Fear of U.S. terrorism laws spur changes at Atlantic libraries
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. (CUP) -- Libraries at Canadian universities are switching to a Canadian server for access to the American web-based research tool RefWorks, out of fear of users being subjected to the U.S. Patriot Act.
The Queen Elizabeth II Library at the Memorial University of Newfoundland bought into RefWorks in April, but has held off on promoting it until they could be sure it was secure.
Researchers can use the program both on and off-campus to build research databases, track bibliographies, organize research, and cite information in almost any style.
While operating RefWorks out of a server in the U.S., the library feared U.S. laws, particularly the Patriot Act, might allow the government to monitor research and impede academic freedom.
The act, passed in response to the September 11 attacks, greatly expands the U.S. government's surveillance powers as a security measure against terrorism.
“With the U.S. Patriot Act, [the U.S.] can have access to this without even having to notify the person whose files are being looked at,” said Karen Lippold, a librarian at Memorial. “Obviously, if they decide for some reason that you are looking suspicious, then you are on some sort of watch list.”
Lippold is not the only person worried about the act's implication on research. When the University of Toronto offered in October to host the server, Atlantic university libraries -- 16 in total -- made the switch together.
Other Canadian post-secondary libraries, including the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, and Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo, B.C., also made the switch at that time.
“To us it was an issue, and it's an issue to other libraries,” said Lippold.
Libraries at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., continue to use the U.S. server, but they've posted disclaimers on their website warning that information uploaded is not protected by Canadian privacy laws.
Lippold says the Memorial library offered training sessions for RefWorks in August, but warned users of the dangers. A few professors said they would wait for the Canadian server before showing the program to their students.
“I think there's just this whole fear that the oversight of your work could lead to problems. It's definitely an issue of privacy,” said Lippold. “I think most people don't believe that the authorities will not make mistakes. I mean, the long and the short of it is we know they make mistakes. And seemingly sometimes people are labelled when they shouldn't be.”
Lippold hopes RefWorks will catch on at Memorial now that it runs out of the University of Toronto.
“At least it's here in Canada, and we don't have the Patriot Act,” she said.
The Queen Elizabeth II Library at the Memorial University of Newfoundland bought into RefWorks in April, but has held off on promoting it until they could be sure it was secure.
Researchers can use the program both on and off-campus to build research databases, track bibliographies, organize research, and cite information in almost any style.
While operating RefWorks out of a server in the U.S., the library feared U.S. laws, particularly the Patriot Act, might allow the government to monitor research and impede academic freedom.
The act, passed in response to the September 11 attacks, greatly expands the U.S. government's surveillance powers as a security measure against terrorism.
“With the U.S. Patriot Act, [the U.S.] can have access to this without even having to notify the person whose files are being looked at,” said Karen Lippold, a librarian at Memorial. “Obviously, if they decide for some reason that you are looking suspicious, then you are on some sort of watch list.”
Lippold is not the only person worried about the act's implication on research. When the University of Toronto offered in October to host the server, Atlantic university libraries -- 16 in total -- made the switch together.
Other Canadian post-secondary libraries, including the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta, and Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo, B.C., also made the switch at that time.
“To us it was an issue, and it's an issue to other libraries,” said Lippold.
Libraries at the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., continue to use the U.S. server, but they've posted disclaimers on their website warning that information uploaded is not protected by Canadian privacy laws.
Lippold says the Memorial library offered training sessions for RefWorks in August, but warned users of the dangers. A few professors said they would wait for the Canadian server before showing the program to their students.
“I think there's just this whole fear that the oversight of your work could lead to problems. It's definitely an issue of privacy,” said Lippold. “I think most people don't believe that the authorities will not make mistakes. I mean, the long and the short of it is we know they make mistakes. And seemingly sometimes people are labelled when they shouldn't be.”
Lippold hopes RefWorks will catch on at Memorial now that it runs out of the University of Toronto.
“At least it's here in Canada, and we don't have the Patriot Act,” she said.
