Readerprivacy.com writes to say that “this Wednesday Sept. 22nd at 10am EST, the US Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on the SAFE Act (S-1709) … The SAFE Act both increases the effectiveness of antiterrorism efforts and protects the civil liberties of law-abiding U.S. citizens and residents. It is a bi-partisan bill supported by Republicans and Democrats. … Among other things, the SAFE Act restores the protections for the privacy of bookstore and library records that were eliminated by Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act.” The group is urging those whose Senators are on the Judiciary Committee to call your Senators NOW! to express your support for S-1709. The readerprivacy.com e-mail provides a list of key Senators, staff members and easy talking points; read it here. [Californians! Senator Dianne Feinstein is on this committee.]

“The SAFE Act is supported by virtually the entire US book industry (publishers, distributors and booksellers as represented by companies large and small), the American Booksellers Association, the American Library Association, the writer’s group PEN, over 350 cities and counties as well as four states, and over 170,000 people who have signed our petition,” writes readerprivacy.com. Sign readerprivacy.com’s petition here.