One of the most onerous aspects of the U.S. Patriot Act is a provision that allows the government to demand library records of books checked out by U.S. citizens. Supporters of the act have argued up to now that the provision has been rarely, if ever, used.

Not so.

The American Library Association, however, spent $300,000 studying the issue, and found 200 formal and informal instances when government officials have inquired about or received library information.

“What this says to us,” said a library association representative quoted in The Washington Post, “is that agents are coming to libraries and they are asking for information at a level that is significant, and the findings are completely contrary to what the Justice Department has been trying to convince the public.”

Worse, a provision of the law prohibits librarians, under penalty of law, from revealing that they have been contacted or supplied information.

So, the 200-inquiry total may be low.

The key to renewing this provision of the act should be the result. The government should be forced to reveal whether this sort of snooping has resulted in the acquisition of important information.

If that cannot be proven, then the federal government should be prohibited from accessing library records.