Action and reaction: Libraries in the post 9/11 environment

The events of September 11, 2001 were tragic on many levels: they affected almost all facets of society, including the library institution. In many ways, that date acted as a catalyst in the library community, calling into question traditional library values and ethical principles, as a result of the politically charged climate and the post 9/11 legislations. This article examines the legislative environment following 9/11 in the United States and Canada and reviews the reactions to these legislations by the library communities in these two countries. The findings point out to mixed reactions from the library communities in the two countries. The results are used to frame and discuss the broader role and responsibilities of libraries in a post 9/11 environment.