Well, according to Michigan's native son, Michael Moore, librarians *are* subversive:

"I really didn't realize the librarians were, you know, such a dangerous group. They are subversive. You think they're just sitting there at the desk, all quiet and everything. They're like plotting the revolution, man. I wouldn't mess with them."

<http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/22778.Michael_Francis_Moore>

Might only be an issue crossing at the Detroit-Windsor border, though.  Not sure how broadly his opinion may have spread beyond the state.

MJ

On 2010-01-25, at 11:18 AM, Jonathan Rochkind wrote:

> Ha! Are librarians known subversives or something?  Or maybe it just sounded like the sort of thing you'd be bringing large amounts of merchandise back from, that you might be trying to escape paying import taxes on. Sounded erroneously like that, in fact, because even ALA is not generally something people buy acquisitions at.   But BOOK trade conferences are such, so I bet they search anyone's trunk coming back from a publisher trade conference for that reason.
> 
> Ryan Eby wrote:
>> Only thing I would add is that for the detroit crossing coming back
>> into the US it seems that "library conference" as your reason is an
>> automatic trunk search as it has happened both times I've mentioned
>> it.
>> 
>> eby.
>> 
>> On Thu, Jan 21, 2010 at 3:28 PM, John Fereira <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>  
>>> David Fiander wrote:
>>>    
>>>> I'm not sure, but everybody entering the US is required to present a
>>>> passport or other "enhanced" ID, so if the Americans don't have
>>>> passports, it's more that they can't go home without.
>>>> 
>>>>      
>>> It's good that this is being discussed now.  It would be a shame to have
>>> someone not be able to attend because they didn't have adequate documents.
>>> There *are* immigration sites for both the U.S. and Canada that can provide
>>> up to date information regarding required documents.  I was suggest using
>>> those sites rather than speculate about what might be required based on
>>> responses in this thread.  That said, I probably should check my passport to
>>> see when it expires.  In addition to the likely trip to Montpellier, there
>>> is a fairly high chance that'll be going to Tanzania on business as well.
>>> 
>>> I have taken the 1000 Island Bridge (incredibly scenic for those that
>>> haven't done it) and have also taken the Wolf Island Ferries.  I've probably
>>> traveled to/from Canada 6-7 times and  got more scrutiny at the Wolf Island
>>> crossing than any other spot.
>>> 
>>> Ride sharing is a good idea.  With enough people coming from some areas
>>> renting a van might even be a viable option.
>>> 
>>> --
>>> John Fereira
>>> Cornell University
>>> Twitter: @john_fereira
>>> Google Wave: [log in to unmask]
>>> 
>>>    
>> 
>>