Swint said he was unsure what the investigation involved. “They just wanted general access to our records; there were not specifics,” Swint recalled. “They did give a particular individual’s name, but they just wanted to see everything we had on them.” If the same scenario played out today, however, no one other than Swint and the federal agent would know about the encounter. That’s because a gag provision in the Patriot Act prohibits librarians or • An attorney who represents librarians throughout the state of Georgia has advised booksellers from even acknowledging to a member of the public that they were them to destroy computer-use sign-up lists at the end of each day and set computers to approached by law enforcement for information. erase Internet site histories after each That was the reason the ABFFE filed the individual user signs off. Freedom of Information Act request and subsequent lawsuit, said the organization’s “And that way, if there’s no record, you don’t have to produce it,” said Cathy Harris president, Chris Finan. Finan said it seemed Helms, the extreme on the part of Homersville, Ga.-based the Justice Department attorney representing to not even provide the the librarians. "I think organization with the “I think everybody everybody wants number of times the wants to be patriotic new Patriot Act powers and prevent something to be patriotic had been exercised to like 9-11,” Helms request information at added. “At the same and prevent bookstores and libraries. time, there is a tremensomething like “So there’s concern, dous desire in local even in the absence of communities to protect 9-11. At the any direct evidence of people’s confidentiality same time, there the FBI using this and privacy, and that’s power,” Finan said. really, I think, where is a tremendous “We’re concerned about you’re seeing the customers who are uprising.” desire in local aware of the Patriot Act Helms said librarians, communities to and aware of this in particular, are very provision, beginning to conscientious of the protect people's factor it into their privacy rights of purchases. And we’re individuals. However, confidentiality afraid of a potential the Patriot Act has put and privacy, and chilling effect on people them in an awkward in libraries and position, she says. that's really, I bookstores who may no “Libraries are sort of longer feel free to caught between a rock think, where borrow or buy the books and a hard place, you're seeing the they want, because because every state, they’re afraid this inforincluding Georgia, has uprising." mation may eventually a confidentiality statute get to the FBI. which specifically “I mean, the potential makes patron circula— Cathy Harris Helms, (for abuse) is there. The tion records the Homersville, Ga.Patriot Act gives the confidential,” Helms based attorney FBI the power to do said. “And so, the representing librarians in these things with very Patriot Act directly the wake of far-reaching little showing of need, contradicts that.” investigatory powers much less than under Gary Swint, given the FBI through the the criminal standards Richmond County’s U.S.A Patriot Act. in a non-national library director, has security case. So the experienced firsthand potential for the FBI to what it’s like when the go on fishing expediFBI comes calling for tions of the records of people and what information. they buy, and read and listen to is vast Just prior to and immediately after Sept. under the Patriot Act.” 11, Swint said, he was approached by an Although booksellers and librarians are FBI agent seeking circulation records for a forbidden to disclose whether they’ve been particular individual. approached by the FBI, they are still In both instances, Swint refused, stating entitled to legal advice, Finan said. that a court order was required to release For that reason, the ABFFE has offered to such information. Just to be on the safe be a point of contact for them to be put in side, Swint called the county attorney’s touch with attorneys in a way that doesn’t office, where a staffer confirmed for Swint violate the gag provision, Finan said. that the law was on his side. “So, hopefully we’ve pacified any Needless to say, the FBI agent wasn’t concerns that a bookseller who receives happy. this (Patriot Act request) might have,” “In fact,” Swint recalled, “their exact Finan said. “But we just don’t know, and words were, they were going to take me in that’s one of the reasons why we filed the handcuffs to Savannah.” FOIA request, because there’s no other way “He gave me his card,” Swint added. “I for us really to determine whether these still have it, but I’m not going to give you his name. I’m not that stupid.” continued on page 16 • Congressman Bernard Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, recently introduced legislation to counteract provisions in the Patriot Act that expanded the FBI’s ability to search records of libraries and bookstores. The legislation, titled, “The Freedom to Read Protection Act,” was cosponsored by 24 members of Congress, including Texas Republican Ron Paul, and John Conyers, a ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee.
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Mother’s Day Brunch Sheraton Style May 11, 2003 11 AM – 3 PM
Complimentary Flowers for all our Moms $24.95 per Person Adults $ 8.95 per Child under 12 years of age
Live Jazz Combo
Featuring George Sykes, Buzz Clifford, and Rob Foster
THE TRADITIONAL FEAST Roast Tom Turkey with Giblet Gravy Roast Pork Loin with Port Demi Glace Southern Fried Chicken Buttered Smashed Potatoes Old Fashioned Cinnamon Pecan Sweet Yams Traditional Macaroni & Cheese Homemade Southern Cornbread Dressing Sweet White and Yellow Corn Southern Style Green Beans Broccoli and Cheese Casserole Vegetable Medley FRESH GREENS AND FRUIT Seafood and Platters Crab Salad Peel-n-Eat Shrimp Tossed Greens Oysters on the Half Shell Fruit Salad Smoked Salmon Chicken Salad Baked Atlantic Salmon Antipasto Salad Garlic Mussels Cranberries Fried Catfish Fresh Melons and Berries Cream of Potato Soup Lobster Bisque BREAKFAST FOODS Hash Brown Potatoes Creamed SOS and Country Biscuits Pancakes and Belgian Waffles French Toast Bacon, Sausage, and Ham Southern Style Grits with bacon bits and cheese
SPECIAL DRINK STATION Bloody Marys, Bloody Bulls, and Screwdrivers Complimentary Mimosas and Champagne (after 12:30 PM) CARVED AND MADE TO ORDER Eggs and Omelets Steamship Round of Beef Honey Glazed Ham Banana’s Foster and Ice Cream BREADS Fresh Biscuits and Sweet Rolls Fresh Cornbread and Muffins SWEETS AND DESSERT BAR Chocolate Mousse Sweet Potato Pie Raspberry Crème de Brulee Peach Cobbler and Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce And many other wonderful cakes, pies, and parfaits
(Floral Arrangements by Janie of Fox Glove Florist)
2651 P ERIMETER PARKWAY • RESERVATIONS • (706) 855-8100
Please make your reservations early.
M E T R O S P I R I T M A Y 8 2 0 0 3