Libraries are dangerous places

This is so bizarre and at the same time quite frightening.

Even in rural Montana.

I stopped into the friendly little library in Joliet over lunch today. I often do on Tuesdays, when I'm there.

"Friendly" and "little" are accurate descriptions. It's a smallish room in the community center, only open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and (most) Saturday mornings. It is staffed by Larrie-- a lovely woman with short curly hair and a gentle smile, retired from her former life and now serving as a part-time librarian. I like chatting with her; she's a cheerful, interested and practical sort of woman.

She is also apparently a risk to national security.

I learned today that she had recently submitted a request for a patron, ordering books from the large library in Billings. Being a tiny library, this is routine; she does this every week-- for folks who want to read items that aren't available, or maybe for kids who need something for a school report. She submits the order, the books come back, everyone is happy.

Not this time.

This time, she received these books; but they came with a letter informing her that because she had ordered them, she had been placed on a "Watch List." Pursuant to recent policy, with due respect for concerns with the requirements of the Patriot Act, she will have to appear in person in Billings before she will be permitted to order any more books.

No, I am not making this up.

Incidentally, the dust jacket lists glowing reviews from Oliver North, G. Gordon Liddy and Rush Limbaugh. Wonder if they're on the Watch List, too.

(courtesy link)