Today, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) and PBS provided more information about their partnership to create a grassroots outreach effort to educate the public about the rapidly approaching Digital Television (DTV) Transition deadline. The three organizations are working together to develop an initiative that will reach citizens directly in their communities and provide them with straightforward, uncomplicated answers about the switchover.

ALA, APTS and PBS will create and distribute a resource kit that includes informative materials libraries can provide to their patrons on a daily basis, or as handouts for workshops about the transition. Online links and video segments will also be available for libraries to provide on the Web. Public Television stations will provide the expert personnel to serve as presenters at library events and to help librarians answer questions from their patrons. The local phase of the initiative will launch in October.

The press conference, which took place at the National Press Club, coincided with ALA’s annual National Library Legislative Day. The two-day event brought together over 400 people from across the country to highlight the critical role libraries play in the life of our nation.

“While awareness of the February 17, 2009 analog shutoff date is growing, research also shows that many people are confused about what they can do to navigate the transition,” said Dr. Loriene Roy, President, American Library Association. “As trusted local resources, libraries and Public Television stations are in a unique position to team up and help people get the information they need, especially those who depend exclusively on over-the-air antenna reception for their television service.”

“Our most recent polling found that the number of Americans who have ‘no idea’ of the transition fell from 61 percent in November 2006, to 20 percent this past February,” said Jeffrey R. Davis, APTS Vice President of Communications. “Unfortunately, these gains in awareness have not been uniform across all populations. For example, 33.2 percent of African American respondents in the latest APTS survey had ‘no idea’ of the transition – more than 65 percent than the general population! A similar disparity exists when it comes to income levels, with 31.3 percent of households with incomes under $25,000 annually having ‘no idea’ of the transition. Our grassroots partnership will be critical in reaching these targeted populations who are not getting the message about the transition.”

“Public libraries and Public Television stations are two of the first places people turn to when they need information they can rely on,” said Paula Kerger, PBS President and CEO. “The Digital Transition deadline represents a sweeping technology change for our nation and far too many are at risk of being left behind. We are very proud of this partnership, which will provide important, easily accessible DTV education - helping people to make sense of all of their options for navigating the analog shutoff successfully.”

On May 6-8, ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) hosted a training session for state library E-rate coordinators in Chicago. Forty-three states and territories sent a representative to the training, which is part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded “Improving Library E-rate Participation” project.

Training is a central activity of OITP’s E-rate project. OITP provides two training sessions per year, one in the fall at the opening of the E-rate application window, and the other in the spring. The goal of the fall session is to prepare state E-rate coordinators for the questions they will receive from applicants during the window. The spring session focuses on the E-rate disbursement process, which can be full of “gotchas” that may prevent E-rate applicants from receiving their requested funding.

Last week’s workshop opened with a one-day special session for new state E-rate coordinators. The regular session focused on the process for obtaining discounts on Internet and telecommunications services based on approved requests. This meeting also featured a panel presentation from several of the state E-rate coordinators, who presented what they have been doing in their states with the information they learned from the training sessions. It was fascinating to hear the range of activities in the states - from targeted advocacy to innovative training strategies to one-on-one consultation with applicants. Many of the E-rate coordinators are doing a terrific job helping local libraries in their states benefit from the E-rate program.

On May 7, Mary Alice Baish of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) gave testimony before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Legislative Branch Subcommittee, in support of the fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget request of the U.S. Government Printing Office. She testified on behalf of AALL, the American Library Association, and the Special Libraries Association.

Our communities have a very strong interest in Federal information policy and a fervent commitment to public access to government information and a robust FDLP for the 21st Century. The mission of the Government Printing Office (GPO) is uniquely important. GPO provides the three branches of the Federal government with expert publishing and printing services and electronic access to government information through GPO Access. In addition, GPO ensures perpetual, no-fee, ready public access to the printed and electronic information published by the Federal government, in partnership with federal depository libraries.

The public’s ability to access e-government information, either at their local depository library, neighborhood library or directly from their desktop, has grown exponentially since the enactment of the GPO Access Enhancement Act in 1993 and the move towards greater e-government by agencies, Congress and the courts. While e-government brings us many opportunities for enhanced public access, many difficult challenges remain unresolved as government moves away from producing its information in print and relies increasingly on “born digital” government information. We believe that GPO has a critical leadership role in helping the Federal government meet these unique challenges.

