CPL head's comments provoke outrage

摘要

A December 4 appearance by Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey on the Fox News Network's O'Reilly Factor sparked letters of protest aimed at CPL and the American Library Association. Her comments about the confidentiality of library records provoked outrage when she seemed to be saying that she would not have notified the FBI had terrorists been identified at the library, as Delray Beach, Florida, librarian Kathleen Hensman did in September (AL, Nov., p. 13). Bill O'Reilly, host of the popular talk show, insisted that Dempsey explain why ALA "was unhappy with Ms. Hensman's actions" and why Hensman was "reprimanded" for reporting to the FBI that she had spotted three of the September 11 suicide skyjackers using library computers, which were turned over to authorities. Dempsey replied that it was probably because Hensman had "volunteered information that ordinarily would be kept confidential." Following the broadcast, e-mail messages began coming in to the Association and CPL expressing outrage over "aiding and abetting terrorists," as one protester put it. Some writers announced they were tearing up their library cards. Dempsey told American Libraries she regretted appearing on the show, saying she was led to believe she would be discussing confidentiality and privacy laws. "I answered the questions in my head, not the ones I was being asked," she said of O'Reilly's in-your-face interview style. "Of course if I knew there was a terrorist standing in my library I would notify the authorities. Any citizen would do that. But when it comes to library records, I would follow the law and require a subpoena." The facts are that Hensman's actions received the full support of Delray Beach Director John Callahan (AL, Dec., p. 56), and ALA does not reprimand librarians. The Association's position on confidentiality is simply that libraries should abide by state laws safeguarding the privacy of patron records.