1. FY08 Omnibus Bill Allocates $1 Million to Restore EPA Libraries
2. SLA, Other Groups Support Plain Language Bill
3. LCA Expresses Concerns with Proposed Orphan Works Legislation
4. Groups Urging Senators to Co-Sponsor Amendments 
5. SLA Opposes Closing of Canadian Health Network
6. Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control Releases Draft Report
7. EU to Investigate Google/DoubleClick Deal
8. DOJ Backs Award in Digital Music Copyright Infringement Case
9. Save the Date: National Library Legislative Day
10. Save the Date: Sunshine Week

FY08 Omnibus Bill Allocates $1 Million to Restore EPA Libraries
The FY08 EPA budget, approved in the omnibus budget bill, allocates $1 million to restore EPA's network of libraries. The bill requires the EPA to provide Congress with a report regarding "actions it will take to restore publicly available libraries to provide environmental information and data to each EPA region within 90 days of the enactment of this Act."

In early 2006, the EPA budget proposed cuts of $2 million that would close its network of 27 libraries and information centers. SLA vehemently opposed this decision and took action-and continued communications stressing the importance of access to the unique information managed by the EPA's network.
Read more.
EPA Library History

SLA, Other Groups Support Plain Language Bill
SLA, ALA, and AALL wrote a letter to Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D, Hawaii) to express strong support for the Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007 (S. 2291) that includes reforms to require federal agencies to use plain language best practices for forms, Web sites, and other federal agency communications. The letter said that S.2291 will enhance public understanding of government information, facilitate access to government services, and increase government transparency. Read letter. Read Press Release.

LCA Expresses Concerns with Proposed Orphan Works Legislation
The Library Copyright Alliance, of which SLA is a member, hand delivered letters to U.S. Representatives Howard L. Berman (D, California) and Howard Coble (R, North Carolina) expressing serious concerns with the proposed Section 104 of H.R. 4279. The letter states that section 104 would exacerbate the orphan works situation by greatly increasing the amount of statutory damages plaintiffs could recover for infringements of compilations and derivative works and would make libraries and their patrons even more reluctant to use orphan works of this sort. Read letter.

Groups Urging Senators to Co-Sponsor Amendments
Thirty-one groups, including SLA, wrote a letter to key senators requesting they co-sponsor S.886, The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007.

In November 2001, President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13233, giving current and former presidents and vice presidents, and their heirs, broad authority to withhold presidential records or delay their release. The group's letter emphasized the need to re-establish procedures to ensure the timely release of presidential records as called for in the Presidential Records Act of 1978. Read letter.

SLA Opposes Closing of Canadian Health Network
In letters sent to Canada's Minister of Health and Chief Public Health Officer, SLA urged that the Canadian Health Network, a leading source for heath information on the Web in Canada, not be closed. The letters emphasize the importance of public access to this well-vetted information portal as essential to the public health as more and more online resources become freely available.

Read letter to Canadian Minister of Health.
Read letter to Canadian Chief Public Health Officer.
Read news story.
Sign the Friends of CHN Petition.
CHN Petition in French.

Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control Releases Draft Report
The Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control, of which SLA Information Center Director John Latham is a member, has released its draft report on the future of bibliographic description in light of advances in search engine technology, the popularity of the Internet and the influx of electronic information resources. The group's recommendations emphasized the role of the Library of Congress not as a sole supplier, but rather as an important leader in the cataloging world. The final report is scheduled for delivery to the Library of Congress on 9 January 2008.
Read letter from Working Group.
Read Draft Final Report.

EU to Investigate Google/DoubleClick Deal
European Union regulators have launched an in-depth investigation into Google's $3.1 billion takeover of online advertising firm DoubleClick. The European Commission stated its initial probe had shown the deal would raise competition concerns and the body is working closely on the case with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which has been reviewing the deal since May. Read news story.

DOJ Backs Award in Digital Music Copyright Infringement Case
The U.S. Department of Justice has asserted that a $222,000 damage award in a digital music copyright infringement case the Recording Industry Association of America won in October is constitutional. A 20-page brief in the U.S. District Court in Minnesota indicated the jury-assessed damages against Jammie Thomas, a single mother from an Indian reservation, were not excessive. Read news story.

Save the Date: National Library Legislative Day
SLA, in collaboration with ALA, will participate in National Library Legislative Day 13-14 May 2008. Information professionals are invited to Washington, D.C., to participate in the two-day event that will focus on advocacy and issue training sessions, interact with Capitol Hill insiders and visit Congressional offices to support legislation that backs libraries. Read more.

Save the Date: Sunshine Week
On Wednesday, 19 March 2008 from 1:00pm- 2:30pm EST OpenTheGovernment.org and other organizations (including SLA) will present a dialogue on Executive Branch secrecy and more as part of Sunshine Week. The event will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and webcast to sites around the country.