“The real message of Banned Book Week is that freedom is only yours if you work to protect it.”

These words, spoken by panelist Barbara Mack, encompassed the message behind the Banned Book Week panel discussion in the Memorial Union Wednesday night, which focused on the effect of homeland security measures on libraries.

Mack, associate professor of journalism and communication, delivered a “call to arms” in her remarks.

Olivia Madison, dean of the university library and Gina Millsap, director of the Ames Public Library, were also panelists. Michael Bugeja, director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication, moderated the session.

The Patriot Act became law in October of 2001 and will remain in effect until December of 2005. All panelists agreed the law infringes on citizens’ civil liberties.

“It’s easy to argue that if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear,” Mack said. “That has never held water.”

Mack said the fear of another terrorist attack should not be used as an excuse to invade citizens’ privacy.

“We can survive another September 11,” she said. “The thing we may not survive is the people who take down the liberties that make us who we are.”

Bugeja said the Patriot Act has offended many Americans because the library represents freedom of speech in our society.

“For many, including the disenfranchised, the homeless, children and the displaced, the library is a safe haven,” he said.

Since the Patriot Act’s implementation two years ago, librarians have lived in fear of the “knock-on-the-door” by members of the intelligence community, Millsap said.

Librarians are not allowed to comment on visits by FBI agents requesting an individual’s circulation records. Many librarians have taken it upon themselves to destroy circulation records as soon as a book is returned to a library to protect a patron’s privacy, Millsap said.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, Iowa State’s Parks Library was asked to withdraw books from its collection by the federal government, Madison said.

“As a depository library, we have government information given to us but we have to return it at any point in time,” she said.

Parks Library also destroys circulation records immediately after a book is returned.

“We try to be as vigilant as we can and protect the interests of the people who use our library,” she said.

Banned Book Week reinforces the right of anyone to read any book they want, without fear of reprisal.

“The message is more than freedom to choose or freedom to express one’s opinion,” Madison said.

“It is to ensure the availability of unorthodox viewpoints to all who want to read them.”

Sally Calvert, freshman in apparel merchandising, design and production, said she attended the discussion to learn more about the reasons books are banned and the Patriot Act.

“It’s rather restrictive and kind of overdone,” she said. “Reading a book like the Quran doesn’t make you a terrorist,” she said. “I’ve read those books before because I’m just interested.”

Mack said the Patriot Act will be reviewed in 2005. Until then, opponents are responsible for making their disapproval known to legislators.

“Citizenship in this country is hard work and it is an advanced democracy,” she said. “This is going to continue to be a fight.”