Federal officials caution employers on using AI in hiring; FCW, May 12, 2022

 Natalie Alms, FCW; Federal officials caution employers on using AI in hiring

"The growing use of artificial intelligence and other software tools for hiring, performance monitoring and pay determination in the workplace is compounding discriminiation against people with disabilities, federal civil rights officials say.

Artificial intelligence can be deployed to target job ads to certain potential applicants, hold online job interviews, assess the skills of job applicants and even decide if an applicant meets job requirements. But the technology can discriminate against applicants and employees with disabilities.

On Thursday, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Department of Justice put employers on alert that they're responsible for not using AI tools in ways that discriminate and inform employees of their rights, agency officials told reporters."

How to best accommodate neurodiverse lawyers and neurodivergent clients; ABA Journal, May 19, 2022

Haley Moss, ABA Journal; How to best accommodate neurodiverse lawyers and neurodivergent clients

"Supporting and accommodating neurodivergent clients

Something that always is brought up to me when neurodivergent clients come up are ethical considerations—what to do with interpreters, diminished capacity concerns or competence. But a lot of those concerns are also our own biases showing with regard what we think neurodiversity is (or is not). Instead, as lawyers, it’s up to us to practice a little bit of empathy. People seek out lawyers for all sorts of reasons: Maybe they’re starting a business, or they were fired or getting divorced, or getting sued. There’s already a natural fear or surprise element to that initial interaction for clients, without our judgments based on a person’s cognitive abilities.

To lead with empathy, think about how to make those first interactions less terrifying in order to build trust. There’s a knowledge gap lawyers have about disability culture. Presume competence by treating us like any other client; it’s one of the easiest ways to show respect. It’s frustrating even to me when I get talked down to like a little kid because I’m autistic, and your adult neurodivergent clients probably have had similar experiences. To that effect, something we all can do better is clean up legal jargon and use plain language, explaining concepts in an easy-to-understand format.

I also like trying to meet folks where they are." 

An Uphill Battle; American Libraries, May 2, 2022

 Austin Persinger , American Libraries; An Uphill Battle

"The complaint bothered me, so I entered the conversation to talk about the concept of the Library of Things—that our institutions can loan so much more than books—and how Summers County Public Library could help. I began soliciting donations on various Facebook pages and through the local newspaper for a fleet of lightweight, collapsible utility wagons that cost about $100 each. Project Buggy Buddy had a fundraising goal of $1,200; community response to the idea was enthusiastic, and we raised $2,000. We began checking out six wagons within a month and have six more on order.

The wagons in our fleet are designed to go over rough surfaces, and a five-day checkout period removes pressure to return them immediately after a trip. We don’t charge fines if wagons are returned late—though, in the first four months of lending, all of them have been returned on time—and we allow renewals if needed. The program has been successful: It is popular among users, is eliminating the guilt and fear of harassment for taking buggies, and has engendered goodwill and renewed interest in the library.

People tell us they are grateful we are assisting them in a real way. One patron said that using the wagon allows them to buy items in bulk, which has helped them save money on groceries.

We have myriad needs and problems here in Appalachia. Lack of transportation may not be the biggest, flashiest, or first problem one thinks of, but it causes an undue burden in our communities. Our crowdsourced fleet is a Band-Aid on the issue—our way of alleviating the problem in a small but helpful way. Solving the rural infrastructure problem may be too big and complex for me and my library, but I am happy to get the wagon rolling."

Texas A&M Weighs Sweeping Changes to Library; Inside Higher Ed, May 16, 2022

 Josh Moody, Inside Higher Ed; Texas A&M Weighs Sweeping Changes to Library

"The Texas A&M University system is working on a plan that would make sweeping changes across its 10 libraries. Those changes, still being discussed, would include asking librarians to relinquish tenure or transfer to another academic department to keep it.

The plan grew out of recommendations from MGT Consulting, which Texas A&M hired in June 2021 “to conduct a high-level, comprehensive review of major functional areas,” according to a company report. But as administrators have suggested additional changes, including to employee classification, faculty members have pushed back, arguing that proposed structural changes to the library system will do more harm than good.

They are especially concerned about a proposal that would end tenure for librarians. Experts note that tenure for librarians, which is somewhat common in academia, though not universal, can be crucial for academic freedom, especially in a political environment in which librarians are under fire."

