: The Patriot Act In Libraries
Libraries Unlimited | Foerstel, Herbert N. | Available ISBN 10: 1591581397 ISBN 13: 9781591581390 When Attorney General John Ashcroft accused some librarians of “baseless hysteria” in their opposition to the USA Patriot Act, the controversy surrounding this legislation—enacted by Congress following the 9/11 attacks—expanded further. 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 diligent researcher, he combed the print literature and the Web and even conducted personal interviews with some government officials and librarians to buttress his case against this legislation. Needless to say, a book entitled Refuge of a Scoundrel does not purport 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. In the future, one hopes that a similarly capable author can explain the justification for these stringent legislative measures affecting libraries. Donald Altschiller. Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Can$48.00 [Add to Cart] [View Cart] “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 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, June 1, 2004 “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 participate 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, September 2004 “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 centres…. Highly recommended.”—Libraries and Culture |
