Editing American Library Association (section)

==== USA PATRIOT Act ====
In 2003, the ALA passed a resolution opposing the [[USA PATRIOT Act]], which called sections of the law "a present danger to the constitutional rights and privacy rights of library users."<ref>{{cite web | date =2003-01-29 | url =http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/statementspols/ifresolutions/resolutionusa | title =Resolution on the USA PATRIOT Act and Related Measures that Infringe on the Rights of Library Users | publisher =ALA | access-date =2010-09-01 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120203034603/http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/statementspols/ifresolutions/resolutionusa | archive-date =2012-02-03 }}</ref> Since then, the ALA and its members have sought to change the law by working with members of Congress and educating their communities and the press about the law's potential to violate the privacy rights of library users. ALA has also participated as an ''[[amicus curiae]]'' in lawsuits filed by individuals challenging the constitutionality of the USA PATRIOT Act, including a lawsuit filed by four Connecticut librarians after the library consortium they managed was served with a [[national security letter]] seeking information about library users.<ref>{{cite news | last = Cowan | first = Alison Leigh | date = 2006-05-31 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/31/nyregion/31library.html | title = Four Librarians Finally Break Silence in Records Case | work = The New York Times | access-date =2007-02-07}}</ref> After several months of litigation, the lawsuit was dismissed when the FBI decided to withdraw the National Security Letter.<ref>{{cite web |date=2006-06-26 |url=http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/FBI_drops_demand_for_information_from_0626.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317065442/http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/FBI_drops_demand_for_information_from_0626.html |archive-date=2012-03-17 |url-status=live |title=FBI drops demand for information from Connecticut library group |work=Raw Story |access-date=2007-02-07 }}</ref> In 2007, the "Connecticut Four" were honored by the ALA with the Paul Howard Award for Courage for their challenge to the National Security Letter and gag order provision of the USA PATRIOT Act.<ref>McCook, Kathleen de la Peña (2011), ''Introduction to Public Librarianship, '' pp. 63–64. 2nd ed. New York, Neal-Schuman.</ref>

In 2006, the ALA sold humorous "radical militant librarian" buttons for librarians to wear in support of the ALA's stances on intellectual freedom, privacy, and civil liberties.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/archive/radicalbutton | title ="Radical, Militant Librarian" Button | publisher =ALA | access-date =2010-09-01 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121024044804/http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/archive/radicalbutton | archive-date =2012-10-24 }}</ref> Inspiration for the button's design came from documents obtained from the FBI by the [[Electronic Privacy Information Center]] (EPIC) through a [[Freedom of Information Act (United States)|Freedom of Information Act]] (FOIA) request. The request revealed a series of e-mails in which FBI agents complained about the "radical, militant librarians" while criticizing the reluctance of FBI management to use the secret warrants authorized under Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act.<ref>{{cite press release|date=2006-01-17 |url=http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=pressreleases&template=/contentmanagement/contentdisplay.cfm&ContentID=113573 |title=ALA introduces "Radical, Militant Librarian" button |publisher=ALA |access-date=2007-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404072818/http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=pressreleases&template=%2Fcontentmanagement%2Fcontentdisplay.cfm&ContentID=113573 |archive-date=4 April 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref>