LISNews: Librarian News

Walter Skold writes "Madeleine Albright spoke of Communist and Nazi repression in her native Czechoslovakia and then, quoting Jose Marti, defended the right of Cubans to start and maintain libraries independent of State control. She reminded the ALA, which is considering the issue of Cuba in Council, that "Cuba is a country where basic freedoms are denied." The Times-Picayune covered the story in NOLA Here"

The Reader's Shop writes "A report from Miami says the Miami-Dade School Board voted on Wednesday to remove the book, "Vamos a Cuba", as well as it's English translation, "A visit to Cuba", from Miami-Dade school libraries. Twenty-three other books in the series will also be removed although they were not contested. In a 6-3 vote the board overruled two review committees and the Superintendent. The American Civil Liberties Union is prepared to file a lawsuit challenging the decision.
CBS report
NBC report

mdoneil writes "A Cuban independent journalist is on the verge of death after a ten day hunger strike in an attempt to force the repressive Castro regime to allow a right to free expression and the right to Internet access.

Guillermo Farinas has been on a hunger strike since the end of January according to Reporters without Borders. He was rushed to the hospital upon losing consciousness. However after regaining his strength he ripped the IV from his arm.
Cuba as you will recall is one of the dictatorships that prevents independent librarians from distributing books. The ALA fails to grasp the importance of these independent librarians in their quest to bring freedom to the island nation. Michael Gorman who as head of the ALA holds Cuban librarians in such contempt by calling them 'not real librarians' must also hold Farinas in contempt as well for being an independent journals - would Gorman call him not a real journalist? Would he call him that on his deathbed?
One of the prohibited documents in Cuba is the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. Article 19 of the UDHR requires that everyone - independent Cuban journalists and librarians - have the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
RSF knows that information can bring freedom, IFLA - the international body of which the ALA is the US representative knows it. They know that independent librarians and journalists must be free to share their views and opinions. When will the ALA get it?"

Steve Fesenmaier writes "Walter Skold, a librarian and journalist, profiles the long history of Castro and his imprisoned librarians at Front Page Mag.com."