Library Juice 7:3 - February 5, 2004
Contents:
1. Links...
2. SRRT Councilor's Report on ALA Council
3. Maine Chapter Councilor's Report on ALA Midwinter
4. Prison Library
5. Social Forum of Information, Documentation and Libraries
6. Amusing searches
Quote for the week:
"In truth, American libraries and the profession of librarianship are
confronted with a structural transformation in the overall economy. It is
nothing less than thorough privatization of the information function. The
production, processing, storing and transmission of information have been
scooped up into private, for-profit hands. Social sources and repositories
of information have been taken over for commercial use and benefit. It is
not because American libraries and library schools have fallen behind in
the mastery of the new information technology that their existence
increasingly is called into question. It is their bedrock principles and
long-term practices that collide with the realities of today's
corporate-centered and market-driven economy. The extent to which
librarians insist on free and untrammeled access to information,
'unrestricted by administrative barriers, geography, ability to pay or
format,' they will be treated by the privatizers as backward-looking, if
not obsolete, irrelevant, and unrealistic."The technology issue, therefore, is merely a screen behind which a
far-reaching and socially regressive institutional change has occurred.
The focus on technology also serves to delude many, librarians included,
that the new means to achieve status and respect is to concentrate on the
machinery of information, production, and transmission. When and if this
focus turns regidly exclusive, wittingly or not, the social basis of the
profession and the needs of the majority of people are left unattended."Herbert Schiller, _Information Inequality: The Deepening Social Crisis in
America_, p. 36. (Routledge, 1996)
Homepage of the week: Morella Rodriguez
http://www.geocities.com/morella_rodriguez/_________________________________________________________________________top
1. Links...
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New on Libr.org:
Amelia Bloomer Project - 2004 List of Recommended Feminist Books for Youth
http://libr.org/FTF/bloomer.html-----
WHITHER LIBRARY EDUCATION?
keynote speech at the joint EUCLID/ALISE conference
"Coping with continual change-change management in SLIS"
Fachhochschule Potsdam
Potsdam, Germany, July 31st, 2003
Michael Gormanhttp://www.fh-potsdam.de/EUCLID/tmp/Gorman-keynote.doc
[ sent by Bernie Sloan to the JESSE list ]
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The 1/22/04 episode of WBEZ Chicago's, Odyssey radio program, hosted by
Gretchen Helfrich: "The Library in American Life," consisting of an
interview with Louise Robbins (The Dismissal of Ruth Brown) and Matthew
Battles (Library: An Unquiet History). It's in the Real Audio format and
it's 52 minutes long.http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/audio_library/ram_2004/odyssey/od_040122.ram
[ sent to me by Jessica Goodman ]
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A novel way to fight crime
Mexico City subway will lend books to riders
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP)
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/01/23/mexico.reading.ap/index.html[ sent to the SRRT list by Fred Stoss ]
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"Another 'Hysteric' Librarian for Freedom" Button
http://www.ala.org/oif/hystericlibrarian[ sent by Don Wood to the IFACTION list ]
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Article in California Libraries about PLG member Lincoln Cushing
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/~lcushing/Library/CL_Cushing.html[ sent to the PLG list by Lincoln Cushing! ]
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AET Book Club list of children's books about the Middle East
http://www.middleeastbooks.com/html/books/b-childrens.html.[ sent by Alison Clement to the Anarchist Librarians list ]
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Article in the North Texas Daily about PLG member Monika Antonelli
http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/01/21/400e25306b715?in_archive=1[ sent by Martin Wallace to the PLG list ]
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Article in the Berkeley Daily Planet about PLG member Zoia Horn
Zoia Horn Takes Pride in Provoking
By DOROTHY BRYANT Special to the Berkeley Daily Planet (01-09-04)
http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/article.cfm?archiveDate=01-09-04&storyID=18064[ sent by me to the PLG list ]
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"Koha: a Gift to Libraries from New Zealand."
