Home Legislative Update 3-12-2007

ACRL Legislative Update

Volume 6, Number 1
March 12, 2007

Passionate Policy Wonks Needed

Are you interested in federal legislation and policy affecting libraries? Are you connected in your campus community? Are you willing to work with your members of Congress for change?

ACRL needs you!

Become an ACRL Legislative Advocate. To supplement the existing ACRL Legislative Network, ACRL is creating the new position of Legislative Advocate. Recognizing that not all ACRL members are active in their local chapters, we are directly recruiting legislative advocates, in an effort to complement the good work of the chapter networks and the Chapter Legislative Coordinators. Legislative Advocates will work as possible with other library legislative efforts in the state or region.

Selection as a Legislative Advocate is not automatic; those qualified will be selected to serve their profession with a two-year term, which may be renewed upon review by the Government Relations Committee. Legislative Advocates will be recognized and honored on the ACRL web site, annually in C&RL News, and during ALA Legislative Day activities. Find full description and apply online by April 6, 2007, at http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/washingtonwatch/acrladvocates.htm  

RSPV for ACRL Luncheon National Library Legislative Day

May 1-2, 2007, Washington, DC

Join hundreds of library supporters from across the country visiting members of Congress to share stories about the needs and accomplishments of libraries in your community. Connect with your academic and research colleagues at a special ACRL Luncheon during the briefing day Tuesday, May 1, at the Holiday Inn on the Hill. Hear George L. Mehaffy, Vice President for Leadership and Change at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. RSVP by Tuesday, April 17, 2007, for the complimentary luncheon at https://marvin.foresightint.com/surveys/Tier1Survey/ACRL/160  

Find out more about National Library Legislative Day events and hotel or register to attend by Friday, April 7, 2007, at http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washevents/nlld/  Can't come to Washington? Find out how to participate in "Virtual Legislative Day" at http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washevents/nlld/virtuallibrarylegislativeday/vlld.htm  

Library Day on the Hill at Annual 2007

On Tuesday, June 26, 2007, join hundreds of other librarians for "Library Day on the Hill", a historic opportunity to show the value of libraries to the members of Congress. The day will include a hearing on the hill on the importance of all types of libraries and displays around the halls of Congress informing legislators and staffers about each type of library and the services they provide. You are encouraged to visit your delegates' offices throughout the day. A special reception, which will take place that night from 4-6 pm, will be your time to continue to interact with members of Congress and staffers. This event is free, but has limited availability and requires advanced registration at http://www.ala.org/annual  

Showcase Your Achievements

As part of the Day on the Hill event, library groups have a unique opportunity to showcase their value and importance in the Halls of Congress. The ALA Washington Office has secured the Gold Room of the Rayburn House Office Building to let Members of Congress know about 21st century libraries. We are seeking displays from all kinds of libraries to show our legislators just what libraries mean to America. Space in the Gold Room is limited. Submit an idea for your display by April 12, 2007, at http://blogs.ala.org/districtdispatch.php?title=reminder_represent_your_library_group_in_2007&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1  

Fair Use and Anti-circumvention

The Freedom and Innovation Revitalizing US Entrepreneurship (FAIR USE) Act of 2007, HR 1201, was introduced February 27, 2007, by Congressmen Rick Boucher (D-VA) and Congressman John Doolittle (R-CA) with Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) as an original cosponsor. ALA, through the Library Copyright Alliance, strongly supports this legislation http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/lca_fair_use_feb07.pdf.

The FAIR USE Act would restore consumer rights by trimming back the excesses of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which governs the circumvention of technological protection measures that are placed on copyrighted works. The DMCA has a significant impact on libraries' and educational institutions' ability to make fair use of digital materials. It disallows legitimate and customary use of digital materials. Libraries spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year on all forms of digital information and amending the law would allow libraries and users to receive the full benefit of their (and in many cases, the public's) investment in copyrighted products.

Read more in ALAWON and visit the ALA Legislative Action Center to write your Member of Congress in support of the FAIR USE Act of 2007.

This digital update is regularly issued as part of our ongoing efforts to make it easier for you to connect with ACRL’s advocacy efforts. Feel free to forward this message to appropriate electronic lists.

To join the list of academic and research librarians receiving the ACRL Legislative Update directly, subscribe today by sending an e-mail to listproc@ala.org with "subscribe LEGUPDATE your name" in the message. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to listproc@ala.org with "unsubscribe LEGUPDATE" in the message.

We want the Legislative Update to be helpful to you. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please contact ACRL Scholarly Communications-Government Relations Specialist Kara Malenfant at kmalenfant@ala.org.

Published by the Association of College and Research Libraries, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611, www.ala.org/acrl.