Comments on: Upcoming Council Controversies!

By: Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries

Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:24:38 +0000

Good question, Midwest SciTech Librarian.

The real ALA interest seems to be protection of wrongdoers. For example, recall how Judith Krug wanted the library patron privacy laws to trump national security interests, like when she wished a Florida librarian never turned a 9/11 terrorist’s presence into the police. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/23/us/nation-challenged-questions-confidentiality-competing-principles-leave-some.html

By: Midwest SciTech Librarian

Midwest SciTech Librarian — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:10:15 +0000

2. Urges all libraries to protect patron identity by adopting the following practices:
· Provide patron privacy through the use of pseudonyms, codes, numbers, or other means that do not require personally identifiable information
· Obscure the identity of patron requests and its content through the practice of packaging items with a full sheet of paper, using an envelope or reusable bag to hold the item, or an equivalent option.

Is ALA going to be covering all the costs connected to buying all the paper/enevelopes/reusable bags that will be needed to carry out this secretive service? Will they be passing a resolution next year to re-plant all of the forests that will be consumed in this effort?

By: elena

elena — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:21:29 +0000

correction: ALA supporting the release of manning

By: elena

elena — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:20:54 +0000

It’s not like we don’t have heated buildings in the great white north. And I am sure that NOLA has air conditioning too! Buck it up, and show them that librarians can kick butt in all kinds of climatic extremes.

As for librarians support the release of Manning? wow…Not sure if its good or bad.

By: Joneser

Joneser — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:47:14 +0000

Oh well then, if it’s on Fox “News” . . .

But what’s not to like about Minneapolis in March? Heck, it was about ZERO, wasn’t it??

By: ExistentialLibrarian

ExistentialLibrarian — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:55:54 +0000

As Fox News writes re ALA: “I suppose they are First Amendment absolutists — that’s their cover anyway. I don’t happen to think that’s the case. … I just think this is where their sympathies lie,” he said. “This is not your mother’s librarian.”

Wow. Doesn’t the last sentence now prove that librarians are “with it” and relevant? Yay!

By: Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries

Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 06:12:56 +0000

And now FOX News has written about it: "Library Association Takes Up Resolutions in Support of WikiLeaks, Manning"

By: Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries

Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:27:57 +0000

AL, take a look at this article: "American Library Association Supports WikiLeaks Suspect Manning; Librarian Group's Backing is Not Just for Gay Propagandists Any More," by Matt Philbin, Media Research Center, 22 June 2011. I am happy it cites to my work, but it is really sad to see the ALA's top leadership lean so far to the left as to lament the opportunity to aid and abet the enemy. Like when Judith Krug said in the New York Times that she was sorry a librarian reported a 9/11 terrorist to the police instead of respecting Florida library privacy law. You said, AL, "This one seems slightly more sensible, if you consider Manning as a whistleblower rather than a traitor." That was kind of you to be so kind.

By: CleverMoniker

CleverMoniker — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:02:52 +0000

I approve of these resolutions that will ensure the future efforts to secure library funding for all library types.

By: Fat Guy

Fat Guy — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:54:44 +0000

What conference DON’T you get to go to and complain about?