ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 31 March 26, 1999 In this issue: [1] ALA to Co-Sponsor Satellite Teleconference on Copyright [2] LC's Center for the Book Requests Descriptions of Reading Promotion Projects [1] ALA to Co-Sponsor Satellite Teleconference on Copyright The American Library Association is joining several other library associations to sponsor a teleconference to explore recent changes in copyright law. "Copyright in the New Millennium: The Impact of Recent Changes to U.S. Copyright Law" will be held on Friday, May 21, 1999 from 12 noon-3:00 p.m. EST. Changes to copyright law enacted by Congress last year have significant implications for libraries, archives, and institutions of higher education. In 1998 the 105th Congress passed two bills to amend the 1976 Copyright Act: (1) the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), intended to update copyright law for the digital age in selected arenas, and (2) the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, which gives copyright owners another 20 years of copyright protection for their works. A distinguished panel of experts will describe the new laws, and discuss their implications for libraries, archives, and educational institutions who are struggling to understand how best to respond to the new requirements of DMCA. Also to be discussed are strategies for the library community as it engages in the ongoing studies required by the law and confronts pending database and distance learning legislation. The teleconference, to be hosted by George Washington University Library, is sponsored by ALA in collaboration with the Association of Research Libraries, the American Association of Law Libraries, the Medical Library Association, and the Special Libraries Association. It is one of several educational and support activities on DMCA planned by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. Attendees will be provided with preconference reading materials and offered the opportunity to direct questions to the speakers. Site registrations for the live satellite broadcast are available. There is no limit to the number of participants at a site. Registered sites are allowed to make one videotape copy of the teleconference. Videotapes of the program will also be made available shortly after the teleconference. The registration fee is $350.00 per site if registered by Wednesday, May 5 and $400.00 afterwards. The registration form is available through the Association of Research Libraries at http://www.arl.org/dmca/video.html. For further information, see the ARL site, or contact Rick Weingarten at the Office for Information Technology Policy, rww@alawash.org or 1- 800-941-8478. [2] LC's Center for the Book Requests Descriptions of Reading Promotion Projects In 2000, to celebrate the Library of Congress's bicentennial and the final year of the theme, "Building A Nation of Readers," the Center for the Book is calling libraries, schools, and organizations to submit a brief description of their reading promotion projects. The projects will be posted on the Center's Web site (http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/) during the coming year and later produced in print form. To participate, send a brief description of a reading promotion project (50 words or less); the name of the library, school, or organization; city, state; contact name; and phone number or e- mail. (This information will not be posted on the Web site.) Submit entries by e-mail to cfbook@loc.gov, by fax to 202-707- 0269, or mail to Reading Promotion Projects, The Center for the Book, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20540-4920. Entries will be accepted through the close of business April 10, 2000. The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, created by an Act of Congress (Public Law 95-129) in 1977, was established to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and libraries and to encourage the study of books and print culture. Within the Library of Congress, the center is a focal point for celebrating the legacy of books and the printed word. Outside the Library, the center works closely with other organizations to foster understanding of the vital role of books, reading, libraries and literacy in society. On behalf of books and reading, the Center for the Book serves as an advocate, a catalyst, and a source of ideas -- both nationally and internationally. ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Editor: Lynne E. Bradley; Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Phyllis Albritton, Mary Costabile, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.