ALA CMS RFP, OMG!

Looks like ALA is going to get a new CMS for dealing with their web site and they have sent out an RFP [pdf]. We can yammer all we want about how this should have been done last time, and debate what damage was done by two years of a substandard web site, but it’s a step forward to at least try to do it right the second time and hope too many people haven’t joined SLA or ASIS in the meantime. Here are my comments to the Council list, and here are Karen Schneider’s.

ALA wins lawsuit over broadcast flag

Big big news. The American Library Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation and friends just won their joint challenge to the FCCs weird Broadcast Flag regulations, decision can be read here. Not only does this mean that the FCC has to back off from trying to require all digital video receivers to have special Digital Rights Management embedded [that’s Congress’s job, the courts say, if they choose to do it] but the courts also agreed that the ALA, and by extention librarians and educators, had standing to file this case in the first place. Here’s an example from one of the librarian’s affadavits cited in the decision.

There is clearly a substantial probability that, if enforced, the Flag Order will immediately harm the concrete and particularized interests of the NCSU Libraries. Absent the Flag Order, the Libraries will continue to assist NCSU faculty members make broadcast clips available to students in distanceeducation courses via the Internet, but there is a substantial probability that the Libraries will be unable to do this if the Flag Order takes effect. It is also beyond dispute that, if this court vacates the Flag Order, the Libraries will be able to continue to assist faculty members lawfully redistribute broadcast clips to their students.

Get more links and some discussion here, plus the great quote from the decision “Congress does not…hide elephants in mouseholes.”

wireless at ALA, for all

This just in over the ALA Council newswire. Wireless connectivity, which had previously been available only to ALA Councilors, will be available to all ALA Conference attendees in Chicago. Keith Michael Fiels, ALA Executive Director says the connnectivity will be available “at a highly discounted rate.” Of course, “discounted from what?” is the question here, since Councilors get their connections for free, but look forward to being able to be wireless at ALA in June.

USAPA news

ALA President Carol Brey-Casiano met with the new US Attorney General today to talk about — what else? — the USA PATRIOT Act.

The American Library Association believes that government powers should be focused and subject to clear standards and judicial review and oversight. Brey-Casiano said, “portions of the USA PATRIOT Act abridge people’s First Amendment right to read and think freely. In this country, we are entitled to read and research a topic or opinion without the fear that the government is looking over our shoulder.”

A little over a month ago, the Montana State Legislature passed a bill with strong bipartisan support critical of the USA PATRIOT Act and encouraging Congress to let parts of it sunset,

That the 59th Montana Legislature supports the government of the United States in its campaign against terrorism and affirms the commitment of the United States that the campaign not be waged at the expense of essential civil rights and liberties of citizens of this country that are protected in the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is the policy of the citizens of Montana to oppose any portion of the USA PATRIOT Act that violates the rights and liberties guaranteed under the Montana Constitution or the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.

Other Councilors elected

List of other councilors elected, from the same press release. Congrats everyone.

Khafre K. Abif
Monika Antonelli
Toni Bernardi
Kathleen E. Bethel
Mary Biblo
Nick Buron
Audra Caplan
Barbara Cole
Diedre (Dee) Conkling
Julie A. Cummins
Kathy East
Randall Enos
Barbara A. Genco
Dee Gwaltney
Ling Hwey Jeng
Wei Jeng-Chu
Erlene Bishop Killeen
Margaret L. Kirkpatrick
Charles E. Kratz
Bonnie Kunzel
Kathy Lehman
Rory Litwin
David Loertscher **
Mary Long
Peter Mcdonald
Michael J. Miller
Toni Negro
Sylvia Norton *
Ana-Elba Pavon
Virginia Sanchez
Jan Sanders **
Sherrie Schmidt
Barbara K. Stripling
Theresa A. Tobin
Lisa Von Drasek
Ann Carlson Weeks


33 to be elected for 2005-2008
2 to be elected for 2005-2007**
1 to be elected for 2005-2006*