Guarding patrons' library activities is considered a core value of the profession, written into the ALA's code of ethics: "We protect each library user's right

Guarding patrons' library activities is considered a core value of the profession, written into the ALA's code of ethics: "We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted." Over the years, the U.S. government has tested the limits of how far librarians will go to defend that code. Near the end of the Cold War, FBI agents asked New York City librarians to watch for patrons who might be diplomats from foreign hostile powers trying to recruit intelligence agents or gathering intelligence. http://boingboing.net/2014/10/12/librarians-on-the-vanguard-of.html http://boingboing.net/2014/10/12/librarians-on-the-vanguard-... http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/10/03/librarians-wont-stay-quiet-about-government-surveillance/?Post+generic=%3Ftid%3Dsm_twitter_washingtonpost http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/10/03...