LIBRARY RECORDS EASIER TO ACCESS

Read any good books lately? The FBI may want to know.

In what is seen by some as Big Brother overstepping his bounds, and by
others as necessary protection to stop terrorists, the FBI is checking
reading lists at libraries and bookstores of patrons they consider suspicious.

While the tactic isn't new, the standards for acquiring the information
have been lowered. It used to be that the FBI had to show probable cause
and that the target of its investigation was involved in espionage or
terrorism to secure book records. Now it must only prove to a judge, in a
secret proceeding, that it suspects someone may be involved in terrorism or
espionage, according to a spokesman with the Department of Justice.

The provisions are allowed in the USA Patriot Act, which was passed by
Congress in the weeks after Sept. 11. It has not gone unnoticed by library,
bookseller and civil libertarian organizations.

"We are deeply concerned about the impact of the USA Patriot Act," said
Gloria Meraz, director of communications for the Texas Library Association.
"It opens the door to infringing on privacy rights."

Annette Lamoreaux, East Texas regional director for the American Civil
Liberties Union, said that the provisions "go perilously close to the
thought police."

"How can you possibly have a free society when you have a government
investigating what you think, read, say?" she asked. "They're not going to
make us more safe; they're making us less free."

Rene Salinas, local FBI spokesman, insists that most people need not worry
about the provision. He said that the agency would turn to book records
only when it had a need and wouldn't go to libraries to ask to see a list
of patrons who had checked out specific books.

"We don't start at the library, we start with the person," he said.

Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free
Expression, said he has concerns about the amount of evidence needed to get
a court order to see book records.

"The Patriot Act provides a way for them to get a court order without them
being challenged," he said. "Our feeling is the judge, having heard only
one side of the story, is more likely to grant the request."

In January, the American Library Association reiterated its guidelines for
libraries not to keep unnecessary records.

Judith Krug, director of the library association's office for intellectual
freedom, said the Patriot Act has been controversial.

"There are some definite privacy concerns," she said. "There are a lot of
people in this country right now who believe if they give up their rights,
they're going to be safe. That doesn't hold water."

The San Antonio Public Library system hasn't amended its record-keeping
policy and hasn't been approached by federal agents for records, said
library spokeswoman Beth Graham.

"We're going to operate pretty much as we already have and protect patrons'
privacy, as well as cooperate with law enforcement," she said.

Local library patrons have differing opinions.

Maryann Alvarez, 43, a San Antonio resident looking for books at the
Central Library, said she knows that the government is simply doing what it
can to protect people.

"We will criticize them for not doing something and criticize them for
doing something," she said. "They are doing their part to try to help others."

But Amy Carter, 32, of San Antonio, who was recently at the Landa Branch
library checking out books and children's videos with her son and husband,
said the library should be a place where people can feel safe to learn.

"The library is an innocent place," she said. "It's a safe place where you
can look things up on the computer and sit and read with your child."

Salinas insists that with the need for more security since Sept. 11 comes
sacrifices.

"I would gladly give up some of my rights to fight terrorism," he said.
"We're at war, and people seem to forget that."