Intersect Alert, February 14, 2006

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From: Michele McGinnis (mm@kk.org)
Date: Tue Feb 14 2006 - 08:50:28 PST 

Message-Id: <a06230906c00d3b37ebf0@[192.168.0.2]>
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2006 08:50:28 -0800
From: Michele McGinnis <mm@kk.org>
Subject: Intersect Alert, February 14, 2006

I've been asked to be a guest blogger on the site Free Government
Information for the month of February. My posts are here
http://freegovinfo.info/blog/101, but please check out the rest of
the site. Good stuff.
mm

Library stuff

Belgian librarians use love to get readers :-*
By designing a new place for singles to find love, creators Eric Van
der Straeten and Danny Theuwis are hoping to draw more people to
books by appealing to their hearts, as well as blow the dust off
stereotypes of libraries as stuffy and solitary places.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1103AP_Belgium_Library_Dating.html

Five of the most unpopular jobs
Certain jobs face a shortage of qualified workers
In addition to the librarians expected to retire within the next
decade, interest in the profession is waning among younger workers,
according to the BLS. The situation is particularly dire for colleges
and universities, which report the greatest difficulty in hiring
librarians due to lower pay.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/Careers/02/08/cb.unpopular.jobs/index.html

Government

More Turmoil at the Congressional Research Service
The uncertain premise of the dispute is that Congress desires deep
and thoughtful analysis. What complicates matters further is that in
many cases, as they say on the Comedy Channel, "the facts are biased"
against the Bush Administration.
http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/02/more_turmoil_at_the_congressio.html

Library, FBI agree threat wasn't dire
FBI agents responding to a terrorist threat which allegedly
originated from the Newton Free Library would have immediately been
given access to library e-mail records last month if it agents were
operating under a state of emergency, but the need was apparently not
that great, library and the FBI officials both say.
http://www2.townonline.com/newton/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=419397

When librarians protect terrorists
The ALA's sentiments, and Glick-Weil's decision to become a ''human
shield" for 10 precious hours while the FBI waited to secure a
warrant and seize the computer, would be very noble -- save for one
important point: They are based on a misunderstanding of both Section
215 of the Patriot Act as well as the protections provided in the
Constitution's Fourth Amendment.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/02/06/when_librarians_protect_terrorists/

Take Action!

This comes from a discussion list I'm on:

If you read the article about the public librarian in Newton Kathy
Glick-Weil, who followed the letter of the law to protect individual
rights by requiring a warrant to seize computers in the library so
that the FBI could search them for a suspected "terrorist" threat,
and if you think she did the right thing in risky times, would you
consider signing a letter or petition thanking her for her courage?

Kathy is taking a lot of heat from local & national press. You can
use the email form here:
http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/library/email.htm

**Counter Copyright: Please feel free to pass along in part or in its
entirety, giving credit or not. MM** 

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