Based on what was discovered in the author assessment, this fiscal year Cal Lutheran created a new item in its library budget specifically for purchasing books written by authors who are diverse by race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and ability. The library also started a diverse authors table to highlight some of these works, Kwast noted.
EQUITABLE POINTS OF ACCESS
resources is more needed than ever, Kwast added. During the pandemic, with limited access to their buildings, the Archive helped Cal Lutheran keep their library users connected. “Electronic resources and digital access to information are critical for public safety,” Kwast said.
Today, public libraries still have barriers to accessing phone number list materials, Kwast noted. Many of them require patrons to come on-site after registering for a card to verify identification and residence. For those without a home or those who work during normal business hours, this is an insurmountable challenge. Internet Archive removes some of those obstacles by providing 24-7 remote access from any location.
Documents that should be publicly available, such as those produced by Congress and public universities, are instead hidden behind paywalls and layers of complication, Kwast said. Internet Archive helps provide equitable points of access to information, which is a necessity today, Kwast said, regardless of a user’s income or ability.
“As librarians and information professionals, we are dealing with an information landscape that a lot of folks take for granted,” Kwast said, as digital collections are constantly changing with licensing limitations. “Just because [access] is not a problem for you as an individual does not mean it isn’t a very real issue that other folks face in their daily lives.”
Posted in Books Archive, Lending Books | Tagged EmpoweringResearch | 1 Reply
Brewster Goes to Washington – Congressional Hearing on the Copyright Office Modernization Committee
Posted on September 28, 2023 by Brewster Kahle
A good day in Washington. After two years of being on the Copyright Office Modernization Committee, helping advise the Copyright Office on their new registration and recordation process, a republican and a democrat from the House of Representatives held a hearing to ask questions of committee members. It was such a refreshing scene because it was bipartisan, they knew the issues, and they were spending time finding out what we suggested.
This all matters because the Copyright Office is moving to filings being digital, which is an improvement, and because it could make way for efficient submissions of digital files. This would be a major way for the Library of Congress to get copies of books they would own, preserve, and make somewhat accessible.
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