"If this notice disappears . . ."

[Chichiri]

My girlfriend spotted a couple of interesting notices, taped to the information and circulation desks of her college library. She can't recall the exact text of the notice, but the gist of it was, "If this notice disappears, that means the government has been poking around in our records under the Patriot Act."

1) Does anyone else think that this is a truly excellent idea?

2) Has anyone else seen such notices in a library or other public facility?

[chalky]

1. I think this is a WONDERFUL idea

And it's great to see the librarians fighting back this way.

[BattyDem]

2. LOL ... Brilliant!

:toast:

[Beaver Tail]

3. Deleted

[damntexdem]

4. A good idea that should be spread.

Even if the occasion never arises for the notice to disappear, it constantly reminds library patrons of what is at stake.

[aeolian]

5. self delete - misread original post

nevermind. *blush*

[jimshoes]

10. I think that's the point

The agents won't remove the notices, the librarians will. Since its against the law (I think) for the librarians to tell someone that the feds were poking around, the fact that the notice has been removed is the telltale sign. And technically not breaking the law since they told noone. At least thats my interperetation.

[aeolian]

12. Right. I misread the original post.

Hence the self-delete. :)

But thanks for catching that anyway. :toast:

[knowbody0]

6. my library refused my requests for William Blake poetry

today.

[LifeDuringWartime]

7. are you serious?

on what grounds?

[knowbody0]

11. i was told i could contact the administrator tomorow

you can bet i will. they had nothing WICCAN or Islamic on the shelf. i got really pissed off, (ears ringing) and plan to record my conversation tomorow.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Perhaps somebody thinks Blake is heretical

He was something of a religious nonconformist in his time. Thiw would seem to fit with the absence of Wiccan or Islamic on the shelf. Perhaps your library commission needs to be a bit more broadminded.

Can you find Harry Potter there? That's a serious question.

[knowbody0]

17. i will check tomorow

i think they are "protecting" the children. i plan to ask for a list of books they will not stock

[TalkingDog]

18. Hey, taxpayer....explain the concept to them.

Then tell them you are going to write the local paper. Then do it.

Next, get all your friends and your friends' friends to call and request the kind of books they don't have on the shelves.

The local library (where I used to work) had something called community standards. If no one requested a book or a type of book they wouldn't order it. So if there was something I wanted on the shelf, I'd get 3 other people to come in and fill out a book request card.

Tell them you are going to contact the ALA American Library Association.
www.ala.org and complain.

Not that the ALA can do much, but peer pressure can sometimes get things done. Librarians can be tigers!

Deep Breaths...Good luck.

[knowbody0]

19. you'd have to not know my "town" to not be surprised

I'm feeling dangerously rebellious tonight

[Chichiri]

20. Did the administrator get a hold of you?

Do you know why the Blake poetry was refused?

[POAS]

8. Notice:

The government had not inspected our records under the Patriot act today. This notice posted daily when conditions warrant.

[yewberry]

9. Excellent site with similar signs

Check out http://www.librarian.net/technicality.html

[Chichiri]

14. According to my gf...

The sign in her library was much more verbose than any of those.

[MichiDem]

13. I haven't kept up on this

why do I care if they do this? What are they looking for?

[alfredo]

16. To see if a person of interest is reading dangerous books.

A minister here in Ky got a visit from the FBI because he ordered a Koran and related books.