I try to explain to people why I stay in a state with difficult technology access and a lot of teeny tiny libraries that don’t pay very well [and only a few that do]. One of the main reasons is that all three of my national-level representatives are not disagreeable to me. Today Bernie Sanders managed to pass legislation in the House which would amend section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act and prohibit government agents from using FISA warrants to obtain records from libraries and bookstores. My two senators are trying to pass similar legislation in the Senate. Of course keep in mind that one of the reasons, according to Alberto Gonzales, that the Department of Justice hasn’t had to use the USAPA more is because they have been getting “voluntary co-operation from librarians” which is a different sort of problem. [liblaw]
patron privacy at the British Library & elsewhere
The Canadian Library Assocation posted a privacy briefing on how the USAPA was going to affect Canadian libraries [pdf]. Tom Morris asks the British Library what he can expect from them in terms of patron privacy in the age of the USA PATRIOT Act, the response is not encouraging. [lj]
librarians trying to break Guinness Book’s read aloud record
Librarians from Henderson District Public Libraries [NV] are trying to break the Guiness Book record for reading aloud right now. Their goal is 100 hours, thoroughly smashing the existing record of 81 hours and 15 minutes. Read their blog, see their Flickr pictures, learn more. From an email I got from them
We are sleep-deprived, punchy, and silly, but the Henderson staff and other libraries throughout the state seem to be getting a kick out of it.
Anyhow, this is the most bizarre thing I’ve done in the name of libraries and reading yet!
Oh, why are we doing this? We have recently purchased a bookmobile. We have gotten local corporate sponsors, and the money from that will go to our nascent outreach program. We are also highlighting literacy as well.
update: “Jessamyn West is excellent about posting bizarre crackpot stunts in the library world.” may have to be my new tagline
“Unconstitutional” Screening and Panel Discussion at ALA
One thing ALA has done at recent conferences is have thought-provoking movies. This year is no different. Monday morning the 27th there will be a screening of Unconstitutional, a full-length documentary about the USA PATRIOT Act followed by a panel discussion with people on differing sides of the USAPA debate.
Clark Atlanta library school closes, follow-up meeting planned at ALA
Clark Atlanta University School of Library and Information Studies graduated its last class of students and is now closed. The former library school is having a meeting at ALA Sunday, June 26, 2005, 5:30-7:30pm for people to talk about Clark Atlanta and discuss the school’s legacy. The Black Caucus of ALA has a bit more information. The loss of one of the only library schools at a traditionally black university is another blow against increasing diversity in the library profession. If you’re interested in this issue, you might want to keep an eye on Save Library & Information Studies. They’ve got a good collection of required reading and, it appears, a good designer. [thanks tim]