Attending:
Roger Lawson, Chair (1999)
Roberta Geier
Pat Lynagh, EB Liaison
Maryly Snow
Iris Snyder
Margaret Webster

Outgoing chair (and continuing committee member) Katherine Poole was not able to attend this meeting, so incoming chair Roger Lawson called the meeting to order at approximately 9:15 am.  Continuing committee member James Mitchell was not able to come to Vancouver.

Lawson thanked the outgoing chair for her extraordinary efforts during the past year, a very active one for landmark legislation.  He announced that Sarah Travis Buck would no longer be able to host the committee's Web site, and a new site is being sought [Katy Poole agreed to host at MIT]. Pending a review of the committee files post-conference, the meeting focused on plans for the coming year.

Lawson, based in Washington, agreed to serve as liaison to the Digital Future Coalition.  Geier will assist as alternate as necessary for meetings in Washington.  Contacts with like committees in related organizations were identified, and it was suggested that this committee exchange drafts of position statements on legislation to coordinate response and forge stronger links among the organizations.

Visual Resources Association: Macie Hall, Kathe Albrecht
Museum Computer Network: Rick Reinhart, Leslie Johnston
College Art Association: Christine Sundt, Robert Baron
Society of American Archivists: Peter Hirtle
Special Libraries Association: John Crosby

Snow noted that the next request for comment on the provisions of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (henceforth DMCA) would concern distance learning.  DFC postings will alert the committee to the timetable.

In its role as source of information on pending legislation to the membership, the committee proposed two projects: 1) to investigate the means (i.e. software) for developing an informational template with hotlinks to legislators so that individual ARLIS members can respond quickly and decisively to issues raised; and 2) to establish a committee presence directly on the ARLIS/NA Web site with a news section devoted specifically to legislation affecting the Society's professional interests.  This section could link to the committee's Web site as well as an electronic version of Ã
Update
. The goal would be to present the issue and call for response in easily-read formats, with links to more detailed information (including texts of legislation and Society response).

Ideas for a committee-sponsored program at the 2000 annual conference in Pittsburgh were also discussed.  Among them were a follow-up for the program to be held later during this conference (Session 13:  "Informed on the Issues: Sharing Perspectives on Public Policy") focusing on the aftermath of the DMCA and the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act, particularly for images and a session presenting the issues surrounding ownership of intellectual and cultural property.  Co-sponsors will be sought.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:00.

Respectfully submitted,

Roger Lawson
Chair