Public services are essential for social, economic and regional cohesion in Continue reading
PETITION FOR HIGH-QUALITY PUBLIC SERVICES, ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
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Luis Posada Carriles Petition
Luis Posada Carriles was accused and brought to trial in Venezuela for the 1976 attack against a commercial aircraft in which 73 persons died. After escaping from Venezuelan prisons in 1982 – leaving his trial unconcluded – he served the CIA as part of what was known as the “Irancontras” operation and also in the implementation of the genocidal Plan Condor. In 1997 he prepared a series of terrorist acts against hotels in Havana… Read More
Statement on Cuts to UK Infrastructure under the UK Government elected in 2010
Cuts to UK Infrastructure under the UK Government elected in 2010 Continue reading
Undercover Police Agent Publicly Outed At Conference
Stop Infiltration c/o London Greenpeace, 5 Caledonian Road, London N1 9DX 020-8216 9651 stopinfiltration@mail.com Continue reading
Public Libraries and Social Justice
Please see details of the following book publication by John Pateman and John Vincent: Continue reading
LWPM – Celebrating a part of the origins of ISC.
On November 5th we will celebrate twenty years since the founding meeting of Librarians Within the Peace Movement (LWPM). The inaugural meeting of LWPM was held in Bloomsbury on November 5th 1989. Continue reading
The European Social Forum is coming to Malmö, Sweden!
From September 17th to 21st 2008 the European Social Forum (ESF) is being held in Malmö, in the south of Sweden. More than 20 000 people are expected to participate in the forum, which is a meeting place for social movements in Europe. During five days seminars and workshops will be mixed with culture, music, activism and demonstrations. Continue reading
Freedom to Read Week (February 24th – March 1st 2008)
Freedom to Read Week (see official Website) is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Continue reading
Aerospace and Defence Librarians Group (ADLG)
ISC Calls for the decision to make the Aerospace and Defence Librarians Group (ADLG) a Special Interest Group within CILIP (the Chartered Institute of library & Information Professionals) to be rescinded… Continue reading
Forthcoming UK Agency Staff Bill
With increasing use of agency staff in libraries, education and other sectors, there is a need to regulate and establish rights for agency employees. If you are in the UK you can use this form to petition local MPs to support an agency workers bill on 22/02. Continue reading
26 January – Global Day of Action of the WSF
Proposed POSITION STATEMENT ON INFORMATION ETHICS IN LIS EDUCATION
ALISE – Information Ethics Special Interest Group, November 5, 2007 Read More…
Toni Samek is winner of the first annual LJ Teaching Award
“Her work goes far beyond the three standard measures of academic performance: teaching, research, and service. Her teaching “is deeply informed by her commitment to, and scholarship in, human rights and the core values of the profession…” Continue reading
Blockade of Cuban Libraries
The UN General Assembly has voted for a 16th consecutive year to recommend that the US ends its trade embargo on Cuba, imposed more than four decades ago. Continue reading
UK Government approves 14 firms to help the NHS
This week, the UK government approved the use of 14 private firms to work within the NHS, these include BUPA, AXA and other US health care companies (announced by the Labour health minister Ivan Lewis). Many commentators feel this represents a further step towards privatisation of the UK health services and transformation from a public service to a non-tax funded and profit-based system. Continue reading
Reviews of Books involving ISC members
John Pateman has reviewed Toni Samek’s ‘Librarianship and Human Rights: a 21st century guide‘ which has been published in the October 2007 edition of Update, the CILIP journal. Continue reading
Online Tactical Discussions
The New Tactics in Human Rights Project [New Tactics in Human Rights] will feature monthly tactical discussions on a specific tactic and its adaptability to other contexts and issue areas. Continue reading
Public Libraries in the 21st Century
Three members of the ISC editorial board – John Pateman, John Vincent and Shiraz Durrani – are featured in a new book about public libraries. Continue reading
St. Athan Military Academy (Wales)
