Law Enforcement Officials Ask for Library Records, ALA Survey Finds

According to an ALA commissioned survey, law enforcement officials have made formal and informal inquiries to libraries for information on reading material and other internal matters.

From the ALA press release:

Based on the survey findings, ALA believes that public anxiety and librarian concern over law enforcement activity in libraries is justified. Survey results indicate a total of at least 137 legally executed requests by federal and state/local law enforcement in both academic and public libraries have taken place since October, 2001-63 legally executed requests for records in public libraries and 74 legally executed requests in academic libraries.

The survey did not specifically ask librarians about Patriot Act inquiries because that would place librarians in jeopardy.

New York Times coverage.