AALL's Washington Blawg

May Issue of Washington E-Bulletin

aallwash — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:44:18 +0000

The May issue of the Washington E-Bulletin is now available on AALLNET.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

New Government Relations Office Staff Member, Elizabeth Holland
Action Alert: Help Save the American Community Survey
Your Guide to AALL’s Public Policy Programs in Boston

STAY INFORMED/GET INVOLVED: News and Action Alerts

House Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2013 Legislative Branch Bill
Judge Evans Issues Long-Awaited Ruling in Georgia State E-Reserves Case
New One-Pager on Presidential Records

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: Chapter News

Supreme Court of Ohio Plans to Discontinue Bound Volumes of Appellate Court Decisions
Utah Legislature Approves Funding for Statewide Self-Help Center
Diane Boyer-Vine is the 2012 Recipient of the NOCALL Legislative Advocacy Award
Connecticut General Assembly Passes Online Regulations Bill

FREE TIME WELL SPENT: Further Reading and Resources for the Info Policy Junkie

Scout, a New Legislative and Regulatory Research Tool
Chesapeake Group Finds Thirty-eight Percent of Online Documents Disappear in Five Years
Report Finds Agencies Still Struggling with Records Management

Take Action: Sign the White House Petition on Open Access to Research!

aallwash — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:31:15 +0000

The issue of public access to the results of federally funded research has recently gained significant traction in Washington. The Federal Research Public Access Act (FRPAA) (S. 2096 and H.R. 4004), which AALL strongly supports, has continued to mount support in Congress, gaining 29 cosponsors in the House of Representatives since its introduction in February. Expanding the successful model created by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Public Access Policy, these bills would require federal agencies with extramural research budgets of more than $100 million to make their research available for free online access by the general public within six months of publication in peer reviewed journals. The Obama administration has also taken an active interest in this issue and there is a sense that the administration understands the value of open access. With so much attention on open access right now, a strong demonstration of public support could prompt the executive branch to take action.

To that end, a “We, the People” Whitehouse.gov petition has been created to urge President Obama to “act now to implement open access policies for all federal agencies that fund scientific research.” Since launching on Monday, May 21, the petition has already gained nearly 15,000 signatures and is well on its way to reaching its goal. If the petition garners 25,000 signatures within 30 days, it will be reviewed by White House staff and considered for action.

Members of the public have a right to access research funded by their taxpayer dollars. We urge you to sign the petition today.

This is a critical opportunity for AALL members to demonstrate that we believe open access to federally funded research should be a high priority for the administration. Demonstrating public support will also strengthen FRPAA’s chances in Congress. With your support, we can influence the White House to act.

Once you have signed the petition, you can also encourage your colleagues, friends and family to do the same. Thank you for all the work that you do to ensure equal and open access!

AALL ACTION ALERT: Help Save the American Community Survey

aallwash — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:48:39 +0000

“This American Community Survey is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars. It is the very picture of what’s wrong in D.C.” (158 Cong. Rec. H2508 (daily ed. May 9, 2012) (statement of Rep. Webster).)

On May 10, the House of Representatives voted in favor of an amendment offered by Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fl.-8) to eliminate funding for the American Community Survey (ACS), an ongoing survey that provides key demographic, social, economic, and housing information to policymakers, business and community leaders, and researchers. The amendment was approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 5326), which includes funding for the Census Bureau.

Please ask your Senators to save the American Community Survey and 2012 Economic Census.

By eliminating funding for the ACS as well as the 2012 Economic Census, the House compels the Census Bureau to end these key research products. As Census Director Robert M. Groves said in a video posted on his blog, “Eliminating them [the ACS and 2012 Economic Census] halts all the progress to build 21st century statistical tools through those innovations. This bill thus devastates the nation’s statistical information about the status of the economy and the larger society.”

We need you to speak up now about the need to fund these important research tools. A Senate vote on the Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill is expected soon, so please take action now!