Ms. Baish’s full testimony is available for download here:

• Statement on behalf of GPO funding (PDF)

Episode
District Dispatch Podcast #31

Cast

• Lynne Bradley, Director, ALA Office of Government Relations
• Emily Sheketoff, Executive Director, ALA Washington Office
• Andy Bridges, Communications Director, ALA Washington Office

Subject
National Library Legislative Day and Virtual Library Legislative Day are just around the corner — next week! — and so to get you prepared, Lynne Bradley and Emily Sheketoff sat down to give a brief (and melodious) overview of some of this year’s hottest issues.

For more information, please visit the National Library Legislative Day website.

Program Length
9 minutes, 15 seconds

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In order to listen, all you need to do is make sure you have speakers or headphones plugged in and click the “play” button you see below.

 

 District Dispatch Podcast #31: National Library Legislative Day Issues: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Send any feedback or questions you have to: podcast@alawash.org.

About the Music:
The music in the District Dispatch Podcast is “Night Walk (Passeio Noturno),” mixed by Prof. m.Stereo and available on ccMixter. The music is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license.

FBI Withdraws Unconstitutional National Security Letter
Libraries vow to fight these continued government abuses

Statement from ALA President Dr. Loriene Roy

Today, the FBI withdrew an unconstitutional national security letter (NSL) issued to the Internet Archive, following a legal challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). Sadly, this news does not come as a surprise to the library community.

The FBI has committed serious and widespread abuse of NSLs in recent years, as demonstrated on several occasions, and this episode confirms yet again many of ALA’s most oft-stated concerns about the lack of oversight into the FBI’s surveillance activities, resulting in repeated and unnecessary intrusions into the lives of innocent American citizens.

ALA has stated several times that while librarians fully support the efforts of law enforcement in legitimate investigations, those efforts must be balanced against the right to privacy.

Colleagues of ours – a nonprofit consortium of 27 public and academic libraries in central Connecticut known as the Library Connection – received an NSL in May 2006 and were finally allowed to speak publicly after lawyers representing the government withdrew an appeal to keep their identities hidden after Federal District Court Judge Janet C. Hall declared the perpetual gag order that accompanies NSLs unconstitutional.

Since then, ALA has been at the forefront of the fight on NSL abuses, and was present at the introduction of the National Security Letters Reform Act of 2007 (H.R. 3189). We applaud Congress’ effort to reform NSLs to minimize this kind of unconstitutional intrusion and we hope this most recent episode demonstrates to the American public just how much the FBI continues to abuse its privileges.

As ALA’s resolution on NSL use and abuse states, “the freedom of thought is the most basic of all freedoms and is inextricably linked to freedom of inquiry; and freedom of inquiry can be preserved only in a society in which privacy rights are rigorously protected.”

We stand by that belief and will continue to fight for the right to privacy for all Americans. That’s why we continue to call for the Congress to pass legislation for meaningful Congressional oversight of these risky law enforcement tools.

We want to thank Brewster Kahle, EFF and the ACLU for their brave stand against this unconstitutional federal intrusion.

Loriene Roy
President, American Library Association

The E-Government Services Ad hoc Subcommittee met for the first time today! They would like to ask all ALA members to participate in the E-Government Services Wiki.  This is a subject that requires input from many different areas within ALA and we hope that you will join the wiki and share your thoughts with us. There is also a section where people can comment about their personal experiences with E-government services.  We would like to know how librarians are serving their patrons; what is it like on the ground? Share your stories with us!

Episode
District Dispatch Podcast #30

Cast

• Stephanie Vance, AdVanced Consulting

Subject
AdVanced Consulting’s principal, Stephanie D. Vance, has more than 15 years of experience in Washington, DC, both as a lobbyist and a congressional aide, holding positions such as legislative assistant, legislative director and staff director for various members of Congress.

In this podcast, she tells listeners several important things to know before National Library Legislative Day.

Program Length
11 minutes, 15 seconds

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In order to listen, all you need to do is make sure you have speakers or headphones plugged in and click the “play” button you see below.

 

 District Dispatch Podcast #30: Advocacy Part 3: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Send any feedback or questions you have to: podcast@alawash.org.

About the Music:
The music in the District Dispatch Podcast is “Night Walk (Passeio Noturno),” mixed by Prof. m.Stereo and available on ccMixter. The music is used under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 license.