Libraries are reimagining what public safety and access to resources look like; Prism, May 5, 2022

Tamar Sarai, Prism ; Libraries are reimagining what public safety and access to resources look like

"“People think libraries have changed so much, but really, we’re still doing the same things,” Fewell said. “We are making sure people have access to information and resources… connecting people [with what] they need: food, wound care, connecting to the WiFi because the only device they have to access the internet is their phone… We’re providing resources to get people the next thing that they’re looking for, and I love it.”

As libraries and library staff begin embracing new ways to serve their patrons and in doing so, promote alternative conceptions of public safety, pushback has followed. Local police have decried the initiatives as eroding relationships with law enforcement, and other patrons have argued that their libraries are becoming less safe and that their own needs are being neglected as marginalized community members find themselves increasingly welcome into the library’s branches. However, while providing more social services and even connecting with currently incarcerated people might expand the work of libraries, staff engaging in these initiatives argue that the work is simply a fulfillment of the library’s long-standing purpose to provide information and foster community."

Courage Seemed to Be Dead. Then Came Zelensky.; The New York Times, May 13, 2022

Peter Coy, The New York Times ; Courage Seemed to Be Dead. Then Came Zelensky.

"Economists may have lost track of courage, but artists never did. Maya Angelou, the American poet and activist, once echoed Aristotle: “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.”

I interviewed Geoffrey Hodgson, who was trained in economics, taught management at several British universities and wrote “From Pleasure Machines to Moral Communities.” He told me that human beings are unique in that their tendency to sacrifice for one another, while having a biological basis, is reinforced by culture. “I grew up with stories of heroic individuals,” he said. “We teach kids about great heroes. People doing good. Putting others before themselves.” Zelensky will be used as an example to inculcate courage and selflessness in future generations, Hodgson predicted.

I also interviewed Al Gini, a retired professor of business ethics at Loyola University Chicago. He said it’s no coincidence that Zelensky was a comic actor before he became president. “Being a leader is playing a role,” Gini said. “A role dedicated to others.”

Zelensky is playing the role of hero, and it’s growing on him."

Miriam DeChant Named Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education; U.S. Copyright Office, May 10, 2022

 U.S. Copyright Office; Miriam DeChant Named Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education

"Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter has announced the appointment of Miriam DeChant as Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Public Information and Education (PIE), effective May 8, 2022. DeChant will direct PIE as it provides information about copyright law and practices to the public, implements the Copyright Office’s communications plan, and organizes educational and outreach programs. She is an expert copyright attorney and will serve as one of four legal advisors to the Register of Copyrights.

“I am delighted to welcome Miriam to this important position,” said Perlmutter. “Her knowledge of copyright and her extensive experience managing programs to broaden access to intellectual property systems will be a valuable addition to our senior management team.”

DeChant comes to the Office from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where she served as director of the Global IP Academy, providing domestic and international intellectual property capacity-building, technical assistance, and education policy and programs. She has served as co-lead of the Gender Committee under the U.S. Department of Commerce Equity Council.

Previously, she directed the Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and was the founding administrator of the PA Patent pro bono program to provide under-resourced inventors, artists, startups, and creative nonprofits with legal assistance.

DeChant earned a JD from Villanova University School of Law, where she was a member of the Villanova Environmental Law Journal. She has an undergraduate degree in the design field from Colorado State University."

Office snacks might be dying off. Good.; Vox, May 5, 2022

Emily Stewart , Vox ; Office snacks might be dying off. Good. 

If your employer loves you, they should give you money, not a granola bar.

"I’m not saying office snacks are the devil. (And maybe I’m just the office snack grinch!) Of the ways companies try to get employees to work longer and harder and feel better about their jobs without having to do much, snacks are just a small factor. Some firms pay for dinner, but only if you stay until a certain time. Or they’ll put gyms and massages and dry cleaning services on the premises, which again, sure, fine, but maybe everyone would be fine just working out without their coworkers around, and leaving the premises to do so. And all of these perks shouldn’t overshadow what really makes a workplace good: good pay, reliable benefits, a safe environment. A couple of years ago, I talked to a Family Dollar worker who said corporate had sent her store cookies at the outset of the pandemic while the workers waited for sneeze guards. I think about it a lot.

If work-from-home and a dying tax deduction are the death of office snacks, it won’t be the end of the world. They were never that great in the first place."

