Library Survey & Copyright

1. Library Survey: March 3^rd to 14^th

It’s that time again…the Library @ Mohawk wants to hear from you! From March 3rd to March 14th, you will be invited to complete the LibQUAL+ User Perception Survey. This is a very long name for an online survey that will only take 8 or 9 minutes of your time.

Don’t be shy – this is a great chance to let us know your opinions so we can make improvements to the Library‘s services and programs. Tell us what you think – the good and the bad (or not so bad) and you will be entered to win some great prizes like an iPod touch. The Library @ Mohawk is your library so make it count.

Check out The BRAIN or for more information on the survey.

2. Canadian Copyright Law Changes

The Government is looking at changes to our copyright law right now and since copyright affects us all, we thought we’d give you some info about what’s going on. The process hasn’t been that transparent so I can tell you more about who has been lobbying the government and what they’re requesting. In particular, the Canadian Library Association has sent some recommendations to the Government. I reprint portions of their letter to the Minister of Industry, Jim Prentice and the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Josée Verner:

“First, should there be new copyright legislation, it needs to be carefully crafted so that it punishes copyright-infringing behaviour but does not ban devices that might be used to circumvent technological prevention measures. These devices have legitimate uses, such as enabling the print disabled to access copyrighted material; allowing libraries to preserve and maintain digital collections; allowing ordinary Canadians to exercise fair dealing; and allowing anyone to access protected material after its copyright expires. To ban the manufacture or distribution of “circumvention” devices risks punishing all Canadians for the actions of a few who abuse copyright….

Second, the government needs to recognize that government documents and government data belong to all Canadians and that all Canadians should have liberal access to these materials. Canadians often pay for government information several times over. For example, provincial and municipal governments must purchase Statistics Canada census material that Canadian taxpayers have already paid for once. Crown copyright needs to ensure that nonprofit use by Canadians of all government information doesn’t require permission or payment from the government. Instead acknowledgment that information has been taken from a government source should be sufficient.

Third, persons with perceptual disabilities must have the same right to access copyrighted materials as all Canadians have. This right should apply regardless of format in order to accommodate their particular needs. Legislation is required to give persons with perceptual disabilities access equity with others. The desire to punish counterfeiters and pirates should not also punish persons with perceptual disabilities by banning devices that can be used to legitimately access material that is blocked to them by technical protection measures.”

If you would like more information here are some places to look:

Canadian Library Association

Canadian Association of University Teachers

http://www.michaelgeist.ca (Michael is a Canadian coyright guru, he a law professor at the University of Ottawa where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law)

Next week, it’s all about Net Neutrality! Stay Tuned.

Killer aps and Good Causes

Last time I posted about the importance of PD, I’ll tell you about my conference next. First though, a reminder to mark May 28, 29 and 30^th in your calendar. This year Mohawk College and the good people in the Centre for Teaching and Learning are hosting This is I.T. Don’t know about this conference? Here’s a quote from the website, “This Is IT! has been the province’s premiere instructional technology conference since its inception in 1994. This year marks the official name change from This Is IT! to Advancing Learning, reflective of the conference’s focus on teaching and learning.”

The Ontario Library Association’s annual Super Conference is a big one for us library types. Over 4500 people attended, not quite as many as the annual American Library Association conference, but check out this clip to get the idea. Super Conference is always a great learning and networking experience. A special nod goes out to our own Jenn Horwath, the Ontario College and University Association’s Academic Librarian of the Year. A well deserved honour for Jenn. We miss her and look forward to her return from sabbatical in the fall.

Super Conference featured some non-librarian keynote speakers whom I found to be particularly inspiring this year. Irshad Manji who wrote The Trouble with Islam: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in her Faith spoke about what inspired her to write the book. Brave is the word that comes to mind to describe Ms. Manji. Elizabeth May also spoke at the conference, her lifelong dedication to the environment is really amazing. A colleague and I have quietly talked about how to inspire some “greening” around the college. Stay tuned for more.

My trusted source Resource Shelf has lots of good stuff to share as usual. I’ve found a new website to monitor: KillerStartups.com! In their own words, they, “…review 30+ internet startups per working day.” They allow visitors to vote on the ones that they think might become “killers”. I don’t know if this one will become a killer but anyone creative will be impressed by the new online sketchpad at OffType.net. It is really easy to use, comes with a scalable colour palette and an adjustable drawing tool. You can save or print the images you create – you can even save them online right on OffType. Give it a try or show it to your students, its lots of fun.

Also found on Resource Shelf, the World Almanac, that wonderful provider of facts and “this day in history” information has an e-newsletter. The World Almanac blog is in BRAINlinks, they do a daily post with an update of facts and events related to that day’s date. The e-newsletter is more comprehensive than the blog and it’ll come right to your inbox. This is a great way to find little tidbits to share with your students, start conversations etc. Or just to enjoy for its own sake if you’re a fact geek like me!

To end on a green (and charitable) note, another neat find on KillerStartups. It’s a new social networking site based on doing good works: GoodCircle.org. A clipping: ” … find and join people, friends, groups, and organizations who are involved in and support the same things you do. Search by name, idea, cause, belief, event, organization, community.” Check it out, maybe it’ll help you or your students find some help with a favourite cause.