Commentary and Opinion

August 7, 2008

Changes in the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)

From: News from the New York State Archives, Region 1, August 2008

Changes in FOIL: The New York State Legislature has changed New York’s freedom of information law (FOIL). Below are some of the changes to the law which may affect how you manage your government’s records and information!

The legislation makes several amendments to §87 of the public officers law to provide guidelines for determining the actual cost of reproducing a public record when a copy of such a record is provided to the public under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) and the traditional per page photocopy fee may not be applicable. A new paragraph (C) of subdivision 1 of §87 is added to provide that the public may and can only be charged an amount equal to the hourly salary attributed to the employee or employees required to produce a copy of the record and the actual cost of the storage device or media provided to the public in complying with the FOIL request, and the actual cost to a public agency of engaging an outside professional service to produce a copy of the record or records, if the agency needs to engage an outside entity in order to comply with the FOIL request.

August 4, 2008

Real Time Text Aims to Improve Internet accdessibility for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

by David Badertscher

From: The Internet Society Newsletter, July 31, 2008.

The blossoming of multimedia content on the Internet in recent years has revolutionised personal interactions, business communications, and other online services. But for millions of Internet users with sensory disabilities, many of the communication tools remain frustratingly out of their reach.

Arnoud van Wijk, Disability Projects Coordinator for the Internet Society (ISOC), who was born deaf, knows only too well the frustration Internet users with a disability experience from many current Internet services.

July 28, 2008

Governor David Paterson To Address New Yorkers Tomorrow on the State’s Poor Fiscal Condition

by David Badertscher

From: NY1: Top Stories July 28, 2008.

July 28, 2008

“Governor David Paterson confirmed this morning that he will deliver a special address to New Yorkers tomorrow evening on the state’s poor financial condition.

July 28, 2008

U.S. Department of Justice – Allegations of Politicized Hiring

by David Badertscher

An Investigation of aAllegation of Politicized Hiring by Monica Gooding and Other Staff in the Office of the U.S. Attorney General, July 28, 2008.

To see entire Report in pdf format click here.

July 25, 2008

ABA Journal Weekly Newsletter. July 25, 2008.

by David Badertscher

Top Ten Stories of the Week ,July 25, 2008.

Law Practice Management ‘Cravath Model’ that Created Have and Have-Not Law Grads Could Implode

Jul 22, 2008, 09:00 am CDT

July 24, 2008

Selections from American Libraries Direct. July 23, 2008. 2

by David Badertscher

The eNewsletter of the American Library Association (ALA): July 23, 2008.

Child Online Protection Act gets third strike

“After a decade of federal litigation and two decisions that were returned to lower courts from the Supreme Court for further review, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals July 22 unanimously declared unconstitutional for the third time the Child Online Protection Act of 1998 on First and Fifth Amendment grounds. ‘The government has no more right to censor the internet than it does books and magazines,’ Chris Hansen, ACLU senior staff attorney, remarked after the ruling was handed down….”

July 24, 2008

Moving Library from County Courthouse to Another Building

by David Badertscher

QUESTION:

“My library’s board just learned of a plan to move our library from our wonderful space in the county courthouse, to some undecided space in another building (yet to be considered). We barely managed to stall a vote on the decision yesterday, and have just till Monday for the next meeting and vote. The County wants to convert our space to a jury room.”

“I wonder how those of you who moved from the courthouse have fared? I would appreciate any letters/messages expressing your experiences, thoughts, or ideas of help. We’re rallying as much help from all sources as possible”

July 24, 2008

The 25 Most Modern Libraries in the World

by David Badertscher

BY Christina Laun

From the Introduction:

“Libraries aren’t just musty places to store books with librarians shushing anyone who makes a peep. They’ve become much more than that and the modern library is often home to sleek architecture and the latest technology. These 25 libraries, in no particular order, demonstrate how libraries have become part of the cutting edge of information management, design and Web technology, and all of them can help you get some ideas on how to bring your library into the future.”

July 18, 2008

Seven Myths About the Specific Nature and Effect of Miranda Warnings

by David Badertscher

In their article in Criminal Justice ( “Miranda Rights…And Wrongs”,23 Crininal Justice 5-9 Summer 2008) Richard Rogers, Danies W. Shuman and Eric Drogin discuss seven myths upon which they believe”..the interpretation and application of Miranda” still rest. Here in abbreviated form are the seven myths they discuss:

Myth #1: Everyone Already Knows the Miranda Warnings

“…The criminal justice system needs to accept the falsity of the notion that ‘ everyone already knows Miranda‘ in order to begin dertermining what to communicate, how to communicate, and what to access on an individual basis”.

July 17, 2008

Selections from American Libraries Direct. July 16, 2008. 1

by David Badertscher

The e-Newsletter of the American Library Association – July 16, 2008:

Colorado book thief sentenced

“Thomas Pilaar, 34, who pleaded guilty in May to stealing thousands of items from Denver Public Library and the systems in nearby Aurora, Arapahoe County, and Douglas County, was sentenced July 8 to 10 years in prison and $53,549 in restitution. Pilaar took about 1,400 books and DVDs by checking them out on his own and other people’s library cards…”