Refuge of a Scoundrel: The Patriot ACT in Libraries

by Herbert N. Foerstel

The USA Patriot Act may be the most complex and controversial federal statute in American history, argued to undercut American civil liberties in countless ways, including a dramatic extension of domestic surveillance. Providing a broad picture of how the new surveillance powers affect all Americans--citizens and non-citizens alike--the lessons of this book will be relevant to any businesses that maintain personnel records and electronic data that...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591581397
• ISBN13: 9781591581390
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

'Totalitarian'= 'total control of your reading habits'

This is a thorough history and expose of the fine print in the Patriot Act, with the consequences for libraries, librarians and students in universities. The author details the history of the earlier attempts in this line, such as the FBI's Library Awareness Program, which were shot down, but obviously 9/11 gave some people the green light to try again.