ALA Washington Office Update
LITA National Forum, October 2008
Carrie Lowe, Director, OITP Program on Networks
Timothy Vollmer, OITP IT Policy Analyst
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What goes on in Washington?
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ALA Washington Office
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/wo/
http://ala.org/oitp http://ala.org/ogr
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Presentation Outline
•OITP Update
•OGR Update
•Future Activities
•Get Involved
•Discussion
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Presentation Outline
•OITP update
•OGR update
•Future Activities
•Get Involved
•Discussion
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What does OITP do?
•Researches and analyzes the implications of IT
and IT policy for libraries and users
•Educates the ALA community on information
policy issues
•Advocates for ALA’s information policy (but not
lobbying)
•Strategizes by looking at implication of
technological trends
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Video
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What does OITP really do?
•Writes issue briefs, policy papers, articles, books on library
and technology issues
•Participates in Washington-based coalitions, working groups,
government hearings, policy events
•Conducts library connectivity research, E-rate training
•Submits comments to FCC, LOC, etc. on behalf of ALA
•Organizes copyright education and outreach
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OITP Structure
•Program on Networks
•Program on Public Access to Information
•Program on America’s Libraries in the 21st Century
•Program on OITP Fellows
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Activities -- Program on Networks
Regional Library
Cooperatives and the
Future of Broadband
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/2008_OITP%20RLCs%20Repor.pdf
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Activities -- Program on Networks
•Comcast & net neutrality
•redefinition of broadband
•broadband data collection
•eligible services list
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Activities -- Program on Networks
E-rate training
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Activities -- Public Access to Information
New Copyright Book
Mobile devices &
copyright
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Activities -- Public Access to Information
Annual Conference Copyright Programming
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Activities -- Public Access to Information
CopyNight
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Activities -- Public Access to Information
© Copyright Advisory Network
American Library Association
Office for Information Technology Policy
[ A community of librarians, copyright
scholars, policy wonks. Join us. ]
Forums: Resources: Blog:
Fair use? presentations judicial news
Licensing? legislation current events
E-reserves? court cases policy analysis
Section 108? articles emerging issues
Public domain? websites tech & libraries
Policy questions? primers recent legislation
Public performance? books digitization updates
http://librarycopyright.net/
ALA OITP 6/08
Copyright Advisory Network & Scholars
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Activities -- Public Access to Information
http://www.librarycopyright.net/digitalslider/
Copyright Slider
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Activities -- Public Access to Information
Beta--Section 108 Spinner Tool
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Activities -- Public Access to Information
Beta--Fair Use Evaluator Tool
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Activities -- Public Access to Information
International Copyright Traditional Cultural
Advocates Expression Investigation
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Activities -- America’s Libraries in the 21st Century
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Activities -- America’s Libraries in the 21st Century
Kickoff session at Annual 2008
http://blip.tv/file/1048651/
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Activities -- OITP Fellows
R. David Lankes Roger Levien
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Presentation Outline
•OITP update
•OGR update
•Future Activities
•Get Involved
•Discussion
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What does OGR do?
•informs government of the needs and concerns
of the library community
•provides library supporters with up-to-date
information on government actions or proposals
•builds coalitions with Washington-based groups
with similar concerns
•develops grassroots networks to lobby legislators
and further library interests
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What does OGR really do?
•Lobbying (not a dirty word!)
•Member advocacy - webinars, podcasts,
training, grassroots efforts
•Coalition participation
•National Library Legislative Day
•Legislative Action Center
•Congressional testimony
•Works with COL to develop policy positions
and lobbying strategies
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Collaboration in Action
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Sample of 110th Congress Involvement
•S. 1492: Broadband Data Improvement Act
•S. 2913: Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act
•S. 3325: PRO-IP Act
•S 2977: Free Speech Protection Act
•H.R. 6845: Fair Copyright in Research Works Act
•H.R. 6304: FISA Amendments Act
http://www.govtrack.us/
http://www.opencongress.org/
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Presentation Outline
•OITP update
•OGR update
•Future Activities
•Get Involved
•Discussion
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Future Activities
•New administration briefing
•Library emergency funding
•Continued connectivity work
•Universal Service Fund reform
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Video
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Presentation Outline
•OITP update
•OGR update
•Future Activities
•Get Involved
•Discussion
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How?
•Sign up for District Dispatch
•Attend NLLD (even virtually)
•Respond to Action Alerts
•Visit Legislative Action Center
•Participate in OITP subcommittees
•Contribute to Copyright Advisory Network
•Follow policy websites, blogs, and twitter
•Alert us - you are eyes and ears for library
technology and policy on the ground!
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Carrie Lowe: clowe@alawash.org
Timothy Vollmer: tvollmer@alawash.org
Washington Office: (202)-628-8410
ala.org/oitp
ala.org/ogr
wo.ala.org/districtdispatch
librarycopyright.net
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Presentation Outline
•OITP update
•OGR update
•Future Activities
•Get Involved
•Discussion
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