HELENA (AP) — The Montana State Library has canceled a showing of a movie critical of the U.S. Patriot Act after people complained about the American Civil Liberties Union being involved.

The State Library said it originally thought the film, part of the ``The ACLU Freedom Files'' series, would be a good pick for its monthly seminar series because parts of the Patriot Act affect libraries.

But the library decided Tuesday the presentation might be one-sided in its criticism of the Patriot Act and canceled a viewing scheduled for Friday.

A State Library spokeswoman said complaints came from residents and state employees who didn't like the idea of the ACLU getting a forum.

``They weren't really protesting the video; they were protesting the ACLU being at a state agency,'' said Sara J. Groves. ``That was the majority of the complaints.''

The library considered finding someone to counter the ACLU's position on the Patriot Act but couldn't on short notice. They might try such an event at a later date, Groves said.

``It's very possible we will do something that will present all sides of this issue,'' she said.

The ACLU of Montana, which was scheduled to moderate Friday's forum, said it was disappointed in the State Library's decision.

The ACLU has been a staunch critic of the Patriot Act.

``I think the government has a bully pulpit day in and day out about why intrusions into our privacy are warranted,'' said Scott Crichton, executive director of the ACLU Montana. ``All the video does is counter some of the assertions the government continues to make, and helps people to understand why the Patriot Act is a threat to people's privacy.''

Crichton said it is hard to find someone in Montana who supports the Patriot Act and doesn't work for the federal government.

``As we have made clear, since its passage, any time, any place the government wants to make their case, we are happy to engage in principled debate with them,'' Crichton said.

Crichton said the segments on the Patriot Act, titled ``Beyond the Patriot Act, is one segment in a series produced by the ACLU on people whose civil liberties have been threatened. The Patriot Act piece was mailed to about 150 Montana libraries.

Part of the film centers on an Arab American ACLU client who Crichton says was illegally pulled off a train while passing through Montana.

The State Library said it usually has a small crowd at its monthly seminars and was hoping the ACLU film would draw a bigger audience. The agency didn't anticipate the level of criticism against the ACLU, though.

``It was something that really got people's attention,'' said Groves. ``I just think it's been an interesting experience. We just thought we were going to host an interesting event that would generate a lot of discussion.''