Cardiff libraries [in Wales, in the UK] finds that patrons can not get to the web page for the city’s Mardi Gras event because SmartFilter — the same filter mandated in all of Georgia’s schools and libraries — thinks that the site is pornography. The site URL does have the word “gay” in it, though the page itself is completely family friendly. Librarian.net is characterized as “politics/opinion” by the newer SmartFilter and “politics/religion” by the older version. Check your own URL. [infothought]
Category: access
“I know this is boring but it could save you a lawsuit”
Please read what the LibraryLaw Blog has to say about being in compliance with some arcane copyright law requirements. Does your library have someone designated to receive copyright complaints?
DoJ prints almost retraction
If you were a government depository library that destroyed those DoJ documents when they asked you to, and then they changed their mind, and now you’d like fresh copies, there’s a page up on the DoJ web site where you can order them. In case you were wondering what all the hubbub is about forfeiture lately, this site will give you an activist overview of the controversy.
history vs accesibility, one town’s problem
Is removing a stacks wing to make a public library more accessible the same as turning a church into condos? A storm is brewing over the Amesbury Public Library in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners has kept a list of libraries around the state that have destroyed or altered their stack wings to improve their buildings. The commission has endorsed these demolitions because they have allowed libraries to provide access to the disabled, meet earthquake codes, eliminate fire liabilities, and use limited sites more effectively. [linkoday]
update on the GPO snafu
This was a happy announcement/email to come back to. The following was quoted from ALACOUN, the ALA Council listserv.
As you know, on July 22, 2004, a notice was posted to FDLP-L advising depository libraries that the Department of Justice had requested the withdrawal of five publications that were intended for internal use only.
In response to the Government Printing Office’s further inquiry into this matter, the Department of Justice has requested that I advise depository libraries to disregard the previous instructions to withdraw these publications. In making this request, the Department of Justice said, although these materials were “intended only for the internal training use of Department of Justice personnel and, as such, were inappropriately distributed to depository libraries through an administrative oversight,” the Department has determined that these materials are “not sufficiently sensitive to require removal from the depository library system.”
Since 1995, GPO has issued recall letters for 20 publications at the request of the publishing agencies. Seven of these publications were recalled because they were for official use or internal use only, as occurred in this instance.
Both GPO and the Department of Justice regret any inconvenience resulting from the initial request for withdrawal.
Judy Russell
Judith C. Russell (jrussell@gpo.gov)
Managing Director, Information Dissemination (Superintendent of Documents)
U.S. Government Printing Office
Phone: 202-512-0571
Fax: 202-512-1434