Law that protects library records also protects man who masturbated among the books.

[babylonsister]

http://newsgrinder.blogspot.com/2007/04/law-that-protects-library-records-also.html

Law that protects library records also protects man who masturbated among the books.

There's a story out of Neenah, Wisconsin, about a guy who masturbated at a library -- and was caught on video. But Wisconsin is a state where library records are, by law, kept confidential. That means the library can't give cops the video without a court order.

Here's how an AP report explains it:

"The Wisconsin attorney general's office said in a Nov. 27 opinion that library surveillance videos fall under the state's public library records confidentiality law. The law prevents libraries from releasing records that indicate a library user's identity unless someone's life or safety is at risk."

A library patron reported the incident. The library's director thinks the suspect has done "something similar but not as graphic" in the past.

The question now is whether the act was criminal or just an ordinance violation. If it's the latter, it's not clear if a judge would have the authority to order that the video be turned over to investigators.

While the folks in Neenah settle that issue, here's some advice to anyone visiting the library in the meantime: Be careful what you check out.

Read the story here:

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070417/D8OIJDFG0.html