Staying Informed on Copyright and Fair Use

aallwash — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:33:27 +0000

The 3^rd Annual World’s Fair Use Day (WFUD) is this Fri. May 4, 2012. The day-long, free event will be held at the Pew Charitable Trusts Conference Center in Washington, DC. Sessions throughout the day will examine fair use in a number of creative contexts, including poetry, fashion, music and journalism.

WFUD attendees will also explore the aftermath of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011rotect Intellectual Property Act (PROTECT IP Act or PIPA), both of which were grossly overreaching efforts of Congress to protect copyright holders. The threat to First Amendment freedoms, creative expression, and the advancement of knowledge posed by these bills was so great that the public responded swiftly. Both bills were soundly thwarted by widespread, grassroots social media efforts. WFUD organizers hope to sustain the momentum from these efforts and keep the public and content creators engaged in the dialogue.

The AALL Copyright Committee will be exploring SOPA as well during a unique program at the upcoming AALL Annual Meeting in Boston. On Sun. July 22 at 3:45 the Committee hosts program C5 – Hot Topics in Copyright for Librarians. This program will offer updates on three timely copyright issues; orphan works, copyright as applied to state and local documents, and recent developments in copyright legislation (SOPA/PIPA) and litigation (Google Books, GSU, etc.). Annual Meeting attendees may also be interested in Using Creative Commons Licenses, sponsored by the M/AV Special Interest Section on Tues. July 24 at 3:45 pm. Librarians, as both creators and consumers of information, have a responsibility to be well-informed in matters of copyright and fair use, and should take advantage of these upcoming learning opportunities.

Guest post by Tracy L. Thompson-Przylucki, Vice Chair, AALL Copyright Committee

April Issue of the Washington E-Bulletin

aallwash — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:20:47 +0000

The April issue of the Washington E-Bulletin is now available on AALLNET.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to AALL’s 2012 PAGI and Oakley Advocacy Award Winners
2012 Advocacy Training Agenda Now Available – Register Today!
Federal Depository Library Program Webinar Slides Posted on AALLNET

STAY INFORMED/GET INVOLVED: News and Action Alerts

Action Alert: Support GPO and Library of Congress Funding
House Passes Flawed Cybersecurity Bill
Department of Justice Releases Open Government Plan 2.0 to Mixed Reviews
AALL Applauds Agency Development of FOIA Portal

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: Chapter News

Colorado Becomes First State to Enact UELMA
MALL Advocacy Campaign Leads to Progress in Filling State Law Librarian Position
AALL and California Chapters Urge City to Find Space for San Francisco Law Library

FREE TIME WELL SPENT: Further Reading and Resources for the Info Policy Junkie

CRS Releases New Report on Federal Depository Library Program
What Does Open Government Mean to You?
Conversation about Digital Preservation with Mike Wash, NARA
Office of Government Information Services Releases Year Two Progress Report

Register for AALL’s July 21 Advocacy Training in Boston

aallwash — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 20:17:36 +0000

Do you want to sharpen your advocacy skills, learn how to promote AALL’s top policy priorities and meet new colleagues, all while having a great time? AALL’s Government Relations Committee and Government Relations Office invite you to our half-day Advocacy Training on Saturday, July 21 in Boston, “Becoming an Effective Advocate.”

This year’s agenda is packed with informative sessions on our federal policy priorities, progress on the Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act (UELMA) and the future of the Federal Depository Library Program.

To attend the training, please RSVP to Director of Government Relations Emily Feltren by June 15. Space is limited. We look forward to seeing you there!

Legislative Advocacy Training 2012: Becoming an Effective Advocate

Saturday, July 21, 2012 ∙ 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

8:30-9:00 a.m. Coffee and Networking

9:00-9:10 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Catherine Dunn, Chair, 2011-2012 Government Relations Committee

9:10-9:40 a.m. Importance of Being an Advocate

Mike Verseckes, former Massachusetts Legislative Staffer

9:40-10:00 a.m. 2012 AALL Federal Legislative Update and How You Can Help

Emily Feltren, AALL Director of Government Relations

10:00-10:15 a.m. Coffee Break

10:15-10:45 a.m. Update on UELMA – Where Are We Now?

