Comments on: ALA Contradicts Itself With Verizon Grant http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/ The library weblog dedicated to resources for keeping current and professional development Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:42:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kathleen de la Peña McCook http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24928 Kathleen de la Peña McCook Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:23:35 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24928 It is ACLU that is filing..I hope ALA joins in: ACLU Sues Over Unconstitutional Dragnet Wiretapping Law (7/10/2008);Group Also Asks Secret Intelligence Court Not To Exclude Public From Any Proceedings On New Law's Constitutionality. http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/35942prs20080710.html It is ACLU that is filing..I hope ALA joins in:
ACLU Sues Over Unconstitutional Dragnet Wiretapping Law (7/10/2008);Group Also Asks Secret Intelligence Court Not To Exclude Public From Any Proceedings On New Law’s Constitutionality.
http://www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/35942prs20080710.html

]]> By: Kathleen de la Peña McCook http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24927 Kathleen de la Peña McCook Sat, 12 Jul 2008 01:38:53 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24927 It is tough to refuse because it is easy to get marginalized. But that is the price for taking a stand sometimes. I have not participated in any of the Laura Bush grants because I disagree with the naming of our future students on their resumes, for their whole careers as "Laura Bush Fellows."...yet the grants have helped many people. But the program existed in a different form at Title II and was not used for branding. These are not easy questions, but I do not think ALA should take Verizon money if we are filing a suit. I am glad we are filing the suit. The book below offers more discussion on this issue. I think we should take a side. [the print in this box is so tiny I can't review what I've said] ======= Questioning Library Neutrality: Essays from Progressive Librarian. Joseph Good critiques neutrality as a form of moral relativism in "The Hottest Place in Hell." Here at the beginning of the twenty-first century, "neutrality" no longer means "impartiality" or "objectivity," but too often lapses into what might be better termed "indifference." Editor: Alison Lewis Price: $18.00 Published: April 2008 http://libraryjuicepress.com/neutrality.php It is tough to refuse because it is easy to get marginalized. But that is the price for taking a stand sometimes. I have not participated in any of the Laura Bush grants because I disagree with the naming of our future students on their resumes, for their whole careers as “Laura Bush Fellows.”…yet the grants have helped many people. But the program existed in a different form at Title II and was not used for branding.
These are not easy questions, but I do not think ALA should take Verizon money if we are filing a suit. I am glad we are filing the suit. The book below offers more discussion on this issue. I think we should take a side.
[the print in this box is so tiny I can't review what I've said]

=======
Questioning Library Neutrality: Essays from Progressive Librarian.

Joseph Good critiques neutrality as a form of moral relativism in “The Hottest Place in Hell.” Here at the beginning of the twenty-first century, “neutrality” no longer means “impartiality” or “objectivity,” but too often lapses into what might be better termed “indifference.”
Editor: Alison Lewis
Price: $18.00
Published: April 2008
http://libraryjuicepress.com/neutrality.php

]]> By: Davin http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24912 Davin Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:22:00 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24912 There's a long history of divestment and other organized economic boycotts of both countries and corporations. Is it possible to look at this argument in that context? There’s a long history of divestment and other organized economic boycotts of both countries and corporations. Is it possible to look at this argument in that context?

]]> By: Jenny Levine http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24911 Jenny Levine Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:31:19 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24911 Steven, I was directly addressing your question "What happens when ALA lobbies harder against FISA and Verizon’s role in it?" ALA has lobbied against Verizon's stance on other issues such as net neutrality despite receiving grant money for literacy programs for ten years. The same is true here, and this grant won't change our stance or efforts to fight the FISA (or any other) bill, as we've proven with past lobbying initiatives. In that sense, the historical record is "very* important, and it's a long, well-established one. ALA has never caved on an issue like this, grant or no grant, and it's important to recognize that when throwing around terms like contradiction, bribe, and "slap in the face." As Jeff Scott noted on FriendFeed, "The reality of the wiretapping is that it is the GOVERNMENT using Verizon to get at your data, THEN making sure Verizon doesn't get in trouble for it. Who should you be upset with?" I understand that you view this as a conflict of values, but literacy is also a core value for ALA, one we take very seriously in order to promote books and reading. Steven, I was directly addressing your question “What happens when ALA lobbies harder against FISA and Verizon’s role in it?” ALA has lobbied against Verizon’s stance on other issues such as net neutrality despite receiving grant money for literacy programs for ten years. The same is true here, and this grant won’t change our stance or efforts to fight the FISA (or any other) bill, as we’ve proven with past lobbying initiatives.

