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Is Open Access to Information Through Li…

Is Open Access to Information Through Libraries on the Agenda at the African Union When It Comes to Assessing Countries’ Development under the African Peer Review Mechanisms? :
« Is the issue of Open Access to information through libraries part of business for the African Union (AU) when it comes to assessing countries’ performance under the African Peer Review Mechanisms (APRM)? Whereas the scope of this review is limited as on record it focuses on three areas, namely politics, economics and good governance, in fact individual countries are free to incorporate relevant cross-cutting issues, such as HIV/AIDS, gender, or information access. The paper indicates that although technically speaking the matter of Open Access might in some regions be more of a librarians’ preoccupation, they should not remain indifferent but rather seize the opportunity to influence others, such as researchers and political leaders, on the relevance of Open Access in the business of the APRM. A brief is given on the prevailing situation in Africa, as well as relevant factors to be addressed, as positively and/or negatively affecting how Open Access becomes part of the APRM
processes. »
URL : http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/146-chadzingwa-en.pdf

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Pushing Libraries and Archives to the Ed…

Pushing Libraries and Archives to the Edge of the Law :
« The ability to digitize hard copies, the proliferation of born digital content, and access to online distribution holds the promise of improved access to archival materials. Despite these advances, libraries and archives are increasingly hindered in providing this access by the legal issues surrounding their collections. However, this unfortunate problem can be resolved with a mixture of good policy, careful action, clarification of uncertain legal implications, and a reliance on the protections afforded to libraries and archives by the law.
This paper explores the legal issues faced by archivists and librarians in digitizing and distributing their materials. Through a discussion of current archiving practices, this paper walks readers though the relevant sections of the copyright act, as well as other implicated areas of the law. By showing potential sites of legal conflict, engaging difficulties with seeking permission to use library and archival content, and suggesting areas where archivists can push the boundaries of their rights more aggressively, this paper provides a glimpse of the legal landscape surrounding digital archiving, and offers suggestions on how to successfully navigate it. It is my sincere hope that this effort can empower librarians and archivists to make full use of their collections, to assert the full scope of their rights under the law, and to become advocates helping to shape the national discussion over the future of digital collections. »
URL : http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1659853

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BRIEF AMICI CURIAE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRA…

BRIEF AMICI CURIAE OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, THE ASSOCIATION
OF COLLEGE AND RESEARCH LIBRARIES, AND THE ASSOCIATION OF RESEARCH LIBRARIES IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONER
: http://www.arl.org/bm~doc/lca-costco-amicus.pdf