1. SLA Seeks Nominations for Depository Library Council
2. SLA Receives Response to Ashcroft Letter
3. Jefferson Muzzle Award Nominations
4. National Geographic Society Wins Infringement Case
5. Joint Statement on Fair Use and Electronic Reserves
6. GPO Reorganization
7. Letter to United States Trade Representative Robert C.Zoellick
8. Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act
9. Consumers, Schools and Libraries Digital Rights Management Awareness Act of 2003
10. Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003
11. WIPO Meeting Supported
12. Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2003
13. Library Community Comments on U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreements
14. SLA Joins IAA
SLA Seeks Nominations for Depository Library Council
The U.S Government Printing Office is seeking nominations for open positions on the U.S. Depository Library Council. The Council consists of 15 representatives of the U.S. Government information community, each serving a term of 3 years. The term officially begins on October 1, 2004, and runs until September 30, 2007. Each year, the Public Printer appoints five new council members. The Council meets twice yearly: in April at various sites around the US, and in October in Washington, DC. The Council pays the travel and per diem expenses of Council members.
The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) is seeking individuals who have a broad working knowledge of Federal information dissemination policy and issues and the ability to relate that knowledge to the FDLP. It is anticipated the coming year will focus on the FDLP in the electronic age, including questions on ensuring permanent public access and authenticity of Government online information. Council members should have an understanding of the information –based society and economy, including issues such as technology developments, literacy, productivity, national competitiveness and the roles of the various sectors of society in addressing such issues.
Nominations are due to SLA by February 23, 2003. If you would like to submit a nomination, contact Doug Newcomb at Doug@sla.org or by calling 1-202-939-3676.
SLA Receives Response to Ashcroft Letter
In September, SLA sent a letter (http://www.sla.org/content/memberservice/communication/ashcroftletter.cfm) to Attorney General John Ashcroft objecting to disparaging remarks he made about librarians during a September 15th presentation to the National Restaurant Association. The Attorney General stated that librarians were being misled about the U.S. Patriot Act by “breathless reports and baseless hysteria” from groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). In late December, Assistant Attorney General Daniel J. Bryant responded to the letter, stating: “…General Ashcroft confirmed that he had declassified the number of times to date the Justice Department had utilized Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act relating to the production of business records. The number of times Section 215 had been used to date was zero(0).” To read the entire letter, go to: (http://www.sla.org/PDFs/USDoJLetter.pdf)
Jefferson Muzzle Award Nominations
The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression invites you to submit your opinion on the most ridiculous and / or egregious acts of censorship to have occurred in 2003. Nominate your favorite censor for this year’s Jefferson Muzzles. Awarded each year in mid April to celebrate Thomas Jefferson’s birthday (April 13), the Muzzles are a dubious distinction awarded to those who have forgotten (or disregarded) Mr. Jefferson’s admonition that freedom of speech cannot be limited without being lost. Last year’s awards included a Muzzle award to the 107th United States Congress for passing the USA PATRIOT Act. To view past awardees or to make a nomination, go to: http://www.tjcenter.org/muzzles.html
National Geographic Society Wins Infringement Case
The Complete National Geographic CD does not violate copyright law, according to a ruling by federal District Court judge in New York. At the heart of this case was the issue of revisions of current works from print to CD without permission of the contributors. http://www.pdnonline.com/photodistrictnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2054645
Joint Statement on Fair Use and Electronic Reserves
SLA, ALA, AALL, ARL and MLA support a statement in response to confusion about the TEACH Act and ongoing uncertainty regarding e-reserves and fair use. Full details are at: http://www.sla.org/Documents/JointStatement.htm
GPO Reorganization
U.S. Superintendent of Documents Judith C. Russell spoke at the ALA Winter Meeting. Major topics of her presentation included: The GPO Reorganization, Fact Gathering and Planning for the Future of GPO and the FDLP, A New Economic Model for the GPO Sales Program, and Managing Legacy Federal Documents Collections. For the full presentation, go to: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/about/speeches/01102004_ala.pdf
Letter to United States Trade Representative Robert C. Zoellick
A letter was sent from SLA, AALL, ALA, and ARL requesting that for all bilateral and regional trade negotiations a minimum proposed agreement test be posted on the USTR’s website, along with all comments received. For complete letter, go to: http://www.sla.org/PDFs/USTR.pdf
Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act
SLA, AALL, ALA, and ARL sent a letter to discuss the draft of the bill, “Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act,” and express concerns about the legislation, including the need for it. For complete letter, go to: http://www.sla.org/PDFs/SensenTauzin0903.pdf
SLA, AALL, ALA, ARL and MLA signed a letter in support of “Consumers, Schools and Libraries Digital Rights Management Awareness Act of 2003 S 1621.” The bill seeks to address the American public’s growing confusion and inconvenience as access and redistribution control technologies are introduced to the marketplace. For complete letter, go to: http://www.sla.org/PDFs/Endorsement.pdf
Freedom to Read Protection Act of 2003
SLA, AALL, ALA, ARL and MLA sent a letter to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office concerning statements made by the agency. According to press reports, the PTO openly chastised the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for its support of a conference on open and collaborative models for the development of public goods. For complete letter, go to: http://www.sla.org/PDFs/PTOWIPO.pdf
Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2003
A letter was sent by SLA, ARL, AALL, ALA, and MLA, which addressed concerns regarding provisions of H.R. 2517, the “Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 2003.” The library community supports efforts by Congress and our federal agencies to deter and fight infringement of copyrighted works. For complete letter, go to: http://www.arl.org/info/letters/HR2517letter.pdf
Library Community Comments on U.S.- Chile and U.S.- Singapore Free Trade Agreements
Comments were sent to Chairman Crane and Ranking Member Levin on U.S.-Chile and U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreements by SLA, AALL, ALA, ARL, MLA, and the Digital Future Coalition. Library organizations have worked closely with other educational, research, and consumer-oriented groups to oppose copyright policies that threaten to unduly limit access to information. For complete comments, go to: http://www.sla.org/Documents/FTAHouseWM_final_.htm
SLA Joins IAA
SLA has joined the Information Access Alliance (IAA) in support of a revised analysis of publisher mergers. The Alliance is concerned that mergers of this sort will bring about a reduction in access to critical research information due to the heightened journal costs that result. http://www.informationaccess.org/
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