Lords defend libraries in debate over Terrorism Bill. Lobbying succeeds in amending the Terrorism Bill, but information professionals could still be criminalised for inflammatory content, reports Mark Chillingworth.

Peers in the House of Lords rallied to defend the library and information sector against wrongful prosecution under the proposed Terrorism Bill as the Parliamentary sessions of 2005 closed. A robust debate clarified some points in the bill, but failed to change the burden of proof.

An alliance of 14 bodies representing information professionals, as well as the Association of University Teachers (AUT), lobbied peers and MPs to have the controversial bill amended to prevent library resources, users and academics being criminalised. The alliance includes the British Library, the Scottish and Welsh national libraries, Cilip, the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council (MLA), the Scottish Confederation of University & Research Libraries (SCURL) and the British & Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL).

"Overall the debate has been helpful with some clarifications and concessions from Baroness Scotland," said Clive Field, British Library director of scholarly collections. Peers were concerned that the bill will create an atmosphere of fear in universities and libraries. Baroness ...