Cuban oppression of ALA non-persons Affair

Fang-Face writes “Friends of Cuban Libraries has two recent articles about the
ongoing suppression of indepedent libraries and about an upcoming lecture by Ms. Krug. The first reports on the burning of materials seized from one indepedent library, and has a link to trial transcripts which were apparently smuggled out of Cuba and are now published on the internet. That material can be found at the Rule of Law and Cuba site. The second article is mostly about how Friends of Cuban Libraries is keeping up the pressure on the ALA’s non-person policy toward the independent librarians.”

October 4, 2003 by Uncategorized 7

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7 Responses

  1. Walt says:
    October 4, 2003 at 10:14 pm

    Independent Librarians my fundament
    If I hand out herbs and aspirin from my house, I don’t expect the American Pharmacists Association to defend me as an “independent pharmacist.”

    If I offer legal advice (with no professional training), I don’t think the ABA will defend me against government interference on the grounds that I’m an “independent lawyer.”

    And if I–or Cubans, whether underwritten by the U.S. or not–hand out books, that doesn’t make me an “independent librarian,” and I (they) have no right to expect ALA defense.

    This is one of the longest-lasting non-stories I can remember.

    Reply
  2. Anonymous Patron says:
    October 5, 2003 at 3:57 am

    J. Krug. Moving on to greener pastures.
    It would be good for J. Krug to move on to greener pastures.
    A more fair person is needed in that official position.

    oo__ don warner saklad

    Collaborative WebLog
    A guide to problematical library use
    http://GuideToProblematicalLibraryUse.blog-city.co m
    http://GuideToProblematicalLibraryUse.WebLogs.com/ faq

    Reply
  3. InfoWhale says:
    October 5, 2003 at 4:31 am

    Re:Independent Librarians my fundament
    Walt should check out Reporters without Borders to see how they have responded to “independent journalists” who have been arrested along with the independent librarians. For Walt not to support the move for ALA to join Amnesty Intl, Reporters without Borders and virtually every other group shows that he lacks sympathy who are victims of Castro. Maybe he can borrow a copy of NOBODY LISTENED, a documentary by Cuban filmmakers, about the failure of Western intellectuals to stand up to Castro for 40 years. Maybe he could join them in Castro’s prisons for a few years and see how he likes it.

    Reply
  4. Walt says:
    October 5, 2003 at 5:01 am

    Re:Independent Librarians my fundament
    Sorry, but I’m not biting. Do I believe Castro treats people badly? Sure. Do I believe Amnesty International should be fighting for them? Sure.
    Do I lack sympathy with them? Absolutely not.

    None of which has anything to do with my comment on the posting. I don’t see you arguing with my analogies or offering any counterexample (unless Reporters Without Borders is in fact the professional association of record for American journalists, which I don’t believe to be the case).

    I haven’t heard a lot of complaints about lack of action from IFLA, which would actually be a more appropriate body if there’s any legitimate claim that this is a library issue. Or aren’t they convenient targets these days?

    Reply
  5. InfoWhale says:
    October 5, 2003 at 7:54 am

    Re:Independent Librarians my fundament
    Using the excuse that the librarians in Cuba are not “certified” like pharmacists is meaningless. ALA should have been the FIRST ORGANIZATION to fight for their release- just as they fought filtering. I believe that IFLA did make some statement on the situation – I know someone on the PLG listserv wrote an attack on someone at IFLA for attacking Castro for imprisoning them. I just cannot believe that ALA people who don’t think that Bush and Ashcroft have a right to spy on people using library records would similarly not come out against a dictator imprisoning people who just want to have some freedom. You know what Castro has been doing – and you know that Bush would like to do similar things. You morally must protest the actions of both dictators – and cut the excuses…ones that both Bush and Castro would use to lock up people LIKE YOU….and me.

    Reply
  6. InfoWhale says:
    October 5, 2003 at 7:58 am

    Re:J. Krug. Moving on to greener pastures.
    As I wrote in my essay about “the truth about fearless librarians,” Judy Krug has made a career fighting for the right of local libraries to buy books that already are included in 99 % of US library collections. I believe Don is right – ALA needs someone who actually knows that the Library Bill of Rights refers to the entire spectrum of viewpoints on important issues – and helps American library boards realize this oath that they take. It is time for country-club style library boards to join their patrons in the streets.

    Reply
  7. InfoWhale says:
    October 5, 2003 at 8:01 am

    Re:Independent Librarians my fundament
    For Walt Crawford to claim this is the lnogest-lasting non-stories he can remember super infuriates me!!!!!!!!!!! Indeed, he should spend a year in prison for being an “independent librarian” and see what a non-story his imprisonment would be….His attitude is exactly why our profession is considered to be so gutless…NON-STORY???!!!!!!!
    His column, writings, websites are NOTHING compared to this story….go see BEFORE NIGHT FALLS a dozen times…and then tell me this is a NON-STORY!!!!!!!!

    Reply

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