(Article about an Open Source ILS)
Eyler, Pat (2003). Linux Journal. No. 106. [Online]
February 01. http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6350[ sent by Zapopan Muela to the CALIX list ]
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Charles Ammi Cutter--LIBRARY PIONEER
http://www.geocities.com/curmudgeony_librarian/articles/cutter.html[ found surfing ]
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Notable book from Merlin Press:
Ursula Huws' _The Making of a Cybertariat_Review by Christine Evans-Pughe of the Indpendent (London):
http://news.independent.co.uk/digital/features/story.jsp?story=465004Review by Corinna Lotz, Socialist Future Review:
http://www.socialistfuture.org.uk/msf/articles/economy/cybertariat.htm[ sent by Mark Rosenzweig to the SRRT list ]
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The Promise and Peril of 'Open Access' [The Chronicle of Higher Education]
http://chronicle.com/free/v50/i21/21a01001.htm[ Sent by Lila Guterman to liblicense-l ]
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I Hear America Singing (IHAS), a portal to the Library of Congress'
digitized music and performing-arts collections
http://www.loc.gov/ihas/.[ sent to me by LoC's Laura Gottesman ]
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Brabazon, Tara. Digital Hemlock: Internet education and the poisoning of teaching.
Sydney: University of NSW Press, 2002.
http://www.unswpress.com.au/isbn/086840781X.htm[ sent to the JESSE list by Fiona Bradley ]
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2. SRRT Councilor's Report on ALA Council
January 25, 2004
Al KaganThere were two major issues before the ALA Council at the January meetings
in San Diego, what more to do about the USA Patriot Act and how to deal
with developments in Cuba. Mitch Freedman and I proposed a resolution in
favor of repealing the entire Patriot Act. We attached the August 2003
IFLA resolution passed in Berlin that called for actions against similar
legislation throughout the world. However the ALA Washington Office and
the Committee on Legislation had their own ideas. ACRL sponsored a Patriot
Act forum with two speakers from ALA's Washington Office and a local San
Diego lawyer representing the ACLU. All the speakers spoke broadly against
the range of repressive measures in the Act, but the Washington Office was
adamant that ALA should only respond to the sections of the Act which
directly affect libraries' day-to-day work. The ACLU lawyer disagreed and
called for the repeal of the entire Act. It was interesting to hear one of
the Washington Office speakers talk about going home and forming coalitions
with many groups who are opposed to various sections of the Act, and then
defend the need for ALA to act narrowly. In the end, the Council passed
the Committee on Legislation's resolution that addressed only issues
related to library users and free expression. Six bills to amend the Act
are noted in the resolution. Mitch and I withdrew our resolution in the
face of certain defeat, but not before making our argument. If successful,
ALA's narrow actions taken to their logical extreme, might result in a
library free zone with an intensely repressive society outside the
library's doors. I asked the Council to consider the implications and
hopefully to act more broadly at the Annual Meeting in Orlando.As many of you know, SRRT has been addressing US aggressive policies
against Cuba for a long time. ALA leadership and IFLA have gotten involved
more recently. Due to increased hostility of the Bush Administration to the
Cuban Government, Bush appointed a new Head of the US Interests Office in
Havana (the official US representation on a lower level than an embassy).
The US has increased funding for many types of activities in Cuba which
are against Cuban laws and international norms. The US Interests Office is
distributing not only books but also fax machines, computers, and funds to
the so-called "independent libraries" in Cuba. The latest Amnesty
International Report shows that these "independent librarians" are neither
independent nor librarians. Most are journalists and politicians but the
group includes others such as poets and medical doctors who have small book
collections in their homes. As a response to increased US actions, the
Cuban Government recently tried, convicted, and imprisoned about 75
dissidents, and some of them call themselves "independent librarians." As
far as we know, all of them are non-violent political prisoners. Colin
Powell again called for "regime change" in his January 1st New York Times
Op Ed article as part of a national campaign. ALA is under intense
pressure to fall in line. At the 2003 Annual Meeting, the ALA Council
referred a proposed resolution on Cuba back to the International Relations
Committee (IRC) and the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC). I was on a
joint task force of the two committees that reported back to ALA Council in
San Diego. The report is based on extensive research and expertise and
takes into consideration the complex mix of international relations, US
foreign policy, and freedom of expression concerns. It is a consensus
document describing past ALA and IFLA actions and puts ALA on record in
support of IFLA statements, including an end to the US embargo. It
addresses both US and Cuban Government actions and takes a nuanced approach
and tone. It states that ALA and IFLA members confirmed in discussions
with these individuals that they did not consider themselves librarians,
but described themselves as "political dissidents." Of course, everyone
wants political prisoners out of jail, but we need to address the basic
issues. As I told the Council, the best way to get the prisoners out of
jail is to change US foreign policy, end the embargo and repeal the
Helms-Burton Act. If that happened the Cuban Government would not need its
