The privacy of library patrons’ borrowing records has been an issue since the Patriot Act of 2001 gave the federal government broad new powers to investigate them.
Now Vermont is stepping in, at least on the state level, with a new law that says libraries are not to release borrowing records unless ordered to do so by a court.
An exception is that parents of kids younger than 16 can ask a library for records of books being borrowed by the youngster.
The library records privacy law is one of dozens of measures passed this year that take effect Tuesday. July 1st is the traditional effective date for many new laws.