September 28, 2007

RIGHT TO KNOW DAY

"On 28 September 2002 Freedom of Information organizations from various countries around the globe meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria, created a network of Freedom of Information Advocates (FOIA Network) and agreed to collaborate in promotion of the individual right of access to information and open, transparent governance. The group of FOI Advocates also proposed that 28 September be nominated as international "Right to Know Day" in order to symbolize the global movement for promotion of the right to information. The aim of having a Right to Know Day is to raise awareness of the right to information. It is a day on which freedom of information activists from around the world can use further to promote this fundamental human right and to campaign for open, democratic societies in which there is full citizen empowerment and participation in government."

See also:
http://www.infosummit.ca/

The Committee of Concerned Librarians, CCL - its brief history.

Five librarians met at an informal setting in December of 2004 to discuss amongst many concerns, the gradual deskilling or deprofessionalization of librarians. It was agreed that this issue, and others of a professional nature, went largely unrepresented. It was recognized that this was, in part, due to the absence of a solely professional organization to advocate on behalf of librarians.

As the group grew to include librarians from various municipalities and as these concerns and situations echoed throughout these various library systems, The Committee of Concerned Librarians, CCL was formed. Although loss of subject expertise, the weakening of collections, and the displacement of librarians at the reference desk were clearly the catalysts by which these professionals came together, it was their shared concern for the profession and the future of libraries, their collections and services, that united them. The group has met numerous times since the winter of 2004. Progress has been rather slow but enthusiasm, and the belief that the creation of a professional association is a possibility, has never been lacking.


What the group hopes to accomplish with the creation of such an association?

-to affirm that librarians are highly educated, highly trained
-to advocate on the behalf of librarians in terms of pay equity, professional recognition, etc.
-to ensure that the profession's core values remain valid.
For example: stewardship, which former ALA President Michael Gorman described in these words, "We are responsible for the human transcript today and tomorrow"

The group maintains this blog that features many comments on the topic of deprofessionalization as well as others of a professional nature.

The group would also like to thank its many supporters from Canada, the United States and Europe!