Ellen Nierenberg

Anti-terror Legislation and Public Libraries Ellen Nierenberg

In the aftermath of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, several countries adopted anti-terror legislation as part of a global War on Terror. The US set the stage with its Patriot Act, and Denmark, amongst others, followed suit with its Anti-terror Package. This book examines how these laws affect libraries. What are librarians? concerns? Does the legislation infringe upon library patrons? right to privacy? Does it restrict freedom of expression and access to information? Are the core values of public libraries sacrificed? Why do American librarians voice strong opposition, while Danish librarians are silent? This book provides insight into these issues, and is based on research performed by an American librarian living in Scandinavia. The anti-terror legislation is presented and various theories of professional ethics are discussed. Results from the two countries are compared and possible explanations analyzed. The book is not only fascinating reading for politicians, civil liberties activists, social scientists, information professionals and librarians around the world, but also for library users, whose loans and activities can be subject to surveillance.