The Nation - News from June 21, 1988

A controversial FBI program to monitor library use is more widespread than the agency has acknowledged and involves even books that people borrow, a congressional panel was told. The FBI acknowledged last year that under its “Library Awareness Program,” its agents had asked librarians to report on users of mostly academic and technical libraries who might be agents of hostile powers. FBI Director William S. Sessions and an FBI spokeswoman have said the program is limited to the New York City area. But testimony before the House subcommittee on civil and constitutional rights contradicted that claim. “Eighteen libraries have indicated approaches by the FBI,” said Duane Webster, executive director of the Assn. of Research Libraries.