Trademark and copyright considerations for NFTs; Reuters, May 2, 2022

Sharon Urias, Reuters ; Trademark and copyright considerations for NFTs

"NFTs are mostly used to verify ownership of digital goods. An easy way to understand NFTs is to think of them as unalterable certificates of authenticity for digital goods. For example, if someone purchases a piece of digital art, the NFT acts to validate and verify ownership and authenticity of the artwork. In the "real world," the closest analogy is an autographed original painting that is authenticated by the artist's signature or a certificate of authenticity issued by a reputable source...

One common question asked by clients is whether, when they purchase NFTs, they also obtain the copyright associated with it. The answer is: Not necessarily. It is important to understand what is included in the smart contract that confers the purchaser's rights to the digital asset. Similar to the purchase of a physical painting in our analogy above, although the purchaser has acquired the right to display the work, and to resell it, ownership of the copyright is not automatically conveyed.

The artist owns the copyright unless the author assigns it to the purchaser...

NFTs present interesting and novel questions for trademarks as well...

One of the questions to be resolved is whether traditional trademark legal doctrines, such as the first-sale doctrine, protects a seller, such as StockX, or whether the NFTs are new, distinct products that seek to capitalize on the trademark owners' marks...

It is always challenging for the law to keep pace with the expansion and development of new technologies and innovations. It is no different with NFTs. With the increased growth of NFTs, the need for protection also grows. Although NFTs present many opportunities for businesses, it is essential that NFT sellers clearly delineate in the smart contract what is and is not permitted with respect to intellectual property rights. In that way, both NFT sellers and buyers will be able to protect themselves and best monetize these assets." 

Movers & Shakers 2022: The People Shaping the Future of Libraries; Library Journal, May 2022

Meredith Schwartz, Library Journal; Movers & Shakers 2022: The People Shaping the Future of Libraries

"I’d really like to be able to stop kicking off Movers & Shakers introductions by referring to the COVID pandemic. This is our third class to be honored amid coronavirus restrictions.

But as higher vaccination rates and available antivirals allow more things to open up—including the return of in-person library conferences—we also see the evolution of the field’s response to the pandemic in the nominations. The 2020 Movers were largely nominated for pre-pandemic work, with profiles explaining how they adapted. The 2021 Movers featured those working through the height  of pandemic limitations. The class of 2022 is largely looking forward—not ignoring the ongoing toll and risks of the pandemic, but learning its lessons in self-care and care for others, and applying them to their future work, culture, and goals.

Among this year’s 41 impressive examples, we see an increased focus on holding space for Indigenous ways of learning in libraries; an emphasis on service to patrons who are currently incarcerated or returning from incarceration; a deeper attention to accessibility; and a continuation of the crucial work of putting equity, diversity, and inclusion at the center of libraries’ internal culture as well as their outreach. We also see one-of-a-kind projects like the librarian in the football huddle, helping athletes learn; supporting small business through a value calculator and promoting curbside delivery; the transformation of a whole city’s approach to manga in schools; and even how to make something sweet out of a surprise nest of bees at the library. I hope you’ll be inspired as you read the following pages; I know I was.

I would like to again thank our external judges (and members of previous Movers classes): Anna Avalos, Elizabeth Joseph, and JJ Pionke, for their expertise, thoughtful consideration, and patience as we fine-tune the process, as well as Veronda Pitchford for additional consultation and assistance. I thank our sponsors Baker & Taylor and D-Tech International USA for making this ambitious undertaking possible. And of course, I thank our project coordinator, Amy Rea, and in-house Movers judges, Matt Enis and Lisa Peet, as well as the many writers who craft these profiles, and our design team, Kevin Henegan and Irving umberbatch, who make them beautiful.

One small change you may notice this year: After many years of holding the categories constant, this year we decided to eliminate the “Digital Developers” and have only five groupings. This hearkens back to the early days of Movers & Shakers, when the categories changed frequently. It’s not because we think technology is any less important to libraries than it has been—on the contrary. Technology is now so omnipresent, so baked in to so many initiatives, that it becomes increasingly arbitrary and difficult to decide whom to honor for their tools rather than their goals. You will see technology being used in innovative and thoughtful ways throughout all five Movers categories, as well as low-tech advances that are every bit as important to moving the field forward—and shaking it up! —Meredith Schwartz, editor-in-chief"

Drabinski Wins 2023–2024 ALA Presidency; American Libraries, April 13, 2022

American Libraries; Drabinski Wins 2023–2024 ALA Presidency

"Emily Drabinski, interim chief librarian at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, has been elected 2022–2023 president-elect of the American Library Association (ALA).

