The Worcester librarians are making sure library records are disposed of quickly, in opposition to the so-called Patriot Act which allows law enforcement agencies to get search warrants for medical, educational, library, and bookstore records by claiming the records may be related to a terrorism investigation. Not proof, not reasonable suspicion, just the claim is good enough.
It also includes a gag order, so anybody served in this way isn’t allowed to talk about it!
The Patriot II Act will do away with even the need for a court order.
Here’s the American Library Association’s response to the Patriot Act.
The Patriot Act is already being used against non-terrorist criminals.