1. SLA Sends Letter Opposing Proposed Closing of Sandia Research Library
2. Library Groups File En Banc Brief on Greenberg v. National Geographic Society
3. Groups Urging Amendment Vote on Executive Order
4. Opposition Expressed to Farm Bill Provisions 
5. Mandate for Public Access to NIH-Funded Research Poised to Become Law
6. Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control Presents Draft Report
7. Librarians Express Concern over Surveillance Bill Oversight
8. Journalists Discuss Finding and Using Government Information
9. Data Access Granted to the EU by Microsoft
10. E.U. Threatening Legal Action over U.K. Personal Data Protection
11. E.U. Takes Legal Action Against Sweden over Transparency Move

SLA Sends Letter Opposing Proposed Closing of Sandia Research Library
After learning that Sandia National Laboratories is planning to close its research library, SLA sent a letter strongly opposing the closing, or diminution, of library services at Sandia. The letter, from SLA CEO Janice R. Lachance, questioned if a detailed plan had been produced and vetted by qualified information and policy experts who understand the critical nature of maintaining valuable services and access to information for current and future needs by Sandia researchers. It also asked whether, if such a plan has been created, it had been made available for review and comment by those affected.

Sandia is part of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, and is managed by Lockheed Martin. It is government owned and contractor operated. Funding is provided by the Department of Energy, with other major funding through the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. Read letter. On 2 November, Sandia National Laboratories responded. Read Letter. SLA is engaged in a dialog with Sandia and will report on the outcomes.

Library Groups File En Banc Brief on Greenberg v. National Geographic Society
SLA in conjunction with ALA, AALL, ARL, MLA, the National Association of State University and Land-Grand Colleges, and the Society of American Archivists filed an En Banc brief in support of National Geographic Society (NGS) to reconsider a decision in this appeal. The case, Greenberg v. National Geographic Society, involves an allegation by photographers and authors that NGS violated copyright when it published past issues of its magazine on CD-ROM without first seeking permission. The brief reemphasizes and supports NGS in that as long as digital versions place photographs and articles in the same context as the print original, there is no infringement of copyright. Read Brief.

Groups Urging Amendment Vote on Executive Order
Several organizations, including SLA, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), strongly urging that the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 (H.R. 1255/S. 886) be brought to the Senate floor for consideration as soon as possible. This legislation would nullify a Bush executive order and re-establish procedures to ensure the timely release of presidential records that the Presidential Records Act was designed to ensure.
Read Letter.

Opposition Expressed to Farm Bill Provisions
Twenty-eight groups, including SLA, wrote a letter to senators to express opposition to the non-disclosure provisions (Sec. 10305 of the Livestock Title) in the 2007 farm bill approved by the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee on 25 October 25. One provision, would impose harsh criminal or civil penalties on members of the public and the press who might publish or in any way disclose information from the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), even if the information had been legally obtained.
Read Letter. Read NOFA/Mass Press Release.

Mandate for Public Access to NIH-Funded Research Poised to Become Law
The U.S. Senate approved the fiscal year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services,, and Education Appropriations Bill (S.1710), including a provision that directs the National Institutes of Health to strengthen its public access policy by requiring rather than requesting participation by researchers. Read ATA Press Release.

In October, eight organizations, including SLA, sent a letter via fax to all U.S. Senators strongly urging the opposition of the Senator James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) amendments (#3416 and #3417) to the fiscal year 2008 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill (S.1710). Read Letter. [Attached: OAWG letter to Senate PDF]

Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control Presents Draft Report
A working group sponsored by the Library of Congress to examine the future of bibliographic description in the 21st century in light of advances in search engine technology, the popularity of the Internet, and the influx of electronic information resources, is issuing its draft report for public comment on 30 November. During meetings over the last year year (delete), invited panelists delivered presentations on various aspects of bibliographic control, and audience members responded with both oral and written comments.

The working group, which included SLA Information Center Director John Latham, has collaborated throughout the year to shape the public meetings and to discuss its ultimate recommendations to the Library of Congress scheduled for publication on 9 January 2008. Read Library of Congress News. Working Group Information.

Librarians Express Concern over Surveillance Bill Oversight
Pending legislation on domestic surveillance has provoked alarm in the library community as it could allow federal intelligence-gathering on library patrons without sufficient court oversight. Read the full article in The Washington Post.

SLA has joined forces with several library organizations on this issue, seeking the opportunity to publicly debate any proposed legislation to alter the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Read joint letters October and September.

Journalists Discuss Finding and Using Government Information
At a joint meeting of the SLA Government Information Division and the American Library Association Government Documents Round Table in October, New York Times Reporter Scott Shane and Washington Post Research Editor Alice Crites discussed how they find and use government information, what their favorite sources are, and which documents even they have trouble tracking down. Read article by Peggy Garvin, SLA Government Information Division Chair.

Data Access Granted to the EU by Microsoft
Microsoft dropped a nearly decade-long legal battle with European regulators, agreeing to key parts of an antitrust ruling that has already led to hundreds of millions in fines. Microsoft has agreed to substantial changes for server software giving greater access to data it previously said was secret and valuable. Read News Story.

E.U. Threatening Legal Action over U.K. Personal Data Protection
The European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union, is threatening legal action against the United Kingdom government for failing to properly safeguard individuals' personal data. In addition, the commission has raised concerns regarding the conditions for processing sensitive personal data, the transmission of data outside the E.U., and the extent to which individuals can seek a remedy if their rights are breached. Read Guardian Article.

E.U. Takes Legal Action Against Sweden over Transparency Move
The European Commission has started legal proceedings against Sweden after the country granted public access to a confidential document to environment group Greenpeace. Read Article.