counter laws (especially Law 80), and there might be sentiment to release
the prisoners. Although there was a call to amend the report to fall in
with US foreign policy, the Council passed the report as presented. A
further resolution in support of US foreign policy was later withdrawn due
to lack of support. Although some SRRT members are not happy with this
balanced approach in the face of overwhelming US aggression against Cuba,
this is the best report that we could get. I fully expect to see further
severe criticism of ALA for not supporting the so-called "independent
librarians." We will need to continue to cut through massive propaganda
and address the reality of the Cuban situation.One issue that had much discussion on the Council listserv before the
meeting was endorsement by ALA units of ALA candidates for office. A
number of ALA units including SRRT often either publish lists of their
members running for ALA Council, President, or Treasurer or endorse
candidates in general. In the past, SRRT has sent out a post card listing
such candidates. There are two aspects to this debate: endorsement itself
and spending ALA funds to further such endorsements. It became clear
before the meeting that the ALA Headquarters staff misconstrued current ALA
policy and guidelines. We were advised that such endorsements were
forbidden. After some research, we were finally able to prove that there
was no such policy whatsoever. A resolution to state a policy was roundly
defeated in ALA Council. However, the question of spending money to
further these endorsements is still in dispute. According to the Executive
Director, units can use already existing modes of dissemination such as
newsletters and listservs, but not anything that would involve spending new
funds such as sending post cards. However, the ALA bylaws explicitly say
that units may do special mailings to further their activities. On the
Council floor, I asked our Executive Director to further investigate this
issue. SRRT Action Council endorsed Michael Gorman for ALA President.There were three other important resolutions introduced by individual
Councilors: the first in support of the Clark Atlanta University School of
Library and Information Studies, the second to establish a policy for
retaining legal counsel, and the last to rescind the ALA motto. The
decision to close the Clark Atlanta School is a blow to diversity in our
profession since it has graduated more black librarians by far than any
other library school. It is one of only two library schools at
historically black colleges and universities. After some discussion, and at
the urging of Ismail Abdullahi (a councilor who teaches there), the Council
passed a strong resolution to establish a task force and make a plan to try
to reverse the closing and to better position ALA to address such
emergencies in the future.The resolution on legal counsels was introduced by Mitch Freedman and Peter
McDonald. It was written to confront the fact that ALA's legal counsel,
Jenner & Block, is representing Divine which controls Faxon and Rowe.com.
As you know, libraries have recently lost many millions of dollars on
serial subscriptions prepaid to these corporations. The resolution was
divided into two, the first part on establishing a general policy on
conflict of interest was referred to BARC for budgetary implications, and
the second part on addressing the current situation was defeated. This is
a sad commentary on the lack of the ability of Council to stand up for
libraries' material interests. One wonders what it would take for ALA to
confront corporate malfeasance and legal shenanigans.The resolution on rescinding the ALA motto provoked a surprising and
heartening response. Although infrequently used, the 1892 motto is still
official. It reads, "The best reading, for the largest number, at the
least cost." Although many thought it quaint and out-of-date, and others
thought it condescending towards readers, the Council rallied in support of
what was seen as a basic raison d'être and voted to retain the motto. It
will be interesting to see if new motto proposals emerge.There were no resolutions regarding the Allied Professional Association
(ALA-APA), but it was announced that a director has just been hired,
Jenifer Grady, and that various task forces are forming to work on the
salaries and status initiatives.Finally, let me just comment on two events and honors for two individuals.
As usual the Sunrise Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance was
inspirational. The featured speaker, Herb Cawthorne, spoke in the voice
and intonation of MLK as he might have addressed ALA just before his death.
This was a remarkable performance. The ending when we hold hands and sing
"We Shall Overcome" is always a highpoint for me (and one of the few times
I actually try to use my awful singing voice). It is difficult to get up so
early, but I would encourage anyone to do it. The tribute to E.J. Josey on
his 80th birthday was also a very special occasion. E.J.'s courageous work
inside and outside of the library profession on civil rights, apartheid in
South Africa, and numerous issues of human rights and justice throughout
his long career were duly noted by a long list of his friends. He is role
model for us all. The ALA Council awarded Honorary Memberships to Norman
Horrocks and Sandy Berman in San Diego. I have worked with both of them
over the years in various capacities and it was a pleasure to vote on these
awards. Norman has been my ALA mentor as well as my publisher. Sandy has
been my partner in the SRRT Action Council and we have worked closely
around South Africa and especially on the exceedingly difficult issue of
freedom of expression in Palestine and Israel. Sandy and I have not always
agreed on issues in recent years, but his life's work continues to be an
inspiration for me and countless other librarians.I would be pleased to try to answer any questions.
