Post by selene on Dec 12, 2005 17:06:29 GMT -5
Fans and producers please note: Last night, Sunday December 11, 2005 there were two or three back to back episodes. In the first one, detectives go to a college library, and apparently, with no subpoena in sight, and no mention, the library staff gives up the name of the individual who checked out a book. With the Patriot Act running around doing stupid things, I don't want anyone to think that a library would do such a thing (give up the name of someone who checked out a particular title) without a subpoena.
In the following episode, detectives are talking (again with no mention of a subpoena) about a librarian who told them what topic a particular person had come in to do research on. I am not a regular viewer of the show, but I would hope that it would be made CLEAR that it could probably take a whole episode for the detectives, regardless of how clever and right they are, to get such information. You cannot just walk into a library and get that kind of information without a subpoena and something of a fight.
The show certainly appears smart enough to know about such things, but in case ANYONE is under the impression that such information can be gotten simply because law enforcement wants it, they are mistaken. These are dangerous times we live in, and if no one else will protect your civil liberties, even if you don't think it is important, librarians always will and always have.
It is irresponsible for the show, simply for lack of time or interest, to not make this clear.
In the following episode, detectives are talking (again with no mention of a subpoena) about a librarian who told them what topic a particular person had come in to do research on. I am not a regular viewer of the show, but I would hope that it would be made CLEAR that it could probably take a whole episode for the detectives, regardless of how clever and right they are, to get such information. You cannot just walk into a library and get that kind of information without a subpoena and something of a fight.
The show certainly appears smart enough to know about such things, but in case ANYONE is under the impression that such information can be gotten simply because law enforcement wants it, they are mistaken. These are dangerous times we live in, and if no one else will protect your civil liberties, even if you don't think it is important, librarians always will and always have.
It is irresponsible for the show, simply for lack of time or interest, to not make this clear.