John Doe Library Group Goes Public

The Connecticut library organization that was targeted by federal officials but prevented from revealing its identity has held a press conference concerning the matter. Last year, the Library Connection received a national security letter from the government demanding patron records. Authorized by the USA PATRIOT Act, the letters forbid recipients from even disclosing that they have received the letter.

After months of wrangling over the matter, the Justice Department has ended its efforts to enforce the gag order. At the press conference, Peter Chase, vice president of Library Connection, said, “It was galling for me to see the government’s attorney in Connecticut…

travel around the state telling people that their library records were safe, while at the same time he was enforcing a gag order preventing me from telling people that their library records were not safe.” The Library Connection continues to fight the demands of the letter and has not yet given the Justice Department any patron records.

Chronicle of Higher Education, 31 May 2006 (sub. req’d)