Al Kagan
akagan[at]uiuc.edu._________________________________________________________________________top
3. Maine Chapter Councilor's Report on ALA Midwinter
[ALACOUN:11193] Highlights from Midwinter 04
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 2004 17:47:18 -0500
From: melora[at]prexar.com
To: ALA Council List <alacoun[at]ala1.ala.org>
Cc: ALACOUN <alacoun[at]ala1.ala.org>
Reply to: melora[at]prexar.comHighlights from the 2004 Annual Midwinter Meeting
American Library Association
for the Maine Library Association
Melora Ranney Norman, Chapter CouncilorHonorary Members
Sanford Berman & Norman Horrocks were awarded honorary membership in ALA.
Cuba Issue
At the annual conference in Toronto, Council referred continued debate on
this issue to the International Relations Committee and the Intellectual
Freedom Committee for consideration. A task force from these two committees
issued a report with the following conclusions:**CONCLUSIONS
Since the commitment to intellectual freedom is a core value of the library
and information profession worldwide, ALA joins IFLA in support and
assistance to the Cuban library community in safeguarding free access to
print and electronic information, including the Internet. IFLA has also
called on Cuba's librarians to implement a code of ethics for its library
profession developed by ASCUBI.At the IFLA General Conference and Council in August 2001, ALA and ASCUBI
presidents signed "A Protocol to Cooperate" that included plans for
exchanges of materials, professional exchanges between American and Cuban
librarians, attendance at conferences, and many other cooperative
activities. Work continues on these initiatives intended to build mutual
respect and trust among librarians and library workers in the two nations.ALA supports IFLA in its call for the elimination of the U.S. embargo that
restricts access to information in Cuba and for lifting travel restrictions
that limit professional exchanges. ALA also supports IFLA's call for the
U.S. government to share information widely in Cuba.ALA joins IFLA in its deep concern over the arrest and long prison terms of
political dissidents in Cuba in spring 2003 and urges the Cuban Government
to respect, defend and promote the basic human rights defined in Article 19
of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.ALA supports IFLA in urging the Cuban government to eliminate obstacles to
access to information imposed by its policies, and IFLA's support for an
investigative visit by a special rapporteur of the United Nations Commission
on Human Rights with special attention given to freedom of access to
information and freedom of expression, especially in the cases of those
individuals recently imprisoned and that the reasons for and conditions of
their detention be fully investigated.Proclaiming the fundamental right of all human beings to access information
without restriction, ALA joins with IFLA in urging the Cuban library
community to monitor violations of freedom of access to information and
freedom of expression and to take a leading role in actively promoting these
basic rights for all Cubans.**This report was adopted by Council.
Complete text is available on the ALA web site at:
aka
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=News&template=/ContentManagement/Con
tentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=53695From the Membership Committee report:
**Health Insurance Member Benefit
At the 2003 Annual Conference, we reported to Council that the Committee had
endorsed a member health insurance program frm the Near North Group, Inc.
In August 2003, the Near North Group was sold, and the various member health
programs, although still available, were distributed among different
administrators. The Membership Committee decided that ease of access to a
unified program is a value and asked staff to identify other options for
providing member health insurance programs through a single administrator.This past fall the Member Insurance Task Force (comprised of representatives
from divisions, round tables, BARC, and the Membership Committee) reviewed a
proposal from Marsh & McLennan Companies. The proposal includes all of the
elements of the program endorsed by the Committee and also includes two
additional features that the Task Force feels are valuable additions. The
components of this plan include Short-term medical, catastrophic, medical,
long-term care, disability income, term life, discount programs, dental, and
lifeline screening (mobile health screening services). The dental and
lifeline screening programs are the additions.The Membership Committee has checked references for the program and endorsed
the program for ALA members. Rollout is scheduled in Spring 2004.**Action Request--Library Support Staff Member Category
**The Congress on Professional Education III (May 2003) had a number of
recommendations for the Membership Committee that related to increased
member participation and enhanced inclusiveness of library support staff
members in ALA. At the 2003 Annual Conference, the Committee received COO
approval for a designated committee slot for a library support staff member.