Drabinski received 5,410 votes, while her opponent, Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Las Vegas–Clark County (Nev.) Library District, received 4,622 votes." 

The CASE Act for Libraries and Archives; Library of Congress; May 2, 2022

 Holland Gormley, Library of Congress ; The CASE Act for Libraries and Archives

"Calling all libraries and archives! You may have heard about the CASE Act and the establishment of the Copyright Claims Board, or CCB for short, a new forum for resolving copyright disputes involving damages of up to $30,000, staffed by experts in copyright law. But did you know that qualifying libraries and archives can preemptively opt out of participating in the CCB even before any claim is brought against them? Here is what you need to know.

The Basics 

The Copyright Office respects the important roles that libraries and archives play in our society. In fact, libraries and archives enjoy certain exemptions under copyright law, like lending hard copies of works to patrons or to other libraries. Libraries and archives also enjoy the unique opportunity to preemptively opt out of future CCB proceedings if they so choose. In other words, these organizations can decide that they will not participate in any claims brought against them in the CCB, so that copyright claims against them can only be brought in federal court. Libraries and archives are not required to preemptively opt out of proceedings. In fact, they may wish to not preemptively opt out, since the CCB is more cost-effective than federal court, and all claims are decided by three officers with copyright law expertise.

Who Is Covered 

Libraries or archives that qualify under 17 USC § 108 can elect to preemptively opt out. The preemptive opt out will apply not only to the institution but also to any employees acting within the scope of their employment. This means, if the institution has preemptively opted out, the CCB will not allow copyright claims against them or their employees to proceed.

How to Preemptively Opt Out

The process is simple. To preemptively opt out, libraries and archives must submit a form on ccb.gov and self-certify their qualifying status. Afterward, the institution will be added to a publicly available list on ccb.gov and will never be asked to participate in any future CCB proceedings. There is no fee associated with doing so, and the status does not need to be renewed. However, it should be noted that if a claimant serves a claim before the preemptive opt-out is posted online, the institution should then follow the directions provided in the served notice to opt out of that claim.

If the Library or Archives Does Not Preemptively Opt Out

Participation in a CCB proceeding is voluntary for everyone. Libraries and archives that do not preemptively opt out can still opt out of participating in a CCB proceeding on a claim-by-claim basis. Libraries and archives, like any other potential CCB participant, should consider the pros and cons of using the CCB as an alternative to federal court litigation. You can learn more about the claim-by-claim opt-out process at ccb.gov.

Ready for more? Visit ccb.gov for more information on the preemptive opt-out option."

LSU to Embed Ethics in the Development of New Technologies, Including AI; LSU Office of Research and Economic Development, April 2022

 Elsa Hahne, LSU Office of Research and Economic Development; LSU to Embed Ethics in the Development of New Technologies, Including AI

"“If we want to educate professionals who not only understand their professional obligations but become leaders in their fields, we need to make sure our students understand ethical conflicts and how to resolve them,” Goldgaber said. “Leaders don’t just do what they’re told—they make decisions with vision.”

The rapid development of new technologies has put researchers in her field, the world of Socrates and Rousseau, in the new and not-altogether-comfortable role of providing what she calls “ethics emergency services” when emerging capabilities have unintended consequences for specific groups of people.

“We can no longer rely on the traditional division of labor between STEM and the humanities, where it’s up to philosophers to worry about ethics,” Goldgaber said. “Nascent and fast-growing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, disrupt our everyday normative understandings, and most often, we lack the mechanisms to respond. In this scenario, it’s not always right to ‘stay in your lane’ or ‘just do your job.’”

The Leadership Storytelling Secrets That Keep Audiences Riveted; Forbes, April 2, 2022

Esther Choy, Forbes; The Leadership Storytelling Secrets That Keep Audiences Riveted

"Authentic persuasion requires leaders to have relevant and compelling stories on hand. Stories not only create stronger bonds with your audience, they also make information more memorable.

