The USA PATRIOT Act: Archival Implications

ABSTRACT

In October 2001, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act to strengthen the ability of the U.S. government to combat terrorism. Unfortunately, some sections of the Act strike at core values and practices of libraries and archives, especially in the areas of record keeping, privacy, confidentiality, security, and access to the collections. This article addresses several crucial issues with focus especially on Section 215 of the Act, privacy and confidentiality concerns, record keeping practices, and the development of policies and procedures to prepare archivists for a request from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for researcher records.     

The gap between theory and practice: A study of the prevalence and strength of patron confidentiality policies in public and academic libraries

Vermont library directors estimated they received at least 1228 requests for patron information in the last year. In spite of these requests and heightened awareness about threats to confidentiality posed by the USA PATRIOT Act, fewer than half of the state’s public and academic libraries have written patron confidentiality policies. The policies that do exist were recently updated and most prohibit release of information without a binding legal document. However, only half require an attorney’s review of such documents. Libraries with larger numbers of personnel and with directors holding MLS degrees are more likely to have policies. The absence of policies does not appear to indicate a lack of belief in the importance of confidentiality; a vast majority of library directors support strengthening the state law.     

Old issues, new context: Privacy, information collection, and homeland security

In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there have been several statutory and regulatory changes that enhance the collection and use of personal information for intelligence and law enforcement purposes. This article first examines how particular sectors, including financial, educational, libraries, and transportation, have been affected by these changes, with particular attention to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act. Next, five common themes and trends, including the lowering of standards for individualized suspicion and the weakening of judicial safeguards, are identified and their effects on privacy and due process are explored. Finally, the article analyzes several political and social implications of the omnibus reduction in privacy protections in the face of terrorism, including the proposal for a national identification system.     

Chapter 2. Governing Policies for Interlibrary Loan

Abstract

ILL activity is governed by local, state, and national agreements and codes. Chapter 2 discusses the importance of national and statewide ILL codes of conduct, and also covers laws and regulations (confidentiality, the PATRIOT Act, HIPAA) germane to interlibrary loan.     

Procedures to Follow if a Law Enforcement Official Asks for Patron Information: A Checklist for Access Services Student Employees

ABSTRACT

Since the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act was signed into law in October, 2001, library administrators have become increasingly concerned that staff–especially student employees–continue to protect the confidentiality of patron records. Administrators have also become increasingly concerned that when law enforcement officials provide paperwork giving them legal access to patron records, staff take steps both to divulge no more information than is necessary and to protect the institution from liability. In response to these concerns, the University of Colorado, Boulder, created an easy-to-understand and easy-to-use document for its public services student employees. This article describes the process by which that document was created, how it was introduced to staff and student employees, and what additional steps are planned for the future. Finally, the document itself is included as a possible model for other institutions that may wish to create procedural guidelines for student employees.     

美国《信息自由法》中的"豁免公开信息例外"

本文就美国《信息自由法》中的"豁免公开信息例外"问题进行了分析。     

美国关于政府资助项目成果的公共获取的争论及对我国的思考

针对政府资助项目成果是否应该成为政府信息资源公共获取的一部分以及如何在尊重受资助人知识产权的基础上,促进这部分信息的公共获取的问题,介绍国际上(主要是美国)不同大学教育机构、图书馆、学术出版机构等不同利益团体对此问题的观点和看法(主要体现在FRPAA法案),找出国内外在政府资助项目成果管理的相关政策差距,提出相关的思考和建议。     

Health Insurance Literacy and Roles for Reference Librarian Involvement

The role of librarians in addressing health insurance information needs emerged following a request from President Barack Obama for librarians to assist the public with navigating the Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Marketplace. The goal of this article is to highlight a number of concrete ways reference work could be expanded, especially in public library settings, to support health insurance literacy concerns by offering illustrative examples and recommendations for authoritative health insurance information resources. Overall, this article contributes to the existing literature by offering practical recommendations that may be relevant to reference librarians supporting the health insurance information needs of their communities.     

