Deep Thinking

I posted this rant on LM_NET today. I am tired of listening to people tell me they are too busy to take action. Everyone finds time to do the activities they give the highest priorities. Activism politically is something that school librarians consider beyond their comfort zone. I hope that someone gets angry enough by my letter that they actually do something. Maybe we all need a little more righteous anger.

I have been very busy the past month with some serious health issues, but have been monitoring the posts on MySpace and on DOPA. I did write each of my congressman about DOPA. Have each of you? The message has gone out there. I am copying again the information from the ALA Washington Office at the bottom of this email, but here is my concern. Too many school librarians do not care enough about their students and their profession to get involved. I am not cutting any slack here. I am not willing to listen to excuses about you being too busy. I just finished an 85 hour work week and am raising 4 teenagers. When I walked the halls of Congress two weeks ago during National Library Legislative Day, the majority of your representatives have never heard from you. They know you want money to fund school libraries, but they really don’t think you care about any other issues because they don’t hear from you. They don’t get a one minute phone call using the toll-free number saying simply “My name is ____, I’m a school librarian and I want you to …….” In this case, oppose DOPA. You don’t have to think through long letters. The ALA-Washington Office provides a form letter that you can simply sign on to from their new advocacy page http://www.onlineadvocacy.net/ . Bloggers like Doug Johnson (http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/blue-skunk-blog/ ), David Warlick (http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/ ), Will Richardson (http://weblogg-ed.com/2006/dopa-letter-wiki/ ), and Liz Ditz ( http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2006/05/opposing_dopa_m.html ) have all provided copies of their letters. Simply saying that it’s the end of the year and you are too busy is not sufficient. Change and action will only come when we take action. You cannot afford to sit at the other end of these emails and hope that someone else somewhere else is responding because you are too busy. Make yourselves heard. Don’t just tell me about it! Tell your representative. Today! I’ve sent my letters out. Will you send out yours?

ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 15, Number 53
May 12, 2006

In This Issue: Bill would extend reach of CIPA by blocking access to
collaborative networking sites

This week Reps. Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Kirk (R-IL) introduced
legislation that, if passed, would expand the law requiring libraries to
block certain Internet content or lose federal funding.

Action Needed:

Please call your Member of Congress today and ask him or her to oppose
DOPA (H.R. 5319, Deleting Online Predators Act). The proposed law is
unnecessary and would block access to a broad array of useful web
resources and applications. Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

Background:

DOPA (H.R. 5319, Deleting Online Predators Act) would require schools
and libraries to block access to a broad selection of web content
including “commercial Web sites that let users create Web pages or
profiles or offer communication with other users via forums, chat rooms,
e-mail or instant messaging.” If passed, the bill would block users from
accessing sites like MySpace from schools or libraries, as well as
access to a wide array of other content and technologies such as instant
messaging, online email, wikis and blogs.

Tell your Members of Congress:

Schools and libraries are required under CIPA to block obscene or
offensive internet content. DOPA is not necessary.
DOPA is much too broad. The bill proposes to block access to beneficial
collaborative web applications and resources.
Education is the best way to protect children from online predators.
Blocking websites does not protect children- teaching them to use the
Internet responsibly and safely does.

Please call you Members of Congress today! Capitol Switchboard number
is 202-224-3121.
******

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diane R. Chen, Library Information Specialist
Hickman Elementary, 112 Stewart’s Ferry Pike
Nashville, TN 37214 TEL: 615 884-4026
Personal Email: DianeRChen@comcast.net
Work Email: diane.chen@mnps.org
AASL Legislation Committee Chair