To create stories quickly, stories should follow a basic story structure. We call it the “IRS” model:

• I - Intriguing beginning
• R - Riveting middle
• S - Satisfying end"

Libraries in a Time of Conflict; Library Journal, April 14, 2022

Hammad Rauf Khan , Library Journal; Libraries in a Time of Conflict

"In the future many library collections in Ukraine will need to be replenished, and unfortunately some rare items may be lost forever. We need to work together across borders in making sure to preserve endangered library collections. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) is working with Blue Shield International and UNESCO on plans of action to safeguard library collections. It will be interesting to see the action they take for Ukraine, but why don’t we already have steps in place to make sure if a crisis happens, we can protect our rare and culturally valuable items from harm? While many of our library organizations ask us to develop disaster planning and community resilience guidelines, these often don’t address issues around war and how to protect special collections from invaders. While we hope that none of us find ourselves and our communities in a conflict like the one playing out in Ukraine, we as library professionals should work towards creating a guidebook on protecting rare books, historical materials, documents, and maps during times of war. It is better to be over prepared than to not be ready at all.

We must collaborate, cooperate, and coordinate our efforts in preserving and inventorying our unique library materials. We need to generate data on the condition of materials as they are stored, the conditions under which they are used, the security around the collection, and the policies that affect their care, storage, and handling. Libraries transmit culture, have the unique ability to uplift individuals and society, and continue to enhance democracy even in conflict. To do that best, we must make sure we are prepared to work together to save what can’t be replaced."

Georgia Tech Introduces Code of Ethics; Georgia Tech, April 11, 2022

 Georgia Tech; Georgia Tech Introduces Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics is a living document that is a tool to help employees navigate ethical decisions they may face.

"Georgia Tech’s Office of Ethics and Compliance is excited to introduce a Code of Ethics, a resource to support employees as they navigate decision making at Georgia Tech. The Code of Ethics is aligned with the Institute’s nine strategic values and a culture of ethics.

When developing the Code of Ethics, the Office of Ethics and Compliance assembled a working group of faculty and staff stakeholders to share their subject matter expertise and review content. They worked to make the document easy to understand, eliminating legalese whenever possible. The code also includes visuals, such as flowcharts and other graphics, to make it visually appealing and reader friendly.

“The Code of Ethics is not a rule book or a policy. It is a living document that is a tool to help employees navigate ethical decisions they may face,” said Sally Robertson, senior counsel in the Office of Ethics and Compliance. “And while it can't tell you what to do in every situation, it can provide a great starting point.”

Current employees are invited to attend the Code of Ethics Employee Celebration to be held Wednesday, April 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tech Green. Attendees who download or obtain a hard copy of the Code of Ethics will receive a food truck voucher (limited to the first 100 attendees), a free t-shirt, or a free King of Pops popsicle (first come, first served as supplies last)."

New park to link Carnegie with its library; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 21, 2022

 LINDA WILSON FUOCO, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; New park to link Carnegie with its library

"In 121 years, there has never been a direct and easy way to get from the library high atop a steep hill to the Carnegie business district, below.

Until now.

Steps now meander down the hill, “creating a green space where there was none,” said Maggie Forbes, the library’s executive director. The now-attractive space is expected to be used as an outdoor classroom, a place for children and adults to read and play, and a venue for concerts...

Other Saturday celebrations include caricatures, face painting, crafts and activities with the Attawheed Islamic Center, the Double Dutch Swing Squad and Stage 62 performers. A new Carnegie business, The Dog Stop, is offering prizes...

Since 2003, citizens, organizations and foundations have donated $12 million to bring the library back from the brink of ruination. “Partners” and donors who helped it all happen include the Allegheny, Colcom and Hillman foundations, Heinz Endowments, Carnegie Borough, and the Pennsylvania Conservancy.

CarnegieCarnegie.org has further information. The web name is used to set this library apart from the many buildings operated by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The CarnegieCarnegie is a free-standing, independent library, not part of the Pittsburgh Carnegie library system."

Barack Obama Takes On a New Role: Fighting Disinformation; The New York Times, April 21, 2022

Steven Lee Myers and Cecilia Kang , The New York Times; Barack Obama Takes On a New Role: Fighting Disinformation

The former president has embarked on a campaign to warn that the scourge of online falsehoods has eroded the foundations of democracy.

"Mr. Obama’s approach to the issue has been characteristically deliberative. He has consulted the chief executives of Apple, Alphabet and others. Through the Obama Foundation in Chicago, he has also met often with the scholars the foundation has trained; they recounted their own experiences with disinformation in a variety of fields around the world.

