Library Users Afraid to Check Out Books on Politically Controversal Topics

The Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff) is reporting on how patrons are thinking twice before checking out books on "risky" topics (eg the Taliban or Islam) because of the USA Patriot Act in Librarians: Patriot Act has lead to self-censorship (Feb. 12, 2006).

The article interviews Northern Arizona University librarians Sean Evans and John Doherty who recently gave a presentation titled "The USA Patriot Act: Implications for Teaching and Research."

PS: This article reminded me that "USA Patriot" is an acronym for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism." Appropriate?