Kathleen de la Peña McCook of A Librarian at Every Table has some concerns about one of the lists she subscribes to. Here are her comments:
The National Institute for Literacy has several discussion lists including one on poverty and literacy. Advocacy is not permitted. Increasingly, government lists are using \”advocacy\” as a reason to restrict discussion. I have seen this happen on other lists which become impotent bulletin boards rather than robust public fora once the \”advocacy\” filters are in place. This is the announcement from the NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LITERACY sent to subscribers. [full text follows. Click the \”Read Some More…\” link below.]
Note, tho, that information is provided for NLA.
Kathleen de la Peña McCook of A Librarian at Every Table has some concerns about one of the lists she subscribes to. Here are her comments:
The National Institute for Literacy has several discussion lists including one on poverty and literacy. Advocacy is not permitted. Increasingly, government lists are using \”advocacy\” as a reason to restrict discussion. I have seen this happen on other lists which become impotent bulletin boards rather than robust public fora once the \”advocacy\” filters are in place. This is the announcement from the NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LITERACY sent to subscribers. [full text follows. Click the \”Read Some More…\” link below.]
Note, tho, that information is provided for NLA.— Forwarded message follows ——-
Date sent: Fri, 23 May 2003 20:23:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: [email protected]
Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:1130] Message from Sandra Baxter,
NIFL Interim Director
To: Multiple recipients of list
Send reply to:[email protected]
The National Institute for Literacy (NIFL) created the online discussion lists in 1995 to bring together literacy stakeholders – researchers, policymakers, administrators,
practitioners and students – to discuss critical issues within the literacy field; share resources, experiences, and ideas; ask questions of subject experts; and keep up-to-date on literacy issues. NIFL partners with national literacy organizations who provide knowledgeable staff to facilitate the discussion lists. These volunteer facilitators strive to encourage active discussion on the subject of the list.
NIFL funds the discussion lists through LINCS, using funds appropriated to the NIFL by Congress.
Recently, some messages submitted to discussion lists either didn\’t appear or were returned to their senders. This happened because they encouraged political advocacy, and federal law prohibits the use of appropriated funds to support advocacy. In response to concerns raised about these messages, NIFL implemented automated filters to block advocacy messages as a temporary means of ensuring NIFL\’s compliance with federal law while continuing to maintain the discussion lists as a resource for the field.
Unfortunately, some messages that did not encourage advocacy also were stopped by the automated filters, and we apologize for this.
NIFL is working with the list facilitators to develop clear guidelines on discussion list policies. These guidelines will be posted to the NIFL discussion lists as soon as possible but no later than mid-June and will be implemented
by NIFL staff and list facilitators.
NIFL requests that all discussion list participants use the NIFL sponsored lists in accordance with their intended purposes and not to post advocacy messages.
Comments,suggestions, references, and ideas posted on the lists should serve as resources for enhancing the field\’s capacity, and knowledge base. NIFL will reserve the right to block messages containing advocacy content and remove them from archives. In addition, please be reminded that views reflected by participants on NIFL discussion lists do not represent NIFL\’s position.
If you have questions or concerns about the policy governing participation in the discussion lists, please direct them to Jaleh Behroozi at [email protected].
Participants who wish to inform the field about legislative matters or advocate for a policy position are encouraged to use the National Literacy Advocacy (NLA) a non NIFL discussion list sponsored by the American Association of
Adult and Continuing Education. (Go to:
http://lists.literacytent.org/mailman/listinfo/aaace-nla.)
——- End of forwarded message ——-
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