Privatize Libraries? 

The Corporate Takeover of Libraries by Ruth Rikowski

The expansion of capitalism is rapidly accelerating throughout the world. This is 'global capitalism'. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) need to be seen within this context. These areas have been explored in other articles in this journal. GATS functions to open up public services to corporate capital. This has direct implications for libraries and information, which I shall explore in this article, focusing in particular on public libraries (although many of the arguments can be applied to other types of libraries as well). As Angela Watson in the Best Returns report on Best Value in public libraries says:

"Government does not believe that it is in the public interest for any single supplier to dominate service provision, either locally or nationally. It is looking for variety in the way services are delivered, and a mix of service providers from the public, private and voluntary sectors. The aim is to improve the performance and competitiveness of services, not create a particular mode of provision." (2001, p.8)

Where will the logic of global capitalism take us? It would appear that it leads to the commodification of all that surrounds us. Within this context, the privatisation and commodification of libraries and information will be a small part in the overall trajectory; yet a vital part nonetheless. [read more]

Newsstand 

Vol. 7, Number 2 - February 4th 2002 First Monday

Intellectual Freedom 

Intellectual Freedom Round Table

The Intellectual Freedom Round Table (IFRT) provides a forum for the discussion of activities, programs and problems in intellectual freedom of libraries and librarians; serves as a channel of communications on intellectual freedom matters; promotes a greater opportunity for involvement among the members of the ALA in defense of intellectual freedom; promotes a greater feeling of responsibility in the implementation of ALA policies on intellectual freedom.

Book Repair Manual 

From Preservation Services, Dartmouth College Library, A Simple Book Repair Manual

Love is in the air 

{pictureRef(, align:"right")} It's Library Lovers' Month!!!

Library Lovers' Month is a month-long celebration of school, public, and private libraries of all types. This is a time for everyone, especially library support groups, to recognize the value of libraries and to work to assure that the Nation's libraries will continue to serve.

How To Love Your Library

Take A Librarian To Lunch

Renovation? 

CENTRAL LIBRARY FIX-UP: Critics say 'weeding' more like clear-cutting by Charles Yoo

Hundreds of books and periodicals are being removed from shelves at the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library downtown.

The items are going as part of a $3.1 million renovation of the library that calls for adding materials and computers, according to library officials.

Some folks, however, are angry at the change. They say the removal is butchery of the library's collection by a tyrannical administration. [read more]

Oh, the horror! 

Stephen King ready to close book as writer?

Is Stephen King hanging it up?

The prolific King of Horror said as much in an interview in Sunday's Los Angeles Times.

After he publishes five more books, two of which already are scheduled for 2002 -- including a collection of short stories -- as well as work on a limited series for ABC, he's ending his career in publishing, he said.

"Then that's it. I'm done. Done writing books," he told the Times' Kim Murphy.

Why? he was asked.

"You get to a point where you get to the edges of a room, and you can go back and go where you've been and basically recycle stuff," he said. [read more]