Tina Ching, Chair, 2011-2012 Digital Access to Legal Information Committee
Michele Finerty, University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Beth Williams, Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center Library

10: 50-11:30 a.m. Breakout Sessions (choose one)

Breakout 1: Advocating for UELMA in Your State

Led by Michele Finerty

Breakout 2: Participating in the Future of the FDLP

Led by Sarah (Sally) G. Holterhoff, Chair, FDLP Task Force

11:35-11:50 a.m. Reports from Breakout Sessions

11:50-12:00 p.m. Wrap-up

Catherine Dunn

Free AALL Webinar on Law Librarians and the Federal Depository Library Program

aallwash — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:12:55 +0000

AALL members and chapter members are invited to participate in AALL’s free April 19 webinar, “Law Librarians and the Federal Depository Library Program: Working Together for a Successful Future.” Registration closes on April 12.

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The Government Printing Office (GPO) is conducting a study to assess the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and determine its direction. Law librarians are leaders in advocating for equitable, no-fee, permanent public access to authentic online legal information, so it is vital that you participate in building a robust FDLP for the future.

AALL and GPO invite you to join us to learn more about the FDLP Forecast Study and how you can contribute. Sally Holterhoff, former AALL president and a two-term member of the Depository Library Council, will introduce the program, and Director of Government Relations Emily Feltren will moderate. GPO project leaders Cherie Givens and David Walls will explain the goals of the study, its three major components, and how you can participate in your state and/or region. Peggy Roebuck Jarrett, Depository Library Council member and leader of state efforts in Washington, will then explain how she has been working with other Washington State federal depository libraries to create a state forecast and action plan. The webinar is geared toward law librarians at federal depository libraries, but all AALL and chapter members are welcome to attend.

This webinar is free for AALL members and chapter members.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to explain the parts and goals of the FDLP Forecast Study.
• Participants will understand how and why to get involved in the project in their own states.

Speakers:

Sally Holterhoff is government information/reference librarian and associate professor of law librarianship at Valparaiso University Law Library in Indiana. She has served two terms as a member of the Depository Library Council–from 1987 to 1990 and from 2008 to 2011. Her AALL activities through the years have included serving as chair of the Government Documents SIS and of the Government Relations Committee and serving as president in 2006-07. She is also a founding member of INDIGO, the Indiana government documents group.

Peggy Roebuck Jarrett is reference and documents librarian at the University of Washington Gallagher Law Library and is currently serving on the Depository Library Council. She is organizing the efforts of the Northwest Government Information Network to craft a forecast and action plan for Washington State depository libraries.

Cherie Givens is an assessment specialist librarian at the U.S. Government Printing Office. She is co-leading the FDLP Forecast Study, has lead curriculum planning for online training on GPO’s Federal Digital System, drafted the Legal Requirements and contributed to the Program Regulations of the Federal Depository Library Program. She holds a Ph.D. in Library, Archival and Information Studies, and is also an attorney-at-law with a particular interest in First Amendment issues and laws affecting libraries and archives. She has written and presented on issues related to the First Amendment, intellectual freedom, social policy, and the publishing industry.

David Walls is the preservation librarian for the U.S. Government Printing Office, where he is responsible for developing preservation initiatives for tangible and digital government information. He is the co-chair of the FedLink Preservation Working Group and is currently leading an initiative for FDsys certification as a trustworthy digital repository. Before coming to GPO, he was the preservation librarian at Yale University for over a decade. He is currently serving with Cherie Givens as the co-lead on the FDLP Forecast Study.