The Committee also formed a joint LSSIRT/ALA Membership Committee task force
to identify dues options and marketing possibilities for library support
staff members.The Task Force recommended the formation of a dues category for Library
Support Staff Members with a dues rate of $35.**Membership is proposed to be divided then into two categories:
A. Personal Members
1. Regular Members -- includes librarians as well as others employed in
library and information services or related activities in positions that
either: a) require a masters degree; or b) requie state level certification;
or c)are managerial.
2. Library Support Staff Members -- others employed in library and
information services or related activities.Primary concern expressed about this proposal involved assertions that dues
should be based on salary. Others asserted that they were separate issues.
Ultimately, the action was approved by Council. Membership will vote on
this change in the next ALA election.ALA FY 2003: The Year in Review
Treasurer's ReportAction Goals FY 03
*Campaign for America's Libraries
*Equitable access to knowledge and information resources
*Leader in technology
*Leader in Continuing Education
*Protect intellectual freedom
*Promote 21st Century literacyFinancial Highlights
*Launched successful [at] your library campaigns:ACRL and ALSC
*Developed partnerships to foster cultural programming: Elizabeth and NEA
Live at the Library
*Office for Accreditation provided web-based training
*Released on-line newsletters
*Upgraded hardware, software and peripherals
*Successful conferences and meetings: COPE3, Toronto Annual Conference
*Publishing released 28 titlesConference Committee
*Exhibitors very unhappy with low traffic
*Divisions: Give no-conflict time to exhibitors
*Exhibitors: Make exhibits enticing & exciting
*Want to take a serious look at Midwinter
*Ideas: Lower cost exhibits-only badge, evening hours for exhibitsAttendance figures:
10,788 as opposed to 13,664 last year in Philadelphia at this time last
year.From the Intellectual Freedom Committee Report--on RFID:
Right now, RFID is benign--but in the future it might not be so. If tags
are embedded in such things as books then we have a situation where there is
promiscuous opportunity for tracking. IFC will co-sponsor a program on the
topic Orlando 2004 . The Committee will be looking at fair information
practices, other best practices, how people are already using it, and
guidance. The IFC welcomes input from members and others about what they're
doing. There are proposed guidelines on developing a privacy policy which
libraries are encouraged to use.Jenner & Block
It has been discovered that ALA's law firm, Jenner & Block, is representing
divine, Inc. in a criminal investigation regarding securities fraud, in a
closed grand jury investigation.A resolution expressing the association's displeasure with Jenner & Block's
representation of divine, Inc., was proposed by immediate past president
Mitch Friedman on the grounds that the company has hurt ALA and libraries.
The measure was debated and not passed. Councilors expressed a feeling that
it was unclear whether or not there was an ethical issue or conflict of
interest involved. The Executive Board will pursue more information and
explore the matter further.A complete Maine Chapter Councilor's report will be posted on the Maine
Library Association web site when it is completed at:
www.mainelibraries.org
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4. Prison Library
by Michael McGrorty
California has quite a few interesting libraries, mainly because they tend
to reflect the communities they serve. Nowhere is this more true than in
the state's prison libraries. This week I found myself visiting one of
them down south in Chino. If the name doesn't mean anything to you, don't
feel dumb; most people in southern California can't find Chino on a map,
much less the two prisons located there.The California Institution for Women sits in the middle of the last dairy
reserve in that part of the world. On any day you realize that a mile from
the parking lot; on a hot August afternoon you know it before you get off
the freeway. Prisons are never put where the rich folk live, unless you
happen to have a condo overlooking San Quentin. If you can see the women's
prison at Chino you are either a cow or a horsefly, both of which are in
abundance just beyond the wire fence surrounding the facility.The grounds of this institution resemble nothing so much as a high school
campus wrapped in razor wire. These discordant elements represent the
historical shift of correctional philosophy from reclamation to
retribution. As built this place was intended as a sort of correctional
training campus, but that was then. Now is all about Three Strikes and
throwing away the key. An auto trip up Highway 5 is a tour of state
prisons, strung out like the Missions along El Camino Real, beacons of our
current faith and desire.At fifty, CIW is an old facility, creaky and inefficient, but it still
bears a certain charm for the visitor. Women's prisons are different in
the same ways that women are different from men. The women seem to have
more freedom of movement; the air seems less tense. Not to say that this
is any paradise: far from it.It is a commonplace saying in corrections that people are sent to prison as
punishment, not to be punished. That statement dies in the throat here,
and nowhere so quickly as in the prison library. Prison libraries have
their origin in the old-fashioned concept of redemption through positive
influence. In this state and most others they owe their survival to the
fact that the courts require that prisoners have access to legal books and
materials. I wonder how anybody working on an appeal could concentrate on
his case in a room filled with the odor of cow urine, simmering in
temperatures that are certainly above ninety on this hot August afternoon.
