WCLS

and Reaffirm the Role of the Public Library as a Foundation of Democracy in Whatcom County

Whereas, the Whatcom County Library Board of Trustees affirms the responsibility of public libraries, as a foundation of the democracy of the United States of America, to offer free, equal and unfettered access to the collected knowledge, information, and history of our culture; and

Whereas, privacy is essential to the free speech, free thought and free association inherent in library use; and

Whereas, the Whatcom County Library System Board of Trustees, staff and community members place high value on supporting confidentiality and personal choice in regard to individual use of library materials and services, and

Whereas, provisions of the USA Patriot Act expand the authority of the federal government to obtain library records, monitor electronic communication and further prohibit libraries and librarians from informing users of such monitoring and information requests,

Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Whatcom County Library System Board of Trustees call on our United States Representatives and Senators to repeal the sections of the Act that violate those fundamental rights and liberties, particularly Section 215, in order to safeguard the basic civil liberties and access to information of those using America's public libraries, and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Whatcom County Library System Board of Trustees strongly condemns any other current or future legislation or any government action that threatens privacy, information access, and Constitutional rights of library users.

September 16, 2003