CLA and 2004 Federal Elections

The Canadian Library Association has chosen three messages that they want to communicate to the politicians running in the election campaign: Educating Politicians About Today's Libraries; Copyright; and the Library Book Rate. They've also prepared an election kit describing these three themes and a letter to write to the candidates in your riding. You can also voice these themes on the Council of Canadians discusion board.

source: bcla-list

Put a little protest into your conference program plan!

Join library activists at the ALA Annual Conference in Orlando in drawing attention to the problems and contradictions of the "world-renowned Disney principles" of "Service Disney Style":

Disney's prevention of its subsidiary Miramax from distributing Michael Moore's Palme d'Or winning documentary Fahrenheit 9/11.
Preventing poor Mickey from entering the public domain by "influencing" Congress to extending corporate copyright protection AGAIN. Is that any way to treat a senior citizen?
The notion that libraries should adopt a corporate model for "serving" their "customers."

Saturday, June 26, 8:45 - 9:15am Convention Center Auditiorium, outside Room 320 where the program "Service Disney Style" will be taking place.

source: A-librarians-list

May 25, 2004

South African Library Fundraiser

Renee Chalut, a librarian in British Columbia, is trying to raise funds to participate in a volunteer project to South Africa through the World Library Partnership. WLP sends a handfull of international librarians to libraries in rural South Africa to offer professional expertise (the libraries are usually volunteer run). Renee is doing a fundraising to help her cover the cost for her trip. You can write or call to help (604-254-6793).

source: bcla-list

May 19, 2004

Beyond the ALA

The Counterpoise Advisory Board and the Counterpoise Collective are organizing a small post-conference immediately following ALA's 2004 Annual Conference in Orlando. Librarians, publishers, and users are invited to discuss aspects of library service that are under-or over-emphasized, misrepresented, or ignored by mainstream libraries and library organizations. Some sessions may be recorded for publication in Counterpoise. Find out more...

source: PLGNet-L

May 15, 2004

CLA fighting amendment to Copyright Act

The music industry is pushing to amend the Canadian Copyright law. It wants the Act to impose collective licensing to all electronically delivered copyrighted material with no exceptions given to interlibrary loans, even though libraries already pay royalties to copyright holders. The report from the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage contends that international copyright agreements (TRIPS and WIPO) need to be respected. The Canadian Library Association urges a public interest approach affirming that "literacy and learning are public goods that all members of society should have equal access to."

source: Globe and Mail

May 12, 2004

Alternative library publication

The Millenial Light Library has just published their first newsletter.

More news from Word Warriors Press

Press release from this small alternative press for teens.

May 8, 2004

September 11th at the library

"The September Project is a coordinated effort to get all citizens to attend their local libraries on Saturday September 11th. We believe that libraries are the last free and public space in the US: the ideal space for citizens to come together publicly and collectively to discuss issues that matter." The group would like libraries across America to get involved by organizing talks, roundtables, or readings.

source: David Silver, co-director of the September Project

May 5, 2004

Different solution to a similar problem...

Following the May 4th entry, it seems as though the UK is also facing criticisms on the management of their public libraries. However, the response is quite different from the San Francisco case. After the publication of a report called "Who's in Charge" by Tim Coate's, the government has called a library summit for June 21 to discuss the future of UK libraries. This report, commented on in the Observer, has some positive aspects, such as increasing expenditure on books and opening hours. But this, would be at the expense of skilled staff. The report recommends fewer "expensive" professional librarians and more cheaper semi-skilled staff so libraries can stay open longer. Market principles as a solution to funding issues and social priorities?

May 4, 2004

"Taxpayer's" lawsuit against a public library!

James Chaffee, a San Francisco citizen, is bringing his city and the San Franciscio Public Library to court with the accusation that the City and Library have failed to abide by clear provisions of the Library Preservation Fund legislation (Proposition E, 1994). Essentially, Chaffee claims that the fund has been misused or misaccounted. Proposition E, voted by San Francisco residents in 1994, was suppposed to support public libraries by giving priority to increasing library hours and acquiring books. A "Save our libraries" website has been set up with the facts on the lawsuit.

May 2, 2004

Montreal Anarchist Bookfair

If you're in Montreal in May, come check out the Festival of Anarchy. This culminates on May 15 with the 5th Annual Anarchist Bookfair. On May 16, there will be tons of great workshops, including one on the "History of the Anarchist Press in Quebec."

Check out the archives for past headlines