Without air conditioning, the air here is closer and warmer than any other
library I have visited outside Manila. Nevertheless the work gets done;
the librarian here is as conscientious as any on the planet, insistent on
service and order, even in this Sahara-by-the-feedlots.Juming Tong Davis came here after a stint in an Ohio prison library. When
she talks about this library, her face takes on the glow of evangelism.
Juming works in a prison because she has a very deep commitment to the
inmates-to the sort of library and service they should have, and which she
thinks they deserve. This is probably true of most prison librarians.
Like any other phase of the business, you don't go into this end of the
work unless you are prepared to deal with the worst the patrons can offer.
Here, the customers are doing time for things you don't want to know about:
still, and despite what you might think, they are human beings with
ordinary desires. Quite a lot of them like books. Books are good for
passing time, and they have a lot of time to pass here.Today Juming looks a bit wilted, but offers a glass of water and a pleasant
smile to this visitor. She remembers me from last time; we have a brief
chat and then I take a tour. This library is about the size of the one in
my junior high school, but excepting the law collection, not quite as good.
You will not be surprised to find that this is because there isn't a lot
of money for such things-- that and there isn't space for expansion. There
is only Juming, her inmate clerks and whatever she can put together in the
way of shoestring programs for her patrons. This is rather painfully
reminiscent of your average public library.It isn't easy getting people to work in prison libraries. Prison is after
all prison, and the library plays a subordinate role to security and
whatever conception of role the warden and the state have of what the place
should be about. It is not just a public library for a confined
population, but for a separate world whose denizens waken every morning in
the aftermath of a nightmare. It is a place of lost hope, but with many of
the same possibilities as any other library, and similar challenges, even
if the odds are longer. It takes a special person to run a prison library,
and the libraries either get them or the jobs stay unfilled, as many are
now across the state and were even before the budget noose got tightened.I would not mind working at CIW, and I am sure others might feel the same.
What makes me hesitate to apply is not the stifling air of the place or the
ancient facilities, but the sense that things will not get better any time
soon; the real stink in the air comes not from the dairy cattle but from
the rot of neglect and disdain for the human beings here, staff and inmate
alike. The state (by which I mean all of us) simply doesn't care; caring
was yesterday, redemption long ago. Today we enforce misery. Against this
philosophy stand a few people like Juming, she of the indomitable will and
heart. Perhaps I will be that good a librarian someday.Michael McGrorty
--
Ed. note: See also "The Great Escape (Portrait of a Prison Library)"
Library Juice 6:12, June 5, 2003, item #5
http://www.libr.org/Juice/issues/vol6/LJ_6.12.html#5
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5. Social Forum of Information, Documentation and Libraries
Alternative action programs from Latin America for a Knowledge-based
societyPresentation
The 1st. Social Forum of Information, Documentation and Libraries will be
held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 26-28 and it's a proposal from
the Grupo de Estudios Sociales en Bibliotecología y Documentación
(Argentina) = Social Studies Group in Librarianship and Documentation
(Argentina) and Círculo de Estudios sobre Bibliotecología Política y
Social (México) = Study Circle on Political and Social Librarianship
(Mexico)Every act of production, socialization and preservation of information
constitutes an act of identity and social responsibility for societies,
especially for the professionals related to them.However, the immobility and exclusion of sociopolitical issues from the
agendas of library associations at both the local level as well as
international have not allowed the creation of new proposals and the
reproduction of the world's recent social transformations within our
profession.This Forum is a first attempt to create professional activities, develop
and offer products, and promote initiatives conceived as mechanisms of
social transformation and improving politics.--- The Forum is free - All are welcome ---
Objetives:
1. To promote the development of theoretical frameworks to analyze problems
in the social context of document and information services, especially
those in Latin America and the Caribbean.2. To support and disseminate experiences and original types of resolution
in the areas of circulation, preservation, production and access to the
informative cultural wealth -in either electronic or print formats- in/from
Latin America and the Caribbean.3. To exchange ideas, theoretical approaches, experiences, methodologies,
