ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 8, Number 114
November 3, 1999

In this issue:

Action Alert:  Database Update; Keep the Pressure On

The database vote on H.R. 354 could still happen at any time (see 
the October 28 ALAWON at 
http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon/alwn8110.html ). Although recent 
grassroots efforts helped to promote discussions of possible 
changes to the bill with the committee staffs involved, those 
discussions seem to be stalled.  

It is urgent that you continue to contact your Representative (the 
U.S. Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121) and emphasize 
that the library and broader user community DOES NOT support H.R. 
354, nor do recent changes to the bill meet our concerns. The 
American public stands to lose basic, long standing public access 
to facts. H.R. 354 includes an exemption for education and 
research  activities that is far too narrow; recent improvements 
to the bill are not adequate. For more information, see 
http://www.databasedata.org .

We will keep you updated as more information becomes available. If 
you have any questions or concerns, please contact Miriam Nisbet, 
Legislative Counsel, at 202-628-8410 or mmn@alawash.org .

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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:  Sally Benson, Mary 
Costabile, Peter Kaplan, Miriam Nisbet, Carrie Russell, Emily 
Sheketoff, Saundra Shirley, Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.