In that sense, the historical record is “very* important, and it’s a long, well-established one. ALA has never caved on an issue like this, grant or no grant, and it’s important to recognize that when throwing around terms like contradiction, bribe, and “slap in the face.”

As Jeff Scott noted on FriendFeed, “The reality of the wiretapping is that it is the GOVERNMENT using Verizon to get at your data, THEN making sure Verizon doesn’t get in trouble for it. Who should you be upset with?”

I understand that you view this as a conflict of values, but literacy is also a core value for ALA, one we take very seriously in order to promote books and reading.

]]> By: Adri http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24910 Adri Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:18:29 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24910 Verizon foundation vs. Verizon - one definitely wouldn't be here today without the other, right? Not saying there isn't great literacy work being funded by grants from the Foundation arm of Verizon - but Steven poses a very good ethical question that needs to be asked. Do I think ALA should return the money? No - they wrote the grant good for them. Should ALA look at their ethics before applying for future grants to see if the parent organization of the granter coincides with the profession's ethics - most definitely. Verizon foundation vs. Verizon – one definitely wouldn’t be here today without the other, right?

Not saying there isn’t great literacy work being funded by grants from the Foundation arm of Verizon – but Steven poses a very good ethical question that needs to be asked.

Do I think ALA should return the money? No – they wrote the grant good for them. Should ALA look at their ethics before applying for future grants to see if the parent organization of the granter coincides with the profession’s ethics – most definitely.

]]> By: Steven Cohen http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24909 Steven Cohen Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:18:14 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24909 Jenny: The Verizon Foundation is directly linked to Verizon as a philanthropic unit of the company. BigCo's with foundations do this all of the time. Their web site links to many of the verizon.com pages (like the corporate responsibility site and others). And even if they aren't part of the same company (which they most certainly are), the perception (as far as I saw it) is that they are. Perception is sometimes more important (from a PR perspective) than reality. It also doesn't matter to me what ALA and Verizon have done together in the past. That's the past and they have a historical relationship. They have done wonders for literacy and I applaud them for that. But it doesn't explain the fact that Verizon is now not fighting the government on privacy issues (Why would they? They are saving themselves a huge load of money. They are doing what BigCo's do) But for ALA to <B>continue</B> to take money from Verizon, based on Verizon's current views on privacy, is, in my opinion, staggering. Money, apparently, is more important that core values. Jenny: The Verizon Foundation is directly linked to Verizon as a philanthropic unit of the company. BigCo’s with foundations do this all of the time. Their web site links to many of the verizon.com pages (like the corporate responsibility site and others). And even if they aren’t part of the same company (which they most certainly are), the perception (as far as I saw it) is that they are. Perception is sometimes more important (from a PR perspective) than reality.

It also doesn’t matter to me what ALA and Verizon have done together in the past. That’s the past and they have a historical relationship. They have done wonders for literacy and I applaud them for that.

But it doesn’t explain the fact that Verizon is now not fighting the government on privacy issues (Why would they? They are saving themselves a huge load of money. They are doing what BigCo’s do) But for ALA to continue to take money from Verizon, based on Verizon’s current views on privacy, is, in my opinion, staggering.

Money, apparently, is more important that core values.

]]> By: Steven Cohen http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24908 Steven Cohen Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:04:27 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24908 Erik: ALA is lobbying against an amendment which directly relates to a company that will benefit hugely (we're talking tens of millions of dollars from civil suits) from the passing of said amendment. While I may have gone a bit overboard about it being a bribe, it's just odd that ALA will continue to take money from a company that goes against one of the main core-values of the organization. If Verizon faught as heavily against FISA as they used to with other privacy issues (remember when they wouldn't hand over data for file sharing services), then I would have no problem. But, they are now purposefully taking a back seat to governmental wants to save their bottom line (and bottoms) and I find that deplorable. Erik: ALA is lobbying against an amendment which directly relates to a company that will benefit hugely (we’re talking tens of millions of dollars from civil suits) from the passing of said amendment. While I may have gone a bit overboard about it being a bribe, it’s just odd that ALA will continue to take money from a company that goes against one of the main core-values of the organization. If Verizon faught as heavily against FISA as they used to with other privacy issues (remember when they wouldn’t hand over data for file sharing services), then I would have no problem. But, they are now purposefully taking a back seat to governmental wants to save their bottom line (and bottoms) and I find that deplorable.

