NEWS
Canada counters book banning
OTTAWA Public Library has updated its intellectual freedom position saying it will allow users unfettered access to any information, as long as it is legal. Sonia Bebbington, CEO of Ottawa Public Library said pressure to ban was coming from the right and left, according to the Ottawa Citizen: “If the Ottawa Public Library got rid of every book that people found harmful, distasteful or offensive, there wouldn’t be a book left in the library.”
Video explores books in translation
OUTSIDE In World (OIW) has made a video to showcase its work in exploring children’s books in translation and to present its col- lection of 1,600 titles into English. “Despite living in a globalised world, very few books from other languages are translated and of these only a small per- centage are children’s books”, says Edgardo Zaghini, Outside In World co-founder and Children’s Librarian for the London Bor- ough of Bromley. See the video at
http://cuts2.com/qNjPs and the collection is now part of Near and Far World Books at the University of Ports- mouth Library
https://library.port.ac.uk/w732
White House book ban coordinator
THE Whitehouse has announced plans to appoint a coordinator in the Department of Education to lead the response to rising book bans across the US.
A statement said The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights “will appoint a new coordinator to address the growing threat that book bans pose for the civil rights of students” in order “to support its ongoing work to defend the rights of LGBTQI+ students and other underserved communities”. It said: “That coordinator will work to
provide new trainings for schools nation- wide on how book bans that target specific communities and create a hostile school environment may violate federal civil rights laws.”
8 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Welsh Government recommendations for new framework
CILIP’s voice was heard as part of a Welsh Senedd Local Government and Housing Committee. CILIP Cymru Wales’ Relationship Man- ager Amy Staniforth was appearing before the committee alongside Nicola Pitman, Chair of the Society of Chief Librarians. Both had been asked to give evidence to the committee about how libraries can have a positive impact on communities. The committee was looking at how policy should be created and how its effects can be measured, and Amy stressed the impor- tance of looking at the quality of provision – not just the quantity. She committee was seeking advice ahead of a new Welsh Library Public Standards framework. Amy highlighted a number of areas for consideration, including standards based on different professional criteria that reflect the multi-faceted role librar- ies play in their local communities. She also called for public library provision to be incentivised by the framework, point-
ing out the huge range of services that are supported by library activity.
These include developing literacy and digital skills; supporting the Welsh language via collections and activities; providing activities that prevent loneli- ness, deliver healthcare and tackle cost of living difficulties. Speaking after the event, she said: “Lib- raries provide a great opportunity for professional and career development through apprenticeships and the many different roles they offer. “What is needed is a national, joined-up approach to making libraries as effective as possible in a time of continued cuts across the board.” As well as Amy speaking directly to
com mittee members, CILIP also provided a full written response setting out key recommendations in how to provide sus- tainable library services. The response and recommendations can be down- loaded at
https://tinyurl.com/y5ezvkta.
Trump in court
DONALD Trump was in court on Tues- day 14 June to plead not guilty to 37 criminal charges against him, all related to his handling of classified documents after his presidency. He did not speak at his arraignment –
the term for a first appearance before a judge in a criminal case – but his lawyers entered his plea.
The charges are laid out in over 40 page-
long indictment (
http://cuts2.com/xDAbH) which alleges that he held “hundreds of classi- fied documents” including “information regarding defense and weapons capabili- ties of both the United States and foreign countries” information about US nuclear programmes, and potential vulnerabilities of the US and allies to military attack and
plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack. It also alleged that: “Trump endeav- ored to obstruct the FBI and grand jury investigations and conceal his continued retention of classified documents”, listing the five instances.
If convicted Trump could face a sen- tence of 20 years or more depending on whether sentences run concurrently. However, commentators believe he could try to delay the case in the hope that he will be elected president again. It has also been reported that the judge trying the case is a Trump appointee who has previously issued a series of rulings in his favour, which were later rebuked by an appeals court.
June 2023
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