================================================================= ALAWON Volume 6, Number 118 ISSN 1069-7799 December 18, 1997 American Library Association Washington Office Newsline In this issue: (106 lines) SAMPLE LETTERS FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE RE: REQUEST FOR COSPONSORSHIP OF CRITICAL COPYRIGHT LEGISLATION _________________________________________________________________ NOTE: This message, and important supporting material, has been transmitted in 3 parts. This ALAWON is part 2 of 3. NOTE: To contact your Senators or Representatives, one source is a Library of Congress compilation at http://lcweb.loc.gov/global/legislative/email.html. SAMPLE LETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Hon. (Name of Representative) United States House of Representatives Room #, (Cannon, Longworth, or Rayburn) House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Re: Request for Cosponsorship of Critical Copyright Legislation Dear Representative (Last Name): I recently learned that bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the House by Reps. Rick Boucher of Virginia and Tom Campbell of California which would broadly update United States copyright law for the future in a way that will both protect the owners of information and continue to allow librarians and educators access to information under reasonable circumstances. I am writing to you today to ask that you lend your name to that legislation, the Digital Era Copyright Enhancement Act, which has been assigned number H.R. 3048. As a [librarian/school librarian/library user/library trustee/friend of libraries], I feel strongly that any changes made to the Copyright Act must be balanced in a way that allows the benefits of the Internet to reach all sectors of society, especially library users and students. The Boucher/Campbell bill will accomplish this very important goal in several important ways. When Congress reconvenes in January, please add your name to H.R. 3048 as a cosponsor. Thank you for your assistance in this important debate. Sincerely, _________________________________________________________________ SAMPLE LETTER FOR MEMBERS OF THE SENATE Hon. (Full Name) United States Senate Room #, (Dirkson, Hart, or Russell)Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Re: Request for Cosponsorship of Critical Copyright Legislation Dear Senator (Last Name): I recently learned that legislation has been introduced by Senator John Ashcroft of Missouri which would broadly update United States copyright law for cyberspace in a way that will both protect the owners of information and continue to allow librarians and educators access to information under reasonable circumstances. I am writing to you today to ask that you lend your name to that legislation, the Digital Copyright Clarification and Technology Education Act, which has been assigned number S. 1146. As a [librarian/school librarian/library user/library trustee/friend of libraries], I feel strongly that any changes made to the Copyright Act must be balanced in a way that allows the benefits of the Internet to reach all sectors of society, especially library users and school children. The Ashcroft bill will accomplish this very important goal in several important ways. When Congress reconvenes in January, please add your name to S. 1146 as a cosponsor. Thank you for your assistance in this important debate. Sincerely, _________________________________________________________________ ALAWON is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc @ala.org. To unsubscribe, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/ washoff/alawon. Visit our Web site at http://www.alawash.org. ALA Washington Office 202.628.8410 (V) 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, #403 202.628.8419 (F) Washington, DC 20004-1701 800.941.8478 (V) Lynne E. Bradley, Editor Deirdre Herman, Managing Editor Contributors: Adam Eisgrau All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. =================================================================