The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the privacy of every American. In an age where so much information about each of us is in the ether of the Internet, is privacy even possible anymore?

Deschutes Public Library hosts a variety of experts and discussions in March as we explore what privacy means and how we can protect it in the digital era. We’ll even look at some places to go when it’s simply time to get away from it all. All programs listed are free and no registration is required.

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A World without Secrets
Wendy Willis will lead participants in an exploration of the history of privacy in the United States, discuss how our principles hold up in the world of corporate information gathering and government surveillance, and ask what the costs and benefits are to living in a society where almost everything about us is discoverable and discussed. This presentation is sponsored by Oregon Humanities.


Grant’s Getaways: Hidden Oregon
Grant McOmie is a Pacific Northwest broadcast journalist, teacher and author who writes and produces stories and special programs for KGW about the people, places, outdoor activities and environmental issues of the Pacific Northwest. He’ll bring stories of his travels and give insight on some of his favorite Oregon getaways when he visits two Deschutes Public Library branches. McOmie’s books include Grant's Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures and Grant's Getaways: Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon.


The PATRIOT Act & the Fourth Amendment
The USA PATRIOT Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2001. Its title stands for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism,” and it generated controversy from the start, as well as claims that it violated the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Attorneys Andrew Doyle and David Doyle will discuss the PATRIOT Acts vis-à-vis the Fourth Amendment, and will provide time for Q&A.


Keeping Tabs on America
Recent revelations about government surveillance, including Edward Snowden’s leak of NSA documents, have renewed worldwide attention to questions around privacy. Why is privacy important? What are the uses of surveillance? What are the dangers? Independent scholar and writer Kristian Williams will lead participants in a conversation about the scope and consequences of government surveillance, as well as ethical and legal limits of surveillance practices. This program is sponsored by Oregon Humanities.


You’ve Been Hacked: Cyber Crimes, Scams and You
In a world that becomes more cyber-connected by the day, protecting your privacy and personal information on the Internet is an important and ongoing challenge. New scams are constantly evolving, catching even technologically savvy people in their snare. Sergeant Dan Ritchie with the Bend Police Department will share information on the latest forms of online crime, including identity theft, credit card fraud and telephone and email "phishing" scams. Cases of identity theft in Bend jumped from 135 in 2013 to 152 in 2014; learn about steps you can take to avoid being the next victim.


For more information about these or other library programs, please visit the library website at www.deschuteslibrary.org. People with disabilities needing accommodations (alternative formats, seating or auxiliary aides) should contact Tina at 541-312-1034.