Sac State’s library has set up a procedure for staff to follow if an Federal Bureau of Investigation agent asks for information about students’ reading habits.

Under the USA PATRIOT Act, the FBI has the right to access student library records, including information about reading habits. The library at Sacramento State has policies in place to deal with requests for information from the FBI and to protect students’ rights to privacy.

All staff have been trained to use the procedure.

No information will be given to the FBI before a warrant has been served and the university’s counsel has been consulted.

The USA PATRIOT Act stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act gives the FBI authority to seek a subpoena from the federal anti-terrorism court to get any record of readership habits or computer use from libraries. The library will only give out information if there is a warrant.

The library’s computer system was set up purposely to protect readers’ privacy. The system does not hold lists of people who have borrowed books, only those who currently have the books.

Jim Cua, an international business major, said it would not deter him from reading whatever he wanted and that the act is not the best solution to counteract terrorism.

“It is an invasion of privacy,” Cua said. “It’s like the government is watching over you even if you’re not doing anything wrong.”

Freshman Rebekah Trammell said it is not fair for students who are researching books on terrorism for classes, but agrees in theory with the PATRIOT Act.

“If the person is known to be a terrorist or has a bad criminal record, then the FBI should be allowed to see what they are reading.”

Access Services librarian Rhonda Rios Kravitz is holding meetings with library staff to implement policies regarding the privacy rights of library patrons. “No information will be given out unless the FBI comes here with a warrant,” Kravitz said. “Even then, we will not give information without consulting the university’s counsel.”

The PATRIOT Act makes it illegal for library staff to talk about whether they have been presented with a warrant from the FBI.

Section 215 allows the FBI to access library files without probable cause.

“Section 215 is going too far,” Kravitz said. “It is an assumption that reading shows intent. This is especially chilling in an academic library where students must read for and against all arguments.”

Rep. Bernie Sanders, Ind-Vt., is filing a bill to protect libraries and bookstores from Section 215. The bill would require the FBI to have evidence of criminal activity before getting patrons’ records.