Author archives

Kansas Considers Library Net Filters

The Kansas House Committee on Federal and State Affairs is considering HB 2420, requiring the installation of Internet filters on all public library computers accessible to those under the age of 18. According to this letter to the committee from the state’s budget director, the yearly cost “would be approximately $573,750 to purchase filtering devices …

Subjects: Censorship, Freedom of Information, Libraries

Sen. Leahy Introduces New FOIA Legislation

On March 12, Senator Patrick Leahy(D-VT), joined by Senators Levin (D-MI), Jeffords (I-VT), Lieberman (D-CT) and Byrd (D-WV), introduced new legislation, S. 609, the Restoration of Freedom of Information Act (“Restore FOIA”). See Leahy’s statement here. See Levin’s statement here. See also this Letter to Senate leaders on the Restoration of Freedom of Information Act …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Freedom of Information, Legislation

Legal Protection of Digital Information

Professor of Computer Science Lee A. Hollaar has made available, at no fee, virtually the entire text of his treatise, Legal Protection of Digital Information, published by BNA. The Table of Contents provides direct links to each chapter and respective sections therein, which include the following topics: Copyright Overview, Software, Copyright, Digital Copyright, Patent Overview …

Subjects: Copyright, Patent and Trademark

Federal Gov't Info Continues to Disappear

According to this Washington Post article, Seek and Ye Shall Not Find, add another government document to the “disappeared” list as a result of the administration’s paperwork reduction policy. The OMB will not publish the detailed and comprehensive annual report, Budget Information for States (BIS) in 2004 and perhaps thereafter as well. The current report …

Subjects: Freedom of Information, Government Documents

Search Engine Guide

If you are interested in a top rate site to help you stay current on search engines, that also offers a free daily email newsletter, then head over to Search Engine Guide. The site Editor/Webmaster Robert Clough provides an excellent range of resources, including a Search Engines Directory database that can be searched or browsed, …

Subjects: Search Engines

Civil Liberties and Security: Some Perspective

From the New York Times article, Measuring Lost Freedom vs. Security in Dollars, this statement, “In a notice published last month, the budget office asked experts from around the country for ideas on how to measure “indirect costs” like lost time, lost privacy and even lost liberty that might stem from tougher security regulations.” The …

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Privacy

Virginia Will Remove Personal Data From Court Sites

A bill passed by the Virginia House and Senate, H.B. 2426, “relating to posting certain information on the Internet; prohibitions” stipulates that “Beginning January 1, 2004, no court clerk shall post on a court-controlled website any document that contains the following information: (i) an actual signature; (ii) a social security number; (iii) a date of …

Subjects: Courts, Government Documents, Privacy

Primer on Copyright Law

From the Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship 2003, this extensive and well documented resource, An Education in ©opyright Law: A Primer for Cyberspace. The author, Dr. Robert N. Diotalevi reviews copyright law basics, the fair use doctrine (and provides examples of permissible and non-permissible uses), how copyright applies to distance learning (illustrated by …

Subjects: Copyright

Vounteers for Dean Leverage Blog For Presidential Campaign

Volunteers on behalf of Howard Dean, former governor of Vermont and Democratic candidate for President, have created a blog, Howard Dean 2004. The site provides links to press clippings, speeches and interviews (audio and video), articles about the candidate (including an archive from 08/25/2002 to present), postings on his campaign schedule, as well as an …

Subjects: Blogs