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Committee On Legislation (COL) Legislative Agenda
ALA Committee on Legislation
Legislative Agenda
110th CongressThe American Library Association's Legislative Agenda is based on the
unique and critical role that libraries play in providing fair and
equitable access to information. As part of ALA Goals 2010, the ALA
Committee on Legislation (COL) has identified the ongoing priority
legislative and policy issues for the Association based upon the
principles surrounding fair and equitable access to information for all
communities and library users.
Guiding PrinciplesAmong these principles are:
- Protection of equal, ready and equitable access to information and intellectual freedom for all;
- Commitment to providing information in all formats for all people;
- Protection of the public's right to balanced copyright policies including fair use and the information creator's right to fair compensation;
- Promotion and support of librarians' unique expertise in selecting, analyzing, organizing, preserving and distributing information in a variety of formats in making information available to the public;
- Advancement of libraries as one of the corner stones of our nation's information infrastructure and as important institutions that contribute to other national and local programs to further societal goals;
- Protection for libraries as the most logical and effective mechanisms to provide the broadest range of E-government services and government information, nationally and locally, in every community; and that the government has an affirmative obligation to create and widely distribute government information and E-government services, as a necessary resource for full participation in a democratic society.
Key Legislative Issues 110th Congress - 2006-081. Information PolicyALA will continue in its role to achieve full participation in the development of the national broadband deployment and promote the importance of the public interest in decisions that affect the creation and delivery of information. Every library should be a major, interconnected information access point for the widest range of information seekers, particularly those who have no access at home, work or school.
2. Direct Support for LibrariesThrough the Library Services and Technology Act, the Literacy through Schools Libraries Title of No Child Left Behind and other appropriate programs, ALA will advocate for a federal role in providing leadership, grants and funding sources that promote collaboration and development of new technologies to identify, preserve and share library and information resources across institutional, local and state boundaries. The Association will seek full funding for library programs as well as seek support for library and information science education, research and demonstrations, preservation and digitization, and literacy and services to those with special needs. ALA will actively support arts, humanities and cultural programs that promote the public interest and recognize the role of libraries in these areas.
3. Telecommunications and the InternetALA will support the public interest in the development of telecommunications policies and advocate for universal service and other mechanisms that seek to provide equitable and affordable telecommunications services, especially in broadband deployment for all. ALA will programs and policies that seek to remove local control of content and promote the important role of libraries in providing information literacy and education on safe and best practices for use of the Internet and other telecommunications resources.
4. Electronic Information and CopyrightALA will fully and actively participate in information policy discussions. The Association will vigorously work to safeguard the principle of intellectual freedom in the electronic information environment. ALA will work aggressively at both the national and international levels on copyright law, treaties and intellectual property policy to promote balance in the digital environment between the rights of proprietors and limitations and exceptions that protect the public good and foster access for noncommercial and educational purposes. These uses, such as fair use, first sale and certain activities by libraries and educational institutions are increasingly threatened by overly restrictive copyright law combined with technology (ex. digital rights management - DRM). ALA will press for legislation that ensures that libraries can receive the full benefit of their (and in many cases, the public's) investment in copyrighted products.
5. E-government and Access to Government InformationALA will work to assure that government meets its obligations to create and disseminate government information. The Association will advocate for adequate resources for libraries to provide public access to E--government services and government information itself at no or low cost to the public, and outside the exclusive control of private interests. ALA will support adequate funding for the Library of Congress, the Government Printing Office and other national and federal library and information dissemination programs.
With the advent of E-government services at all levels of government, ALA will advance the important role that libraries serve as primary access points and that libraries are an essential part of any information dissemination network instituted or supported by government. As part of libraries' roles in E-government services, ALA will seek appropriate funding for these roles and promote the unique and important services that libraries provide at times of crisis and national or local emergency by providing information and access to E-government services, the Internet and other telecommunications services.
6. Privacy, Intellectual Freedom and related Civil LibertiesBased upon ALA's long standing principles of intellectual freedom and the confidentiality of patron information, the Association will continue to promote privacy policies the enable libraries to maintain the sanctity of library records. The Association seek to promote policies require law enforcement to seek appropriate judicial review and allow individual due process to obtain confidential library records. ALA will work to educate the public about new applications such as interactive web applications and to work against proposals that would inappropriately deny access to information or interactive applications.
7. Education and AdvocacyALA will mount aggressive, long term efforts to educate and inform the profession, the public and policy makers about the issues and decision facing them as the nation moves closer toward a knowledge based economy and deployment of universal broadband services. Library educators must be involved in revising educational and research goals that enable and empower individuals to use information to the fullest extent. New continuing education and staff development opportunities for working professionals must be provided to prepare them to respond to the rapidly changing social and information environment. ALA will continue to actively seek partnerships and coalitions to further all parts of its legislative agenda.
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