The Cold War is generally considered to be a period between 1947 and 1991, when a state of tension existed between two of the world's superpowers: the USSR. and the United States. Considered a "Cold War" due to the lack of large-scale fighting between the countries, this period had an extreme internal effect on the policies of the home countries. These new policies were put in place to protect citizens as well as to ensure their loyalty. Unfortunately, these patriotic policies have had negative consequences on many public and academic libraries. This article traces some of the difficulties faced by academic libraries during the 1946-1956 Cold War period. During the Cold War period, loyalty programs became a standard policy invoked by government officials for all types of American libraries. Library staff members were strongly encouraged to sign vague oaths and affidavits to prove their loyalty to the United States and to denounce any relationships with anonymous organizations. In the early days of loyalty programs, academic librarians and staff believed themselves safe from such attacks on their loyalty, "they optimistically believed that they existed in a protected realm of academic freedom" (Robbins LS, 1995, p 346). In the optimistic view of these librarians, academic libraries have been subject to loyalty programs and surveys, just like their public counterparts. Refusal to sign or take an oath had no specific outcome. Depending on the pressure placed on the institution, a library member who refused the loyalty program could either be publicly supported by their institution, silently fired or suspended, or sued. The inconsistent and unpredictable consequences led many libraries to confront Joseph McCarthy. Libraries and Culture, 36(1), 27-39.Spence, RP (2001). Cold War Librarianship: Soviet and American Library Activities in Support of National Foreign Policy, 1946-1991. Libraries and Culture, 36(1), 193-203. Voldin, B. (2001). Foreign libraries mirror Soviet librarianship during the Cold War. Libraries and Culture, 36(1), 204-210.Weiner, SG (2005). The History of Academic Libraries in the United States: A Review of the Literature. Library Philosophy and Practice (Electronic Journal), Article 58. Wiegand, WA (1999). Tunnel vision and blind spots: what the past tells us about the present: reflections on the history of American librarianship in the 20th century. The Library Quarterly, 69(1), 1-36.Yu, PC (2001). Leaning to One Side: The Impact of the Cold War on Chinese Library Collections. Libraries and culture, 36(1), 253-266.