Below is a message from the American Library Association's president encouraging librarians and library supporters to take this opportunity to express support for our nation's libraries. Aside from the wondeful resources and services libraries provide, the professionals who staff them are advocates for intellectual freedom and are also some of the most ardent supporters of your civil rights. Since this debate occurs the week following Banned Books Week, it's an opportune time to inquire with John McCain as to whether or not he supports his running mate, Sarah Palin's, challenges to her local libraries. I plan to submit a question that asks for each candidates' stance on the USA PATRIOT Act and what action they will take when it comes up for renewal, whether they be serving as President or Senator.

 

On Tuesday, October 7, one of the three 2008 Presidential debates between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain will be held at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. This debate will be a town hall format moderated by Tom Brokaw. The moderator will call on members of the audience as well as select questions submitted online.
 
During this election year, we are looking for librarians and library supporters from across the country to call attention to the value of today's libraries in our communities, as well as the issues the library community is facing. We encourage all ALA members to submit questions. The Commission on Presidential Debates has partnered with MySpace to reate a new Web site, www.MyDebates.org. This site will become available in the days leading up to the first Presidential debate on September 26.  The more questions submitted, the more likely a library question will be asked. This is an opportunity for the library voice to become an important part of the 2008 Presidential election.
 
Sincerely,
 
James Rettig
ALA President

Did you know that Kentucky ranks 47^th in the United States on all critical measures affecting women and families, such as education, healthcare, & jobs? The Champions 4 Her Walk, Run & Festival was created to raise awareness and to improve the health and financial well-being of women and girls in Louisville. UofL is one of 10 sponsors.

The festival will take place downtown at Waterfront Park on Saturday, June 21. The walk/run begins at 8 AM. The festival will open at 8:30 AM and end at 5 PM.

Included in the festival's events are food, entertainment, games, children’s activities, free health screenings, demonstrations, an awards ceremony, and assorted goodies and giveaways.

Join A Team

If you’d like to participate in the run or walk, you can either join a team or form your own with four or more people. The law school does not yet have a team, but members of our faculty and staff have already joined the Data Divas, League of Champions, Team Project Women, and Women Lawyers Association teams.

You can save $10 if you register by Monday, June 16. The fee will increase to $35 thereafter. Registration includes a t-shirt.

Donate

Proceeds from the walk will benefit UofL's Women's Center/PEACC Program and Women's Athletics, along with several other local organizations. Selected beneficiary partners for 2008 focus on: youth mentoring; treatment of severely traumatized children; leadership development for women and girls; prevention of sexual violence and services for its victims; artistic expression for underprivileged girls; the needs of single mothers and their children; and education and competitive athletics for college-aged women. No funds will be distributed to organizations whose primary focus is religion, politics, or reproductive choice.

If you’d like to make a donation, please visit my fundraising page or use one of the forms that I posted in the faculty/staff mailroom and outside my office door.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you!

On May 13-14, 2008, librarians and library supporters nationwide will participate in advocacy and issue training sessions, interact with Capitol Hill insiders, and visit Congressional member offices to ask Congress to pass legislation that supports libraries. NLLD is sponsored by the American Library Association, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, the District of Columbia Library Association, and the Special Libraries Association.

Important issues that will be addressed include: funding the Government Printing Office, the Library Services & Technology Act, Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program, and the National Library Service for the Blind.

"The library community has a long-standing commitment to public access to information created by or for the federal government. This principle of the public’s “Right to Know” is the cornerstone of government accountability and informed public participation. This is why the American Library Association supports legislative efforts that promote public access to government information, open government, and E-government services." (see References: E-Government, Open Government, and FDLP Issues - May 2008)

Our own Senator Bunning (R-KY) led a movement to block the Presidential Records Act (HR 1255) that would have revoked the Presiden'ts executive order (E.O. 13233) and other restrictions on access to Presidential records.

I urge you to show your support for libraries by contacting your elected representatives in the House and Senate.

References

ALA: National Library Legislative Day 2008

Did you know women in the United States are still paid only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men? For women of color, the numbers are even worse - African American women earn 63 cents and Latinas earn 52 cents for every dollar paid to white men.

To commemorate Equal Pay Day, which will be recognized on Tuesday, April 22, the US Senate is expected to vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (HR 2831) soon. The bill will amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (Pub. L. 90-202), and reverse the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (No. 05-1074) to restore adequate protection against pay discrimination.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was passed by the House in July 2007 and is now on the Senate’s calendar. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are among the bill’s cosponsors.

Take Action & Get Informed

• Use this online form to contact your Senators and tell them you support the Fair Pay Restoration Act (S 1843).
• Compare your salary to that of your coworkers with the Courier-Journal’s Government Salary Database.

References

Pay Equity Fact Sheet

Supreme Court Ruling & Fair Pay Restoration Act Fact Sheet

Last night I attended the Louisville Sierra Club's annual legislative update, presented by Tom Fitzgerald, an adjunct professor at our law school.

He provided a list of legislation that's too numerous to list here, but addressed topics pertaining to billboards, campaign refinance, animal cruelty, renewable resources, mandatory helmets for motorcyclists and more.

Of particular interest to environmentalists are:
HB 214 - AN ACT relating to tax incentives for alternative fuel sources;
HB 233 - AN ACT relating to plastic containers;
HB 299 - AN ACT relating to renewable-energy and energy-efficiency standards; and
SB 69 - AN ACT relating to the hazardous waste management fund and making an appropriation therefor.

For a copy of any bill, to check its status, or to track which committee it has been assigned to, visit the Kentucky Legislature's website and click on 2008 Regular Session. From their homepage, you can also connect to Bill Watch , a new alert service that will deliver updates on the pieces of legislation you select to your email address.

*Unfortunately, none of the environmental bills made it out of committee. (updated 4/17/08) 

Kentucky Library Association Annual Conference

"University of Louisville Libraries Digital Collections: Connecting Communities and Collections"

Presenters: Rachel Howard, Weiling Liu, Virginia M. Smith

September 20, 2007

3:10 PM - 4:00 PM

Rose Room, Marriot Downtown Louisville

http://digital.library.louisville.edu/

As a result of having attended the Idea Festival this past weekend, I’ve been inspired to exercise my civil liberties by blogging.

The 3-day conference was sponsored in part by the University of Louisville. With my employer's encouragement, I attended a multitude of free sessions on a diverse array of topics ranging from sustainable architecture and green landscaping, worm holes and parallel universes, to an update on Darfur by the Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist, Nicholas Kristof. It was during a panel session on the topic of Peace and a presentation by international bloggers, that I learned from Bahrainian journalist, Amira Al Hussaini, that both Turkey and China have banned the use of WordPress, an open source blogging platform that the Law School utilizes.

As a librarian and concerned citizen, I am passionate about disseminating information and believe that removing political and technological barriers to access is essential to preserving our democracy.

Conference attendees were encouraged to scribe their ideas on a note pad and post them to a logo-laden car provided by the Geek Squad, another conference sponsor. Here, I’d like to share one of my ideas and posit a challenge to the University of Louisville to install a speaker’s pulpit similar to the Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park, outside of the SAC or some other prominent location on campus to encourage an ongoing exchange of information and ideas within our community.

To participate in the global conversation, visit: www.globalvoicesonline.org