Shared from PLA eNews

On October 14, PLA and ALA proudly announced the achievement of an important milestone in the #eBooksForAll campaign to condemn Macmillan Publishers’ plan to restrict library access to eBooks. On that date, the number of people to sign our online petition broke the 100,000 mark, and has since exceeded 150,000! PLA is grateful to its members for the tremendous role they’ve played in mobilizing library staff and patrons to take action on this important issue.

On the heels of the #eBooksForAll campaign, ALA released a report urging lawmakers to curb anti-competitive practices of digital market actors. Submitted in response to an inquiry from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law, the report underscores practices by companies like Amazon and Macmillan Publishers — such as abusive pricing and restrictive licensing terms for libraries — that threaten Americans’ right to read what and how they choose and imperil other fundamental First Amendment freedoms. The report addresses publishers’ abusive pricing and restrictive licensing terms for libraries. Download the report (PDF, 7 pages). In addition to this legislative action, ALA is also considering legal solutions if the embargo does indeed go into effect November 1.

Visit PLA’s eBook Lending & Pricing page to stay updated on this issue.

Shared from PLA eNews

PLA is collaborating with the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) to offer a free live webcast of the NCFL Families Learning Conference session “How Programs Can Recruit & Engage Culturally Diverse Families,” Monday, Nov. 4, 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Eastern. It’s an opportunity to hear from education and library experts who work to engage diverse community groups and how those programs can inform the work of public libraries.

 Presenters will include Allison Barney, youth services manager at Denver (Colo.) Public Library; Amber Creger, Youth Department director at Schaumburg Township (Ill.) District Library; Zeljana Javorek, ESL program manager at Catholic Charities of Louisville (Ky.); Sophie Maier, immigrant services librarian at Louisville (Ky.) Free Public Library; Homa Naficy, executive director of The American Place at Hartford (Conn.) Public Library; and PLA Deputy Director Scott Allen. Learn more and register.

Shared from WI Libraries For Everyone

Save the Date: PLSR Implementation Webinars