Category: Legislation

EPA libraries dumping collections to preempt congressional action

by RoryLitwin

ALA Council’s Bernadine Abbott Hoduski, who has been Council’s leader on the EPA library closure issue, has sent us this article from Yubanet, which begins: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is frantically dispersing its library collections to preempt Congressional intervention, according to internal emails released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Contrary to … Read more EPA libraries dumping collections to preempt congressional action

The Progressive Librarian’s Guild stands with Amnesty International

by RoryLitwin

The Progressive Librarians Guild approved endorsement of the following Amnesty International statement last night… AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA PRESS RELEASE Tuesday, October 17, 2006 Amnesty International Vows to Push for Clarification on Detainee Legislation (Washington, DC) Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA’s Executive Director, issued the following statement in response to President Bush signing the “Military Commissions … Read more The Progressive Librarian’s Guild stands with Amnesty International

American Anthropological Association opposition to Open Access: a letter from the AnthroSource Steering Committee on FRPAA

by RoryLitwin

The Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006 (FRPAA), if passed, would mandate that research by Federal government agencies (publicly funded research) automatically go into publicly accessible open access repositories. The library community and most of the academic community is in favor of this bill as a way of protecting the information commons. Scholarly publishers … Read more American Anthropological Association opposition to Open Access: a letter from the AnthroSource Steering Committee on FRPAA

Contact your Senators about DOPA

by RoryLitwin

Urgent message from the ALA Washington Office: On Wednesday, July 28, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the amended H.R. 5319, the Deleting Online Predators Act (DOPA), by a vote of 410-15. We believe the legislation will now go to the Senate, which may or may not have time to vote on this before their … Read more Contact your Senators about DOPA

International Committee of the Blue Shield statement on threatened cultural property in the Middle East conflict

by RoryLitwin

The International Committee of the Blue Shield has released a statement on threatened cultural property in the Middle East conflict. The statement simply states the group’s concern about the conflict and the threat it poses to cultural property (artifacts, documents, art), and calls upon governments to ratify the The Hague Convention for the Protection of … Read more International Committee of the Blue Shield statement on threatened cultural property in the Middle East conflict

Censorship via Washington State Anti-Gambling Law

by RoryLitwin

Washington State recently passed a law against internet gambling that contains a provision banning speech that “aids and abets” the gambling industry it defines as illegal. As it is explained in detail on this page, two major gaming industry magazines have cancelled their Washington State subscriptions, considering themselves banned by that law. This story did … Read more Censorship via Washington State Anti-Gambling Law

Scary New Intellectual Property Bill

by RoryLitwin

The Bush administration is preparing to introduce sweeping new intellectual property legislation, called the The Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2006. Among other things, this bill would create a new Federal crime, punishable by ten years in prison, for attempting to commit copyright violation; it would give the Justice Department new powers to prosecute “IP … Read more Scary New Intellectual Property Bill

Support EPA Libraries! Oppose FY 2007 Budget Cuts

by RoryLitwin

ALA’s advocacy folks have created a web page designed to make it easy to tell your Congress members of your opposition to the proposed budget cuts to EPA libraries. The page gives some useful background information and “talking points” about the situation, but leaves out the important fact that the proposed cuts are so severe … Read more Support EPA Libraries! Oppose FY 2007 Budget Cuts

PLG calls for Bush’s impeachment

by RoryLitwin

Resolution Condemning the Actions of President George W. Bush and Calling for Impeachment Proceedings WHEREAS, democracy is a core value that defines, informs, and guides our professional practice; WHEREAS, the American Library Association affirms the responsibility of the political leaders of the United States to protect and preserve the freedoms that are the foundation of … Read more PLG calls for Bush’s impeachment

PLG Resolution Against Anti-Immigrant Legislation 2006

by RoryLitwin

Resolution Against Anti-Immigrant Legislation 2006 Whereas, the Progressive Librarians Guild supports immigrants’ rights, Whereas, anti-immigrant measures deleteriously affect the immigrant community, regardless of legal status or citizenship status, Whereas, the Sensenbrenner Bill – H.R. 4437 is totally punitive in trying to make felons out of undocumented immigrants, denying them any human, civil, working, or due … Read more PLG Resolution Against Anti-Immigrant Legislation 2006