A first meeting has taken place of people and groups opposed to plans to build a huge, privately-run military academy at St Athan near Cardiff. This vast, privately-owned training school will be run by a consortium ‘Metrix’, with partners including arms manufacturers Raytheon and the Open University. More information and how to get involved in the campaign here: Continue reading
Libraries & The War on Terror – Presentation by John Pateman
John Pateman presented a paper on Libraries & The War on Terror at the CILIP Umbrella Conference (29/06/07), focusing on the threats that the so called War on Terror poses to:Civil Continue reading
Reed Elsevier pulls out of organising arms fairs
Anti-arms trade campaigners and writers at Reed Elsevier’s scientific journals today welcomed the publisher’s move to pull out from organising defence shows. Continue reading
2007 CLA award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) received the 2007 CLA award for the Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada. Continue reading
Library able to privatize
The Tennessee Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling, stating that the Madison County Library Board had the right to seek privatization of the library management. Continue reading
Founding a Library – another report from the World Social Forum in Nairobi – by Mikael Böök
West Virginia Labor History Association Votes Unanimously to Support Preservation of Blair Mountain at Press Conference
Charleston, WV April 24, 2007] The West Virginia Labor History Association voted unanimously on Saturday, April 21, 2007 at its monthly board meeting to support the preservation of the Blair Mountain battle site. There will be a press conference in support of the nomination at noon on May 1 in the lower rotunda of the State Capitol. Members of WVLHA will attent the press conference in support of preserving Blair Mountain, the site of one of America’s greatest labor events. Between August 25 and September 4, 1921 more than 10,000 armed coal miners marched to Blair Mountain to fight for their union and their lives. Last year the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed Blair Mountain as one of the most endangered historic sites in America. Read More…
Information for Social Change Polices
Information for Social Change has undertaken a review of policies and procedures, a process which reflects the formalisation of ISC as a voluntary led, progressive and collective-based organisation. The new policies and procedures are intended to define the aims and objectives of ISC as an activist organisation and as a periodical, but also to outline the means through which ISC undertakes its stated aims to reflect and comment on the broad range of social, cultural and economic issues in the context of information, education and related spheres of activity. The policy document also defines the submission and publication process for contributions to the ISC journal and Web site, ensuring the mechanisms and procedures of ISC are transparent to ISC members, contributors and general users. Continue reading
Exhibition Reviews by John Pateman
Fallen Angel: The Political Cartoons of the Daily Worker Cartoonist Gabriel I can thoroughly recommend this exhibition of cartoons by Jimmy Friel which is on display at the Political Cartoon Gallery in Store Street, London, until 28 April 2007. The gallery is directly opposite the London HQ of CILIP. But there any similarities end…. Read More Continue reading
Library of Congress to Outsource Auxiliary Cataloging Functions
Washington, D.C., March 30, 2007 – The Acquisitions and Bibliographic Access Directorate of the United States Library of Congress this morning announced a new initiative for its cataloging workflow. A pilot program — expected to launch by late spring — will involve outsourcing several resource description operations to Mountain View, California-based Google. Continue reading
Feminist Library Under Threat Of Closure
Hot on the heels of the threats to close Wanlockhead library, certain libraries in Dorset and Painswick library, comes the shocking news that the Feminist Library in London is threatened with closure. Continue reading
PAINSWICK LIBRARY CAMPAIGN
Painswick library in the Cotswolds, is under threat of closure. Philip Booth, Green Party Stroud District Councillor, Gloucstershire has been drawing attention to this on his blog, ‘Ruscombe Green’, and relates it to Ruth Rikowski’s work. Continue reading
Seminar with Ruth Rikowski – What Have Global Trade Agreements Ever Done for Library and Information Workers?