From those deliberations, potential solutions have begun taking shape, a theme he plans to outline broadly on Thursday. While Mr. Obama maintains that he remains “close to a First Amendment absolutist,” he has focused on the need for greater transparency and regulatory oversight of online discourse — and the ways companies have profited from manipulating audiences through their proprietary algorithms."

Our Values; Georgia Tech

 Georgia Tech; Our Values

"Our Strategy Guided by Values, Reinforced Through Culture

Our values are foundational in everything we do. They are our lodestar. Values define who we are and who we aspire to be as a community. They help us make decisions. They refer to an inclusive “we” and apply to every member of the Georgia Tech community — student, faculty, staff, alumni, and affiliate. No matter the role, the values are meant to guide our priorities every day, to help us focus on our important, shared mission.

Students are our top priority. 

We are educators first and foremost, committed to developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. We measure our success by the achievements of our students and the impact of our graduates in improving the lives of others.

We strive for excellence. 

We strive to be among the best at what we do and to set high expectations for each of us individually and for our community as a whole. The expectation of excellence, which is instrumental to our ability to have a meaningful impact in the world, extends to our teaching, our research and creative endeavors, our athletic programs, and our operations.   

We thrive on diversity. 

We see diversity of backgrounds and perspectives as essential to learning, discovery, and creation. We strive to remove barriers to access and success, and to build an inclusive community where people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to learn and contribute to our mission.  

We celebrate collaboration. 

We enable and celebrate collaboration across disciplines and perspectives, between units and departments, and with other organizations at home and around the world. We value the contributions of all members of our community, promote civil and respectful discourse, and help one another succeed.  

We champion innovation. 

We inspire, empower, and provide the resources and environment for innovative ideas and solutions to flourish. We welcome new concepts and approaches that lead to creative ideas and solutions.  

We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression. 

We protect the freedom of all members of our community to ask questions, seek truth, and express their views. We cherish diversity of ideas as necessary for learning, discovery, scholarship, and creativity.  

We nurture the well-being of our community.

We strive to build a healthy and vibrant environment that helps our students and every member of our community grow holistically and develop the self-awareness, knowledge, and practices necessary to pursue healthy, purposeful, fulfilling lives.

We act ethically.

We hold one another to the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct. We are transparent and accountable, and strive to earn and maintain the public trust.

We are responsible stewards.

We are careful stewards of the resources we are entrusted with and strive to be an example of sustainability, efficiency, respect, and responsibility."

New York Public Library makes banned books available for free; NPR, April 15, 2022

Deepa Shivaram, NPR ; New York Public Library makes banned books available for free

"In response to the more than 1,500 books challenged to be removed from libraries in the last year, the New York Public Library launched an effort to make some banned books available for everyone — for free.

The initiative is called Books for All and allows any reader aged 13 and older to access commonly banned books through the library's app until the end of May. There are no wait times to access the books and no fines, the library said. Typically, access to books at the New York Public Library are only available to New Yorkers with a library card.

"The recent instances of both attempted and successful book banning —primarily on titles that explore race, LGBTQ+ issues, religion, and history — are extremely disturbing and amount to an all-out attack on the very foundation of our democracy," said Tony Marx, president of the New York Public Library.

"Knowledge is power; ignorance is dangerous, breeding hate and division ... Since their inception, public libraries have worked to combat these forces simply by making all perspectives and ideas accessible to all," Marx said."

Jacklyn Napier Named Assistant Register and Director of Operations of the U.S. Copyright Office; U.S. Copyright Office, Issue No. 953 - March 29, 2022

U.S. Copyright Office; Jacklyn Napier Named Assistant Register and Director of Operations of the U.S. Copyright Office 

"Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter has announced the appointment of Jacqueline “Jacklyn” Napier as Assistant Register and Director of Operations of the United States Copyright Office, effective March 27, 2022. Napier will have responsibility for an extensive portfolio of financial, budget, and operational issues for the Office. 

“I am pleased to welcome Jacklyn to her new position,” said Perlmutter. “She brings to the Copyright Office deep skills in financial and budget management and internal control operations. She will be an important addition to our senior management team.”