]]> By: Jenny Levine http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24906 Jenny Levine Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:36:40 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24906 First of all, the grant is from the Verizon Foundation, not Verizon. Second of all, ALA has partnered with the Verizon Foundation for years to promote literacy. Verizon and its predecessor GTE has had a long standing relationship with the American Library Association for 10 years from 1999-2008, with financial support totaling $2,790,000. This partnership has been built around the theme of building and growing libraries role in literacy, starting in 1999 to build a national web of literacy coalitions and encouraging the development and growth of new literacy coalitions. From the start it was the objective of the two organizations to use innovative, technology-based initiatives to improve library literacy services. From the foundation of the first grant, ALA and the Verizon Foundation built <a href="http://www.buildliteracy.org/" rel="nofollow">BuildLiteracy.org</a>, designed to make literacy and library information more easily accessible to other non profit literacy organizations (NCFL, Reading is Fundamental and National Coalition for Literacy)and the general public and linking to the Verizon Literacy Network. That more than $2.5 million has done *a lot* of good for literacy in this country. It wasn't a bribe then (hence the fact that we're still fighting the FISA bill), and it isn't now. The gaming and literacy initiative is an extension of work we've been doing together for ten years. First of all, the grant is from the Verizon Foundation, not Verizon. Second of all, ALA has partnered with the Verizon Foundation for years to promote literacy.

Verizon and its predecessor GTE has had a long standing relationship with the American Library Association for 10 years from 1999-2008, with financial support totaling $2,790,000. This partnership has been built around the theme of building and growing libraries role in literacy, starting in 1999 to build a national web of literacy coalitions and encouraging the development and growth of new literacy coalitions.

From the start it was the objective of the two organizations to use innovative, technology-based initiatives to improve library literacy services. From the foundation of the first grant, ALA and the Verizon Foundation built BuildLiteracy.org, designed to make literacy and library information more easily accessible to other non profit literacy organizations (NCFL, Reading is Fundamental and National Coalition for Literacy)and the general public and linking to the Verizon Literacy Network.

That more than $2.5 million has done *a lot* of good for literacy in this country. It wasn’t a bribe then (hence the fact that we’re still fighting the FISA bill), and it isn’t now. The gaming and literacy initiative is an extension of work we’ve been doing together for ten years.

]]> By: Erik Sandall http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24905 Erik Sandall Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:36:30 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24905 "So, ALA has contradicted itself. While they continue to fight for privacy rights, they will just as easily take funds from the same company that they are trying to lobby against." The ALA is "lobbying" against a congressional legislative amendment, not a company. Surely, money like this does not come easily to the ALA. While I think Verizon's participation in warrantless wiretapping is shameful, and wish the practice stopped altogether, I have no problem with ALA taking money from Verizon and using the funds to benefit librarians and the people we serve. And this is almost certainly not a bribe--why would Verizon need to pay off little ol' ALA when they clearly have a strong lobby in Congress? /Erik Sandall /MLIS Candidate, 2009 /San Jose State University “So, ALA has contradicted itself. While they continue to fight for privacy rights, they will just as easily take funds from the same company that they are trying to lobby against.”

The ALA is “lobbying” against a congressional legislative amendment, not a company.

Surely, money like this does not come easily to the ALA. While I think Verizon’s participation in warrantless wiretapping is shameful, and wish the practice stopped altogether, I have no problem with ALA taking money from Verizon and using the funds to benefit librarians and the people we serve.

And this is almost certainly not a bribe–why would Verizon need to pay off little ol’ ALA when they clearly have a strong lobby in Congress?

/Erik Sandall
/MLIS Candidate, 2009
/San Jose State University

]]> By: Edana http://www.librarystuff.net/2008/07/08/alacontradictsitself-with-verizon/comment-page-1/#comment-24904 Edana Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:23:45 +0000 http://www.librarystuff.net/?p=4807#comment-24904 Keith Olbermann, taking a "truth is never pure and rarely simple" point of view, offered the following: "...the House FISA bill does not EXCLUDE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION (only civil lawsuits) of those who were involved in breaking the law(s) of this country back in 2001...there is a light at the end of this tunnel!" You can read the complete post by googling (oops) keith olberman FISA obama. ;-) Keith Olbermann, taking a “truth is never pure and rarely simple” point of view, offered the following:

“…the House FISA bill does not EXCLUDE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION (only civil lawsuits) of those who were involved in breaking the law(s) of this country back in 2001…there is a light at the end of this tunnel!”

You can read the complete post by googling (oops) keith olberman FISA obama. ;-)

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