NYLA Council Passes Resolution Condemning the Surveillance Activities of the National Security Administration

WHEREAS the New York Library Association (NYLA) has a tradition of supporting freedom of access to information in all forms as well as an individual’s right to feel secure in their personal actions with respect to communication; and

WHEREAS it has been reported and confirmed that the National Security Agency (NSA) has been engaged in a systematic activity to collect information regarding the telephone and Internet activities of people in the United States, and

WHEREAS the NSA has also attempted to justify its actions using controversial sections of the USA PATRIOT Act, an act that American libraries and librarians have found in conflict with our ideals of free and open inquiry, and

WHEREAS these actions may stifle a citizen’s rights under the First Amendment and prevent the free flow and trade of information necessary to a healthy and thriving democracy, and

WHEREAS the American Library Association has published an open letter raising the objections of our profession to these actions and requesting that Congress enact reforms to Section 215 of the USA Patriot Act and the FISA Amendments Act to make clear that blanket surveillance of the Internet activity and phone records of any United States citizen shall be prohibited by law and violations be reviewed in
adversarial proceedings before a public court; and that Congress should create a special committee to investigate, report, and reveal to the public the extent of this domestic information collection, as well as create specific recommendations for legal and regulatory reform to end this surveillance; and hold accountable those public officials who are found responsible for this surveillance;

THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the New York Library Association adds its name and prestige by endorsing the position of the American Library Association that the actions of the National Security Agency violate the personal privacy of citizens of the United States, and request that Congress enact reforms to Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and the FISA Amendments Act to make clear that blanket surveillance of Internet activity and phone records of any United States citizen is prohibited by law, and in so doing, NYLA takes appropriate action to communicate our position to members of the New York State delegation to the U.S. Congress, appropriate government officials and our colleagues in the American Library Association.

Presented by the Intellectual Freedom Roundtable & Arthur L. Friedman. Ed.D., MLS, MS Ed, IFRT Treasurer
November 7, 2013
New York Library Association Council Meeting
Guilderland, NY

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