Over 250 Requests for Records on Readers, Librarians Say

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Librarians across the U.S. say law enforcement officials have made more than 250 requests for records of patron reading habits since 2001, have been asked at least 268 times. The requests were both formal and informal, according to a survey by the American Library Association, and it’s not known how many were made under provisions of the USA Patriot Act. The House recently approved a bill that would make it more difficult secretly gather information on reading habits. The Justice Department has said it has not subpoenaed library records and a spokesman noted that the survey did not specify which law enforcement agencies sought the records.