The Patriot Act and Early ALA Action: Habermas, Strauss, Or Derrida‪?‬

Introduction In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks the United States Congress passed special security and anti-terrorism legislation which included the USA Patriot Act. This legislation was renewed in 2006. In response to the passage of the Act in 2001 two Councils of the American Library Association (ALA) passed resolutions reaffirming the basic principles of that organization. The following is an account of how two early ALA Council resolutions CD 19.1 (Midwinter 2002) and CD 20.1. (Midwinter 2003) were drafted and brought to Council. (For the wording of the resolutions see Appendices 1 and 2).