Date: Tuesday 13 February 2007 Time: 6.30 pm Venue: The Sekforde Arms, Sekforde Street, London EC1 Continue reading
Knowledge Management: Social, Cultural and Theoretical Perspectives Edited by Ruth Rikowski
This book includes contributions from a variety of academics and professionals, looking at KM from different perspectives. The book is divided into 4 parts: Social, Economic, Political and Philosophical Perspectives; Practical Perspectives; Cultural Perspectives and Theoretical Perspectives. Both Ruth Rikowski and Paul Catherall have contributed chapters to this new book (also edited by Ruth), Ruth’s chapters include: Leadership in the knowledge revolution: an Open Marxist theoretical perspective and analysis. Knowledge management: internal, external and social cultures. An Open Marxist theoretical analysis of knowledge management within and across cultures. Knowledge management: an Open Marxist theoretical perspective and analysis. Continue reading
From Social Inclusion to Community Cohesion
John Pateman and John Vincent have written a chapter ‘From Social Inclusion to Community Cohesion’ for British Librarianship and Information Work 2001-2005, edited by J.H.Bowman (Ashgate, ISBN 978 0 7546 4778 2). Continue reading
Occupation of Sidgwick Lecture Theatre at Cambridge University
Organised by Cambridge Education Not for Sale 24-25th October 2006, from 6pm – 5am Report and Reflections – Ruth Rikowski Continue reading
Two Cheers for Inclusion
John Pateman’s article ‘Two Cheers for Inclusion’ has been published in the 20th anniversary edition of the Public Library Journal (Vol. 21, No.4, 1986-2006). In this article John looks back at all the articles which he has written for PLJ over the past 20 years. Some common themes emerge – social class, internationalism and social exclusion. John concludes that, while there has been some progress with regard to public libraries tackling social exclusion, he can still only give them ‘Two Cheers for Inclusion’.
Protest against Tuition Fees and the Marketisation of Higher Education, and For a Free Education – a Student Action Week event at Cambridge University
John Vincent and John Pateman have written a chapter on ‘From Equal Opportunities to Tackling Social Exclusion’ in British Librarianship and Information Work 1991-2000 (edited by J. Bowman, Ashgate, 2006). Continue reading
National Climate March Saturday 4th November 2006
Part of the International Demonstrations planned for the next round of UN Climate Talks in Nairobi. Rally at US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London, 12.00 noon Continue reading
The International Convention of Local Communities against GATS
The International Convention of Local Communities against GATS. The next Convention will be held in Geneva 28-29 September
Glenn Rikowski will be talking at the Green Party Autumn Conference at the Hove Centre, Hove Town Hall, Brighton, 21st-24th September 2006
MARXISM AND EDUCATION: RENEWING DIALOGUES IX
Education and Social Class Continue reading
Proposal for a Partnership Agreement between Information for Social Change and UNISON
Information For Social Change (ISC) and UNISON have many mutual objectives and it would make sense if they could work together via a partnership agreement. Continue reading
Blackboard Sues Rival Provider of Course-Management Software, Alleging Patent Infringement
The e-learning scene is currently reeling from recent legal action taken by e-learning software company and market leader, Blackboard on its competitor, Desire2Learn. Blackboard has been awarded a patent on around 50 features of e-learning which are apparently unique to the Blakboard system, some commentators beleive this will undermine the development of new learning systems and threaten popular open source systems such as Moodle which offer an alternative to commercial systems such as Blackboard. Read Full Article.
Librarians are freedom fighters, says author
Librarians are freedom fighters, says author – Article by Dawn Ford on Dr. Toni Samek and her upcoming book Librarianship and Human Rights (Chandos Publishing 2006).
INFORMATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE (ISC) Summer 2007
INFORMATION FOR SOCIAL CHANGE (ISC) ISSN 1364-694X (print) ISSN 1756-901X (online)
UN World Press Freedom Day at the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI) 03/05/06
Overview of this UNESCO Wales event by Paul Catherall. Continue reading
Reed Elsevier and the Arms Trade
Books Not Bombs. Continue reading
Glenn Rikowski cited in The Times Higher Education Supplement
When universities get into bed with industry, can academic independence be guaranteed? asks Michael North
Mikael Böök and Kingsley Oghojafor at The library workshop in Bamako, Jan. 2006
IN THE DENTIST’S CHAIR: A RESPONSE TO RICHARD HATCHER’S CRITIQUE OF HABITUATION OF THE NATION By Glenn Rikowski
Upcoming Talks by Toni Samek, Associate Professor School of Library & Information Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta
Upcoming Talks by Ruth Rikowski (Visiting Lecturer, London South Bank University) and Glenn Rikowski (Senior Lecturer in Education Studies and Acting Head of Education Studies in the School of Education at University College Northampton)
Please see http://www.flowideas.co.uk/?page=news