Europeans say Internet access is “fundamental right”

Librarians around the world can rejoice as some of us are finally asking the right question: “Is Internet access a fundamental right?” The European Parliament is suggesting that it is.

The latest news is how the European Union wants Internet Accessibility to become a basic human right, just behind freedom of expression. On Wednesday the 3-strikes amendment (you’re out after copyright infringement) proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy was defeated —  making it illegal for any EU country to introduce a law that allows someones Internet connection to be disconnected without first being found guilty in court. First human rights and now the protection of “net freedoms” for European citizens!

Recognizing Internet access as a fundamental right, the Commission said that “any measures taken regarding access to or use of services and applications through electronic communications networks must respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, including in relation to privacy, freedom of expression and access to information and education, as well as due process”. – Business Week

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International Twittering Libraries Map: is Twitter a privilege?

This list of Twittering international libraries is stolen from lindyjb from Oregon State University — but I see she has already gotten lots of feedback from libraries around the world. Most of the libraries listed are located in the United States, Canada, or Europe (specifically the UK and France).

I wonder if this is evidence that twitter is a western luxury, for those with white collar jobs, free time and plentiful –  and often free – Internet access. (ahem, librarians?) Computers, and more often,  Internet access are very limited in rural developing countries. Likewise tweeting may just not be an option people where phone services are scarce and often largely a shared expense between families.

I created a map mash-up of where the list of non-US library twitterers are (list is still in development):

Know of more, maybe on other continents? Let me know!

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Iran Hosts International Archive Conference

For the first time in more than a decade, Iran will be the host of the West Asian Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives (SWARBICA) Congress. Hosting the conference will be the Iran National Library and Archive (INLA) headquartered in Tehran.

According to the Tehran Times, Iran has not actively participate in the congress for ten years, and INLA director Ali-Akbar Ashari said Iran has not hosted since 1997.

“Also among their other programs are visiting the national library, Golestan Museum, the main building of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the National Museum of Iran, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as holding talks with cultural officials,” she said.

The national archive members branches of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal will attend.

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Ethiopia to build national online library system

In an effort to expand the reach of the limited reference materials available to universities across the nation, the Ethiopian Ministry of Education (MoE) is finalizing its preparations to launch a nationwide electronic library system. The online database will hold all available books and other reference records from government universities, including all 21 state run universities. The government also hopes to increase its post-graduate programs through online education.

Presenting a nine months performance report to parliament last Thursday, Education Minister Demeke Mekonnen said installment, inspection and other support for the system will be provided by independent companies for a period of three years.
The education ministry says setbacks, such as a lack of adequate copies of books and even absence of essential books in some university, will be eased as all the books university offer students will be a click away.

Taken from ethioplanet. More information online at the Ethiopian Ministry of Education.

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Jane Addams Children’s Peace Book Awards Announced

Winners of the 2009The Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards have been released:

• Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai, written and illustrated by Claire A. Nivola
• The Surrender Tree:  Poems of Cuba’s Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
• The Storyteller’s Candle/La velita de los cuentos, Story/Cuento Lucía González, Illustrations/Illustraciones Lulu Delacre
• Silent Music:  A Story of Baghdad written and illustrated by James Rumford
• The Shepherd’s Granddaughter by Anne Laurel Carter
• Ain’t Nothing But a Man:  My Quest to Find the Real John Henry, by Scott Reynolds Nelson with Marc Aronson

The Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards are given annually to the children’s JACBA Book Sealbooks published the preceding year that effectively promote the cause of peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races as well as meeting conventional standards for excellence.

For additional information about the Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards, see www.janeaddamspeace.org.

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