Napier comes from the Department of the Navy, where she served as integrated risk management program manager and as deputy director of financial operations, leading enterprise financial accounting and internal control operations for nineteen budget offices. Previously, she held several senior positions, including acting director and deputy director of financial operations and deputy chief financial officer, with the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, both in the Department of Homeland Security. There she provided financial reporting, audit remediation, internal controls, financial systems management, and policy advice. She has also led business transformation, including projects involving financial systems modernization, and has experience in risk management. 

Napier is a certified public accountant and chartered global management accountant. She earned a bachelor of science in accounting from the University of Colorado and an executive master’s degree in public administration with honors from American University. 

Napier succeeds Jody Harry, who provided outstanding service as the first Assistant Register and Director of Operations and retired in November 2021. Maria Strong has served in an acting role in the interim period."

Senate Approves Kathi Vidal for Patent and Trademark Office; Bloomberg Law, April 5, 2022

 Samantha Handler, Bloomberg Law; Senate Approves Kathi Vidal for Patent and Trademark Office

"Kathi Vidal, President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on Tuesday.

Vidal is the second woman to hold the dual roles of under secretary of Commerce for intellectual property and USPTO director. She brings experience as a litigator who’s been on both sides of patent disputes, most recently as managing partner of Winston & Strawn LLP’s Silicon Valley office.

She’s also the first Senate-confirmed director since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year in United States v. Arthrex Inc. that the patent office leader has the power to overturn decisions of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, a tribunal that reviews the validity of issued patents...

With a permanent leader, the PTO could also provide guidance on issues such as patent eligibility under Section 101 of the Patent Act and proposed policy changes on patents essential to industry standards, retired Federal Circuit Judge Kathleen O’Malley told Bloomberg Law in March. 

Additionally, Vidal will have the opportunity to move forward policy to increase the number of women and minority patent attorneys in patent tribunal appearances, and oversee the PTO’s ongoing efforts to increase gender and racial diversity in inventorship."

Atmospheric scientist loses honor, membership over ethics violation; The Washington Post, April 8, 2022

 Kay Nolan, The Washington Post; Atmospheric scientist loses honor, membership over ethics violation

American Meteorological Society expels physicist Timothy Dunkerton after offensive tweet as professional science groups grapple with how to confront harassment, discrimination

"The Post obtained a copy of an email sent privately by AMS Associate Executive Director Stephanie Armstrong to society members who had filed a formal complaint about the physicist’s behavior.

That email names Dunkerton and says he “violated two components of the AMS Code of Conduct: 1) Members shall carry out their activities with integrity and the highest ethical standards. 2) Members must treat all individuals with respect. Members must refrain from all forms of discrimination, harassment, and bullying in their professional encounters.”...

Erika Marín-Spiotta, a University of Wisconsin geography professor who holds “bystander training” workshops — which teach people ways to intervene when they see harassment or bullying — stressed the importance of disclosing incidents of misconduct to the broader community.

It “is important so that the community is aware that these behaviors are happening, they are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” she said.

Oltman-Shay, Dunkerton’s former boss, said this week: “I applaud the AMS for continuing to review their code of ethics. … It’s my hope that this will become an example to serve as caution to those who bully.”"

After the Audit | PLA 2022; Library Journal, April 1, 2022

 Meredith Schwartz , Library Journal; Library Journal;After the Audit | PLA 2022

"Collection Diversity audits, while crucial, can present a daunting challenge. What can tip the balance toward deciding the work is worth it is a concrete plan for how the knowledge gained can be directly translated into action. At the “After the Collection Diversity Audit” session at PLA, a mixture of in-person and virtual panelists—including Celia Mulder, head of collection management and system administration, Clinton-Macomb Public Library, MI; Sarah Voels, community engagement librarian, Cedar Rapids Public Library, OH; Anitra Gates, technical service manager, Erie County Public Library, PA; and Amberlee McGaughey, children's librarian, Erie County Public Library—shared their experiences and strategies."

Getting Organized; American Libraries, March 1, 2022

 Cass Balzer, American Libraries; Getting Organized

More library staffers are turning to unions for security and social equity

"As at SPL and Northwestern, Kahn says the decision by University of Michigan library staff members to unionize has a lot to do with equity, accountability, and transparency. “The thing that people learn right away is that this is not an information problem,” Kahn says. “It’s not that the employer doesn’t know that we’re underpaid or doesn’t know that we’re upset about some of our working conditions. It’s a lack of political will to change those things.”"