Expect Resistance & Library Autonomous Zone

Part 1: Principal Findings: Beyond Red vs. Blue

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press has recently released its study about American politics and the 2004 election. It is the fourth such typology created by the Pew Research Center since 1987. The study found that “Overall, there are many more shades to the American political landscape than just the red and blue dividing the Electoral College maps last Nov. 2.”

Republicans have neither gained nor lost in party identification in 2005. Moreover, divisions within the Republican coalition over economic and domestic issues may loom larger in the future, given the increasing salience of these matters. The Democratic party faces its own formidable challenges, despite the fact that the public sides with them on many key values and policy questions. Their constituencies are more diverse and, while united in opposition to President Bush, the Democrats are fractured by differences over social and personal values.

Lifeboat
Birger Hj¿rland & Jeppe Nicolaisen (eds.)

This is an introduction or overview of philosopy
from the Library and Information Science (LIS) point of view. The editors explain that this is important because “LIS itself is influenced by different views of knowledge” and one needs to be able to recognize those different views. Further, they say, the “information” we deal with is also influenced by different views that we should consider in any information service.

The design of the site is simple and well organized and information is presented concisely. Think of it as a (very) mini-encyclopedia of philosophy. Here is a sample:

According to Wilson (2002), phenomenology has also been dominating information science: ÒIf we accept that ‘information science’ is predominantly a social science (and there may be those present who do not) it is particularly striking that over the past 50 years or so there has been a shift in information research from a predominantly positivist model of the world to a predominantly phenomenological perspective.Ó

Thanks to ASIS-L mailing list.

“Concept of Operations for the Future Digital System”

This report just came out in Oct.

“This Concept of Operations document provides a conceptual overview of the proposed Future Digital System. It is a living document that will be coordinated in a collaborative manner with industry, public, and Government stakeholders to ensure the viability of the concepts it presents.”

“Actions to Strengthen and Sustain GPO’s transformation”

This is report by GAO in June 2004 evaluating the Government Printing Office

Hooray for unilateralism! (he says, in his most sarcastic tone!) But there’s no oil in Cuba so why overthrow Castro? Oh yeah, it’s election season.

Report to the President: Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba

CHAPTER 1: HASTENING CUBAÕS TRANSITION As an essential part of AmericaÕs commitment to stand with the Cuban people against the tyranny of Fidel CastroÕs regime, President George W. Bush mandated that the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba identify additional means by which the United States can help the Cuban people bring about an expeditious end to the Castro dictatorship.

Taguba Report on Prisoner Abuse at Abu Ghraib is available from NPR.

Launch of the IFLA/FAIFE World Report 2003

The The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions World Report 2003 from the Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression has responses from 88 different countries.

The World Report 2003 focuses on libraries and the Internet. It discusses the digital divide, filtering and blocking of information, user privacy, financial barriers, intellectual freedom, and codes of ethics. It also considers the adoption and implementation of the IFLA Internet Manifesto and the Glasgow Declaration on Libraries, Information Services and Intellectual Freedom, which express vital principles for a free Internet supported by strong library and information services.

Shocking! According to the latest report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project, 4 of 5 students who download music don’t think about Copyright. I guess they aren’t worried about the RIAA knocking on their doors either.

Here’s a new publication from NISO called, “Metadata Demystified: A Guide for Publishers”. Written by Amy Brand, Frank Daly, and Barbara Meyers, this online book does a good, succinct job at defining what metadata is–and ISN’T–as well as describing metadata standards in the publishing industry.

Public Policy Considerations for Internet Design Decisions The
Center for Democracy and Technology’s Internet Standards, Technology and Policy Project
has issued a new draft document, “Public Policy Considerations for Internet Design Decisions,” that sets forth questions Internet engineers should ask in designing new Internet technologies.

A common assertion within the IETF is that “we don’t do public
policy.” The goal of this document is NOT to suggest that the IETF
should “do” policy in the sense of intentionally conducting extensive
debates on public policy issues. But, as much as the IETF
appropriately tries not to “do” policy, many of its actions and
decisions squarely and significantly impact on public policy
concerns. This document seeks to encourage the IETF to acknowledge
those times when a design decision might affect a policy concern, so
that the community can make a reasoned decision on whether and how to
address the concern in the particular situation.