Looking to reverse two earlier setbacks in court, attorneys for the City of Memphis (and two registered voters) last week asked Tennessee’s Court of Appeals to hear its challenge to the state’s picture identification voter requirement, a legal battle rooted in the city’s decision to issue library cards to be used as photo ID.
After Courts Reject Library Card as Voter ID, Memphis Appeals Requirement
By on October 9, 2012 Leave a Comment
Kirtsaeng v. Wiley | Backtalk
By on October 8, 2012 Leave a Comment
What if you had to ask permission before selling, lending, or even giving away your books? On October 29, the Supreme Court hears oral argument in the case of Kirtsaeng v. Wiley & Sons, a case that could change the way we own everything from books to watches. Libraries, who own books, movies, and other copyrighted works on behalf of all of us, could be hit especially hard.
Update: CA Creates Free Digital Textbook Library
By on October 3, 2012 3 Comments
On September 27, California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation which would give undergraduates free access to online textbooks for 50 of the most common courses at California public colleges. (Students can also pay $20 for a hard copy.)
Bill Would Let Librarian of Congress Accept Gifts
By on September 19, 2012 Leave a Comment
A bill which would allow the Librarian of Congress to accept gifts and bequests on behalf of the Library of Congress “and for other purposes,” unanimously passed the House of Representatives on September 10. H.R. 6122, sponsored by Rep. Daniel Lungren (R-CA), next went to the Senate for consideration, where it was referred to [...]
Library PAC Will Back Local Ballot Questions
By on September 4, 2012 Leave a Comment
EveryLibrary is creating a new twist on the saying “think globally, act locally.” The new political action committee (PAC), a non-partisan 501c4 organization, will raise funds nationally and spend them in support of local library ballot initiatives like taxes, bonds, and referenda. It will also serve as a political campaign consultancy for libraries. “EveryLibrary is [...]
Michigan Libraries Seek To Curb Guns
By on July 18, 2012 7 Comments
On July 11, the Michigan Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in a case over whether a library can ban weapons. The case, Capital Area District Library (CADL) v. Michigan Open Carry Inc., was decided in favor of the Capital Area District Library last May by the Ingham County Circuit Court. The library, which serves [...]
NYC Politicians Urge State to Ban Sex Offenders from Library Children’s Rooms
By on July 13, 2012 Leave a Comment
Report: Six Month OA Mandate Would Cut Journal Subscriptions By Almost Half
By on June 4, 2012 Leave a Comment
The U.K.’s Publishers Association released a report suggesting that libraries would cancel 65 percent of arts, humanities and social sciences journal subscriptions, and 44 percent of scientific, technical and medical ones, if the United Kingdom adopted an across-the-board open access mandate. ‘The potential effect of making journals free after a six month embargo’ was commissioned [...]
Open Access Petition Passes 25,000 Threshold
By on June 4, 2012 1 Comment
A petition calling for public access to all federally funded research posted last month on the White House’s “We the People” website has garnered the 25,000 signatures necessary to be considered for action by the Obama Administration.
