The USA Patriot Act may be the most complex and controversial federal statute in American history, argued to undercut American civil liberties in countless ways, including a dramatic extension of domestic surveillance. Providing a broad picture of how the new surveillance powers affect all Americans—citizens and non-citizens alike—the lessons of this book will be relevant to any businesses that maintain personnel records and electronic data that were considered confidential before the Patriot Act, as well as a broad range of individuals, including librarians, bookstore owners, students, scholars, journalists, businessmen, and anyone concerned with American civil liberties.

Informative appendices include the historic University of Illinois survey of public library surveillance since September 11, 2001, and copies of some of the standard court orders that may be served to libraries and bookstores.

A Recent History of Library Surveillance
The USA Patriot Act
The Patriot Act in Libraries and Bookstores
Making Things Worse: Government Actions Beyond the Patriot Act
Fighting Back: Responses to the Patriot Act
Appendix A: Public Libraries and Civil Liberties-- Questionnaire
Appendix B: U.S. Attorney Preservation Demand Letter
Appendix C: U.S. District Court ECPA Order with Schedule
Appendix D: U.S. District Court Subpoena in a Criminal Case
Appendix E: U.S. District Court Search Warrant
Selected Bibliography
Index

Reviews
This is the most important book this reviewer has read this year--and the most frightening. It succinctly details the latest effort by the U.S. government to undermine the rights of Americans to free expression and privacy, with a particular focus on libraries and librarians....Foerstel's impressive documentation proves that despite the book's brevity, it covers the subject fully and deeply. Highly recommended.—Library Journal

Foerstel has given a major portion of his energies over the past two decades to writing about this ongoing struggle. During this time, he has been on the front line to observe and particpate in many of these skirmishes. His latest book continues this important work and should be a source of pride for all library workers.—College & Research Libraries

[A]nalyzes all aspects of the USA Patriot Act directly affecting libraries and offers advice on what to do if your library is approached by law enforcement under authority of Section 215 of the act.—C&RL News

One of the undeniable effects of the USA Patriot Act is that many libraries have begun to rethink the user records they maintain. Author Herbert N. Foerstel addresses this and other implications of the very complex and controversial legislation in ^IRefuge of a Scoundrel:The Patriot Act in Libraries.^R Beginning with the origins of library surveillance and continuing on to the specifics of the Patriot Act-including gag orders for librarians and the law's effects on library policies on patron records-Foerstel also discusses state versions of the law, congressional oversight, and resolutions opposing the act.—American Libraries