The preservation of digital information

The emergence of digital libraries and publication is still in its infancy, but is racing towards a maturity which just five years ago would have seemed impossible. The principal problems which must be solved to make digital information a routine part of the information landscape fall into two domains— technological problems and social problems. It is probably not too much to suggest that a solution to most current technological obstacles to this networked world of information can be found in the next five years. Many of these problems have been addressed over the last two years in this column. At the same time the social problems, which are principally institutional and economic—such as, property rights and infrastructure (e.g., responsibility for access over time)—are not so close to resolution and may be harder to solve than those which are technologically based. Similarly, we are just beginning to consider the issues of preservation of digital information. Here the problems reflect not only technical issues but also the social ones which makes them doubly difficult to solve. For libraries and archives to manage digital information successfully over the long-term, these problems must be emphatically solved. If they are not resolved at the outset the legacy of digital information will be enormously more complex than print and the problems of preserving print materials—acid papers and embrittlement—will seem trivial by comparison. The complexity of this domain is reflected in Deanna B. Marcum's column— CBL, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.     

Compliance with freedom of information legislation by public bodies in South Africa

In South Africa, freedom of information (FOI) is entrenched in section 32 of the Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right of access to any information held by the state or by any other person that is to be used for the protection or exercise of any right. The Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) is the law that gives effect to section 32 of the Constitution. Regardless of a remarkable trend towards the adoption of FOI laws, international trends have shown this does not automatically translate into fulfilment of people's right to information. This study utilised mixed method research through the explanatory sequential design to assess compliance with FOI legislation by public bodies in South Africa, with a view to develop a model for implementation of FOI. The study first conducted a quantitative study by analysing the reports of the South African Human Rights Commission from the reporting years 2006/07 to 2016/07 to assess compliance with sections 14, 15, 16, 17 and 32 of the PAIA. Thereafter, a qualitative study through interviews with purposively chosen participants was conducted to substantiate the findings of a quantitative study. Key results suggest that over the years, there were problems in the implementation of the FOI legislation in South Africa and its use was limited. Where implementation has taken place, it has been partial and inconsistent. The responsibility for the implementation of FOI legislation in most public bodies is assigned to legal departments that do not have knowledge of what records are created, and where and how they are kept. With regard to compliance, in terms of the degree of comparison, the situation was better in national departments, worse in provincial departments and worst in municipalities. The study recommends the establishment of an information governance unit to implement FOI in public bodies. Failure to assign responsibility to a relevant unit would perpetuate the non-compliance with FOI legislation by public bodies in South Africa. A model for the implementation of PAIA within a public body is suggested.     

搜索引擎的信息过滤技术

随着网络信息数量的迅猛增长,“信息过载”、“信息超载”现象引起了人们的重视。信息过滤技术就是为了克服上述现象, 减少用户在获得信息过程中的负担, 向用户提供数量适宜、质量优良的信息。本文在略述了信息过滤技术的产生背景后, 介绍了两种比较常用的信息过滤模型——布尔逻辑模型和向量空间模型。SIFT 是一个著名的信息服务系统, 它的核心就是信息过滤技术。因此, 文章还详细地介绍了SIFT 的工作原理和其中所使用到的信息过滤技术, 并且对S IFT 的性能、特点进行了分析, 指出了它的一些不足。     

Information-seeking behavior of design, process, and manufacturing engineers

This article discusses the information sources used by design, process, and manufacturing engineers in an international microchip manufacturing company, and the characteristics that influence their information source selection and use. Findings differ from previous research in three ways. First, there was a significant difference in these engineers' information behavior. Second, the higher the engineers' level of education, the less likely they were to depend on their personal memories as sources of information, and the more likely they were to rely on libraries. Third, the higher the level of engineers' education, the less likely they were to consider “personal mastery” (information tool mastery) as a source influencer.     

