Annual Report (2000)
February 4, 2000
Submitted by: Roger Lawson, Chair
T: (202) 842-6529
F: (202) 408-8530
Membership (2000)
Roger Lawson, Chair (National Gallery of Art Library); Jonathan Franklin (National Gallery of Canada); Roberta Geier (National Gallery of Art Library); James Mitchell (Frick Art Reference Library); Margaret Webster (Cornell University); Barbara Rockenbach (Yale University).
Executive Board Liaison: Pat Lynagh (Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American Art/National Portrait Gallery)
Activities
The committee continued to monitor relevant legislative and copyright issues in 2000. ARLIS/NA maintained membership in the Digital Future Coalition (DFC), with the committee chair serving as liaison. Pertinent information from the DFC listserv was forwarded to ARLIS-L on a regular basis. Information from the National Initiative for a Networked Cultural Heritage (NINCH) list was also reviewed and posted to ARLIS-L as appropriate.
In March, committee member James Mitchell prepared a statement of ARLIS/NA's position on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act Section 1201a, which prohibits the circumvention of technological protection measures. The Society joined the American Library Association, the Special Libraries Association, and other professional organizations in urging the Librarian of Congress to exempt all classes of works from this prohibition. President Karen McKenzie signed for the society and the letter was posted on the U.S. Copyright Office's Web site.
On September 11 and 12, 2000 Roger Lawson and Barbara Rockenbach attended the Intellectual Property Symposium of the Americas held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Arlington, Virginia. Their report on the meeting was distributed to the ARLIS/NA membership on ARLIS-L.
Review of UCITA (Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act) developments in the individual state legislatures is ongoing. James Mitchell prepared a draft letter for use by ARLIS/NA chapters to urge state legislators to oppose adoption of UCITA.
Strategic Plan action items
137. Establish guidelines for kind and quantity of involvement in political
action and lobbying allowable under IRS 501(c)(3)-tax status.
Status: ON-GOING: DFC membership and annual contribution.
138. Identify other agencies and associations with shared interests in legislative / policy matters; link with groups, as appropriate, to co-author and/or co-sign position statements; provide descriptive annotations on other groups' committees, working groups, etc. working on policy and legislative concerns, and report on Web Site.
Status: ON-GOING. DFC membership; 4CITE membership.
139. Publicize, and make copies available, ARLIS/NA's position papers and all signed and co-signed documents or letters stipulating the Society's official stance on legal or legislated issues.
Status: ON-GOING. ARLIS-L postings of ARLIS/NA letters and statements.
140. Assign individual committee members to monitor specific web sites and listservs; report activities to membership, and refer items requiring action/response to Executive Board.
Status: ON-GOING. In addition to membership in the DFC, committee members monitor Web sites and publications of affinity organizations (such as ALA, SLA, AAM, CAA) and report to membership via ARLIS-L.
141. Create list of legislative topics/issues of particular concern to arts and image librarians; create procedures for updating and disseminating the list; set priorities for items on the list; draft position statements consistent with ARLIS/NA's interests.
Status: PLANNED. Devise survey of ARLIS/NA membership via ARLIS-L; evaluate; create prioritized list of topics/issues; determine status of committee's Web site and presence on ARLIS/NA Web site.
142. Create a "recommended reading" list on topics of intellectual property, telecommunications, censorship, etc.; report to members.
Status: PENDING. Updated bibliographies will be made available on the committee's or ARLIS/NA Web site.
143. Create communication links and define responsibilities shared among Public Policy C., Diversity C., and Collection Development C. to identify issues and topics with legislative agendas. PLANNED.