and products that allow the development of new regional strategies for the
development of document and information services within the context of
globalization (Knowledge-based society, Information Society)4. To establish the basis for the consolidation of a continental network
directed towards the development of a place dedicated to the permanent
discussion of political, social and humanistic librarianship.5. To define social and political strategies for the profession that
guarantee free and egalitarian social relations among people, preserving
their right to self-determination.6. To support international solidarity among all kinds of information
workers and cooperation among libraries based on the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and related agreements directed towards the development of
a democratic framework for the construction of cooperative efforts.7. To encourage critical and innovative participation in the solution of
problems and in the development of theorical proposals for the creation,
improvement, consolidation and updating of library development.8. To set up a permanent forum for the creation of an Information and
Knowledge World Social Summit.Themes
The themes of the 1st. Social Forum of Information, Documentation and
Libraries will be those related to the social, political and economic
perspectives of libraries and information studies. They are divides in six
broad categories:1. Information Public Policies
Characteristics, Alternatives programs
International agreements
Action strategies2. Processing, circulation and information production
Analysis of international rules for information exchange
Cataloging and classification systems
Copyright
Interlibrary cooperation3. Document and information services
Library administration models4. Human rights and freedom of access to information
New knowledge
Ethical perspectives
Gender issues
Right to information
Users and citizenship
Hegemony
Social minorities5. Future of Librarianship
Library practice
Analysis of syllabi in library schools
Professional formation and education of socio-political perspectives.
Analysis and thoughts about leading academic and scientific speeches
Ethical implications of library administration
Interdisciplinary / multidisciplinary research in librarianship.
Circulation of information in institutions6. Social and political responsibility of information professionals
Activism
Social responsibility
Labor unions, salaries and equity
Legal frames and union conflicts
Librarians and new control modelsA Coordinator has been selected for each Round Table, made up of the
following people:1. Information Public Policies
Diego Ferreyra (Argentina)
Martha Juárez (México)2. Processing, circulation and information production
Silvia Mateo (Argentina)
Alejandro Bevilacqua (Argentina)
Celso Martínez (México)3. Document and information services
Rita Candame Argentina)
Martín Vera (México)
Lorena Torres (México)4. Human rights and freedom of access to information
Marcel Bertolesi (Argentina)
Alejandro Bevilacqua (Argentina)
Felipe Meneses (México)5. Future of Librarianship
María Mercedes MacLean (Argentina)
Manuel Bello (México)6. Social and political responsibility of information professionals
Diego Ferreyra (Argentina)
Tatiana Carsen (Argentina)
Oscar Maya (México)Forum Development
This Forum will be a place for the exchange of ideas exchange and proposals
for the construction of an alternative librarianship with critical and
creative perspectives. Based on these premises and looking to establish a
precedent for future events, the Forum will develop an Action Plant and a
Work Plan that will guide similar regional initiatives.The Forum will be developed in a virtual way from January and it will end
on August 26-28 (Friday-Saturday) with attendees in the city of Buenos
Aires, Argentina.The Forum will be organized around the six themes. With this aim,
participants must send papers with experiences, theoretical proposals and
testimonies. Each theme will be coordinated by the people named above whose
function will be gather, analyze and synthesize all relevant proposals.Once the proposals are condensed for each theme, the Work Documents will be
discussed and they will be discussed and endorse for the creation of the
Action Plan and Work Plan.It's important to point out that ALL papers received will be taken into
account for the compilation of the Work Plan. They will be published in the
Forum's Memoirs, thus guaranteeing that all views and work submitted will
be preserved, forming part of the general documentation. Although the
author or authors of each paper may not be able to personally attend the
Forum in Buenos Aires, their work will be available for the rest of the
attendees.In addition to the Forum, a Document Exchange Fair will be organized, in
which attendees can exchange print or electronic items, plans, posters, et
al. This Fair is being developed for a better understanding in all areas of
the discipline.Finally, a Regional Directory of professionals will be issued organized by