Moderator:

Emily Feltren, AALL Government Relations Office

March Issue of the Washington E-Bulletin

aallwash — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:58:19 +0000

The March issue of the Washington E-Bulletin is now available on AALLNET.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Register for Free April 19 Webinar: “Law Librarians and the Federal Depository Library Program: Working Together for a Successful Future”
Thanks to You, March 20 State Advocacy Webinar is a Success!

STAY INFORMED/GET INVOLVED: News and Action Alerts

Update on Open Access Bills
Supporting the Appropriations Requests of the Government Printing Office and Library of Congress
FOIA in the Spotlight during Sunshine Week
A FOIA Day for Reflection

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY: Chapter News

California Joint Institute Features Two Advocacy Programs
SNELLA Provides Testimony in Support of UELMA

FREE TIME WELL SPENT: Further Reading and Resources for the Info Policy Junkie

Sunshine Week Reports from OMB Watch
GPO Access Sunsets

Celebrating Sunshine Week 2012

aallwash — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:56:19 +0000

In celebration of the 8^th annual Sunshine Week, AALL is co-sponsoring an exciting webcast on government secrecy with OpenTheGovernment.org. The live webcast will take place on Friday, March 16 from 1:15 pm to 3:30 pm EDT. Questions for the panelists can be sent to questions@openthegovernment.org or called in to 202/292-6073. The webcast will also be archived on the Newseum’s website.

Thanks to all of you who have planned local events and webcast viewing parties. Your participation in Sunshine Week helps shine a light on government!

Secrecy, Disclosure and the Risks for Security and Accountability

1:15p.m. – Welcome: Patrice McDermott, Executive Director

1:20 pm – Whistleblowers & the Press: Roles and Risks in Divulging Information Needed for Accountable Government

Gary J. Aguirre, Aguirre Law, former investigator with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and whistleblower; currently represents other SEC whistleblowers
Tom Bowman, National Public Radio (NPR) National Desk reporter covering the Pentagon
Mark Cohen, Deputy Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel, and former Executive Director of the Government Accountability Project (GAP)
Lucy Dalglish, Executive Director, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press(RCFP)
Matthew Miller, Partner at Vianovo, and former Director of the Office Public Affairs for the Department of Justice
Moderator: Abbe Lowell, Partner at Chadbourne & Parke LLC

2:25 pm – Secret Government and Secret Laws: Do claims of national security trump open and accountable government?

Alex Abdo, ACLU National Security Project Staff Attorney
Liza Goitein, Co-Director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program
J. William Leonard, former Director of the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO)
Dana Priest, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist at the Washington Post and author of Top Secret America
Jeffrey H. Smith, former General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)and current Partner at Arnold & Porter
Moderator: Danielle Brian, Executive Director, Project On Government Oversight (POGO)

The event will be available via webcast from the Newseum’s homepage as part of the Freedom Forum FOI Day (http://www.newseum.org/)

Brought to you in celebration of Sunshine Week by the American Association of Law Libraries, American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, League of Women Voters, National Freedom of Information Coalition, OMB Watch, OpenTheGovernment.org, Project On Government Oversight, Sunshine Week, Special Libraries Association, and the Sunlight Foundation. It is made possible by the generosity of Bauman Foundation, CS Fund, Open Society Institute, and Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Take Action Against PIPA

aallwash — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:14:22 +0000

For months, AALL has expressed opposition to two overreaching bills that aim to address the real issue of international intellectual property infringement, piracy and counterfeiting on the Internet – the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act (PROTECT IP Act, or PIPA), S.968, and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), H.R. 3261. AALL strongly believes that these bills threaten free speech, free expression and the freedom of the Internet.

Now, we need your help. On Tuesday, January 24, the Senate is scheduled to hold a cloture vote on S. 968. AALL needs you to write to your Senators and tell them to vote NO on PIPA.

We’ve provided you with a draft message that you can edit, and it only takes a few minutes to take action. Please join us in telling your Senators that while online infringement may be a problem, PIPA is not the answer.