Library Sex Case

(Naperville, Illinois) On May 18, police received a phone call from a Naperville Public Library and the caller stated that a man was fondling himself while looking at pornography on the Internet in a part of the library where children were present. A patrol car was dispatched to the library. Information of what occurred next is rather sketchy so the following re-creation is provided based upon available data.

POLICE: You called about a guy fondling himself?

LIBRARIAN: Yes.

POLICE: Where is he?

LIBRARIAN: He left.

POLICE: What's his name?

LIBRARIAN: I'm sorry. That's confidential.

POLICE: What's he look like?

LIBRARIAN: I'm sorry. That's confidential.

POLICE: Which computer was he using?

LIBRARIAN: I'm sorry. That's confidential.

POLICE: Can you tell me what web sites he was looking at?

LIBRARIAN: I'm sorry. That's confidential.

POLICE: Is there anything you can tell us?

LIBRARIAN: Yes. You need a court order for me to answer your questions.

Frustrated, the police leave to get a court order and return the next day to start their investigation. On June 15, Richard J. Blaszak, 34, of Naperville, was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of children and public indecency.

The reason it took almost a month to apprehend and charge the alleged perpetrator is because the librarians helped impede the investigation. Due to the Illinois Library Records Confidentiality Act, librarians feel bound by the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to protect the confidentiality of patrons' reading interests.

I must plead abject ignorance. Of the gazillion times I've looked at the Bill of Rights, I've not seen the portion that addresses confidentiality of reading interests. What's more is that I'm not sure I understand what that means. Does it mean that I can't be compelled to sign my driver's license because it would breach my constitutional right to confidentiality about what I've read?

Just call me confused.