groups and areas of interest.Agenda and characteristics of the Forum
Any information professional or others professionals related to the area of
information, librarians from Latin America and the Caribbean or librarians
from the rest of the world who are interested in Latin American
librarianship and its problems can send printed papers. Any author can
send up to four (4) papers and register for several Round Tables.The language for the papers will be Spanish. However papers written in
Portuguese, French and English are welcomed in order to include non-Spanish
speaking communities within Latin AmericaEach paper is to be no longer than 10 pages maximum, doubled spaced, Arial
type at 11 pts. Please include bibliographic references, citations and
graphics if applicable.All participants should send their papers to the following e-mail address:
inforosocial[at]latinmail.comIn the email Subject line, participants must indicate the Theme and Round
Table of their interest.Professionals who do not have access to electronic communication, can send
their papers by regular mail to the following addresses:GESBI
Grupo de Estudios Sociales en Bibliotecología y Documentación - Argentina
Piedras 482 4º Piso "M"
CP: 1070
Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
República Argentina
Tel. (contestador):(05411) 4785-2668
Fax: (05411) 4545-7507
Correo E gesbiforo[at]yahoo.com.arCEBI
Círculo de Estudios sobre Bibliotecología Política y Social - México
Apartado Postal 70-190
Zona Comercial, Ciudad Universitaria
Del. Coyoacán
04511 México, DF
México
Correo E cebimx[at]yahoo.com.mxForum Schedule
January 26th - May 15th (4 months)
Call and reception of papers by each theme
All papers will be available on an electronic siteFrom May 1st
Electronic discussions between the Coordinators of each Theme and the
paper's authors. A thematic, electronic discussion list will be created for
this purpose.From June 16th.
Creation of a final Work Document by the Coordinators of each Theme/Round
Table. Creation of a draft program and statements for each Theme.From July 15th to August 15th (30 days)
Discussion of each Work Document among the six Coordinators (one of each
Theme) in order to develop a draft of the final Work Plan and Action Plan,
integrated with documents, programmatic documents and/or statements.August 26, 27 & 28
The Forum will have a deliberative and determined approach at which the
attendees will discuss and make final endorsements about the final version
of the Work Plan and Action Plan.August 26 & 27 sessions will be held among participants from Latin America
and the Caribbean as well as participants from other countries with a
special interest in the problems of Latin American. Everyone is welcome,
but only librarians from Latin American and the Caribbean librarians can
vote.On August 28, information professionals and librarians from any country can
make statements or commitments related to the Action Plan. On that day
everyone can vote.This CALL is dedicated to the librarian community, information
professionals, library science students and persons involved in planning
and managing information services in Latin America and the Caribbean no
matter the language. However, we want to emphasize Spanish as a major
language in the creation of library science theory, the acknowledge of
Portuguese in a similar sense and a reevaluation and closer relationship to
French of the American communities.GENERAL INFORMATION
This First Social Forum of Information, Documentation and Libraries 2004 is
an event with voluntary and democratic participation. There will be no
registration fees at any time. It is open to all librarians and related
disciplines. It is not necessary to submit papers in order to attend
personally to participate at the sessions.This Forum is free
The Organizing Committee is not a registered association. It can not
provide grants, air travel or any type of financial assistance in Buenos
Aires. However, the Committee will have a selected list of cheap budget
accommodations for those interested parties.Any suggestions, comments or questions, should be sent to The Organizing
Committee at:Grupo de Estudios Sociales en Bibliotecología y Documentación (Argentina)
gesbiforo[at]yahoo.com.arCirculo de Estudios sobre Bibliotecología Política y Social (México)
cebimx[at]yahoo.com.mx
http://www.cebi.org.mx
_________________________________________________________________________top
6. Amusing searches
The following are search expressions that led people from search engines
(mostly Google) to pages on Libr.org during the month of January. It
wasn't a very funny month on the internet, but that's okay.is gatsby a loser in the great gatsby novel?
the library is special because
the great gats by
" how to mummify an apple"
who made the speech generally refered to as "I have a dream"
are millionaires happy
texticles
do we need material world
pay equity or comparable worth communist or socialist plan_________________________________________________________________________top
L I B R A R Y J U I C E
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