人才管理资源服务——美国图书馆学情报学理念与实践

介绍了由CALIS和美国伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳—香槟分校图书馆学和情报学研究生院(GSLIS)联合举办的“第一届中国高校图书馆员暑期学习班”的基本概况,并重点从人才、管理、资源、服务四个方面论述了美国图书馆学情报学理念及实践。     

Researching Initiatives and Referenda: A Guide for Nevada

SUMMARY

The Nevada Constitution provides voters with the ability to propose new statutes, amendments to existing statutes, and amendments to the State constitution through the initiative petition process. Voters can also approve or disapprove of existing statutes through the referendum petition process. Both require the circulation of a petition to collect a minimum number of signatures before the Secretary of State will place the measures on the ballot for the general election. As with other topics of law, Nevada has a profound shortage of research resources on initiatives and referenda, but State law and government Web sites provide enough information to allow for significant research.     

Librarianship,education and service

Virtually all aspects of all library functions are going through a period of change, but a few contrasts between and among Western countries persist. First, decentralization to allow for regional initiatives and traditions persists at the risk of inhibiting growth of integrated national systems, especially in Europe. However, coordinating agencies to affect national and international exchanges are growing, and education for professional staff is receiving more attention in Europe. Second, library staff are more often bureaucratic than professional on the continent, as compared with the United States and the United Kingdom. Third, technology is adapted and adopted most often and most intensively in libraries serving medicine, science, and technology in all countries. Fourth, information privacy and sharing information continue to be major policy issues for all.There are other problems explored in this paper that affect the status of libraries everywhere and underlie the contrasts found at all levels of technological development across national boundaries and across types of libraries:

• 1.(1) The need for national and international levels of information policies.
• 2.(2) The need to identify the components of information science that are library-related.
• 3.(3) The identification of the role of libraries in the changing information environment.

Resolution of these three problems will enhance national and regional distinctions, which should allow for more effective library services on all political levels.     

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分析图书情报学教育“信息化”的表现和意义,比较我国内地与美国的“信息”课程设置;讨论“信息化”与专业设置方案的关系;指出课程的“信息化”必须注意系统性和适应性。同时,将我国内地、台湾地区与美国开设的“自动化”课程进行对比,认为我们应使课程的“自动化”不断扩展和深入。     

Information Services in the Year 2000 and Beyond

Summary

Today's libraries-academic, research, public, and elementary and secondary schools-are in the midst of an extended period of unprecedented change and adjustment. Having never been static organizations, they have existed within and responded to changes in the communities they exist to serve. Computerization, electronics, and telecommunications have resulted in the alteration of almost every function performed in libraries today. The reference services extended by these libraries are no different. In keeping with their missions and goals, they must adopt and incorporate the new information technology now as well as the year 2000 and beyond. Problems and challenges which must be solved and met are discussed. There is no doubt that the library user will benefit as services are expanded to include among other innovations: services expanded beyond the walls of the library and its physical collection, interactive face-to-face teleconferencing with information specialists, and machines utilizing artificial intelligence which assist in identifying and locating information.     

美国图书馆法律制度体系及其作用分析

基于文献调查法与内容分析法,解析构成美国图书馆法律制度体系的图书馆专门法、图书馆相关法、图书馆行业标准与规范的作用。美国图书馆专门法包括：①联邦图书馆法（如《图书馆服务与技术法》和各州图书馆法）,在规范与指导美国图书馆事业发展中起到了核心作用;②图书馆相关法（如《美国版权法》、《高等教育法》）,是美国图书馆法律制度体系的重要组成部分,可以支持与规范图书馆事业的发展;③图书馆行业标准与规范（如《图书馆权利宣言》）,是美国图书馆法律制度体系不可或缺的组成部分和指导图书馆运营与管理的准绳。     

美国GILS政策及其对我国政府的启示

简述政府信息定位服务(GILS)的含义和特点;介绍20世纪90年代美国GILS的发展历程;详细阐述美国政府颁布的《文书削减法》、《95-01号通告》、《98-05号备忘录》等政策中关于GILS实施的具体内容;指出我国引入GILS对政府和公众都有重大意义,并从制定GILS总体规划、设置GILS专职机构、保障政府信息公共获取及信息安全等方面就我国GILS政策的制定提出建议。