Legislation has been introduced in both the Senate and House that limits remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works. We need you to ask members of the House and Senate to support copyright Orphan Works legislation (H.R. 5889, S. 2913) that does not include a “dark archive” provision

While we strongly support legislation resolving the orphan works problem, we recommend the Senate version of the bill over the House version. As time is running out, we ask that you contact your Senators and Representatives (with priority given to members of the Senate), to communicate the library community’s enthusiastic support for orphan works legislation that does not include a “dark archives” provision.

SENATE COMMUNICATION

→ If you are a constituent of a Senator on the Senate Committee on the Judiciary:

Contact your member on the Senate Judiciary Committee (see list below) prior to the scheduled markup hearing on Thursday, May 8, 2008 to convey that we strongly support the need for Orphan Works legislation (S. 2913); however, we cannot support legislation that is amended to include the “dark archive” or other weakening amendments.

→ For all Library Supporters:

Contact Senate bill sponsors Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Hatch (R-UT) prior to the May 8th markup hearing in support of Orphan Works legislation that does not include a “dark archive” provision, or other weakening amendments.

HOUSE COMMUNICATION

→ If you are a constituent of a Representative on the House Intellectual Property Subcommittee:

Contact your member on the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property (see list below) prior to the scheduled markup hearing on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 to support Orphan Works legislation (H.R. 5889) only if it is amended to remove the “dark archive” provision.

→ For all Library Supporters:

Contact House bill sponsors Representatives Berman (D-CA), Coble (R-NC), Smith (R-TX), and Conyers (D-MI) prior to the May 7th markup hearing in support Orphan Works legislation if it is amended to remove “dark archive” provision.

* Phone calls directly to the Representative or Senator’s district office are a very effective way to communicate your message.

Talking points, background and Congressional Committee members located on the ALA Legislative Action Center.

For further information, please contact:

Corey Williams Green
Associate Director, ALA Office of Government Relations (OGR)
cwilliamsgreen@alawash.org
800-941-8478

In recent years, the Holiday Inn on the Hill has been home to many National Library Legislative Day events, including most Briefing Days. Be advised: while this year’s Briefing Day will be held in that same location, the name of the hotel has changed. It is now The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel.

So yes, the name has changed but the location is still the same:

The Liaison Capitol Hill
415 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

All documents and webpages that previously listed Holiday Inn on the Hill have been updated to read The Liaison, but if we missed one please let us know!

Yesterday, several U.S. Senators and Representatives celebrated Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.

From the Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee press release:

Democrats Celebrate Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros with Local Children

Washington, D.C. – Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX-15), and Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA-15) celebrated Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros along with local school children. Pat Mora, award winning children’s author and founder of the celebration, joined them for today’s event in the U.S. Capitol. The Congressional Democrats discussed the importance of strengthening literacy programs for young children as they celebrated literature and the joy of teaching children to read. Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros, also known as Day of the Child/Day of the Book, is an annual celebration of children, families, culture, and literacy.

Senator Stabenow said, “Reading opens doors to a child’s imagination and paves the way for success in school. We must do everything we can to engage our children and encourage their joy of reading. Today’s celebration provides young people the encouragement they need to develop the habit of reading which will serve them for a lifetime.”

“As we come together to celebrate Día de los Niños, we should renew our commitment to investing in our next generation of leaders. The best way we can honor our children is to get serious about improving their educational attainment. Imagine what a difference it would make if instead of having half our students dropping out of high school, we have half our students earning college degrees,” said Congressman Hinojosa.

Today’s celebration was one of many taking place across the country to promote literacy, bridge cultures and highlight the vital role of our nation’s libraries in helping Americans find the resources they need to their lives. After the press conference, Senator Salazar and Congressman Honda each read a book to children from Centro Nía, Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care, and the Oyster Bilingual School.

“I want to thank Pat Mora, for this wonderful idea called “Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros” to promote early child literacy,” said Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA-15). He continued, “As an educator for more than 30 years, one of the most satisfying experiences in my life was seeing a child’s face light up when he or she would unlock a book’s secrets. That expression, told me that a big battle had been won. Pat’s ideas and the work of the American Library Association ensure that this joy of discovery happens every day in every corner of America, to children of all cultural backgrounds.”

El día de los niños/El día de los libros is an enhancement of Children’s Day, which began in 1925. Children’s Day was designated as a day to bring attention to the importance and well-being of children. In 1996, children’s book author Pat Mora proposed linking the celebration of childhood and children with literacy.

More pictures of the event available at the Washington Office Flickr page.