Michael,
While I agree proposing a panel discussion, with invitation to West to be included, is a good idea, however, canceling West subscriptions because of their cost is not censorship.
Nor is it unprofessional.
And I can tell you that my institution considers it part of my job and fair representation of the aims of it or the provision of access to their information resources for me to not allow the library budget to grow out of control, since that would impact on the economics of the firm in general, and to find alternatives for those resources which are pricing themselves out of the cost:benefit equation.
Along with West's aggressive price increases and lack professionalism in responding to Mr.Svengalis, I also do not like the West policy of expanding sets, such as replacing 2 or 3 volumes of the West Federal Practice Digest 4th with 8 books, so that over a few years a set that once was housed on two shelf units now requires four, and will continue to expand forcing me to rearrange everything around it, and now at the point of removing some ALRs to make room for it.
Censorship? I guess one could ague that. But there is a finite amount of space and when there is no room, then something has to be removed.
Now, when the choice is between a West title and something else on which the attorneys place a higher value, West will have priced or expanded itself out of my library.
If West wishes to embark on practices which cause librarians these kinds of problems, then it is only a natural response for librarians to deal with those problems in whatever manner they find best suited to their individual situation, and in consultation with the decision makers at their institution.
Canceling sets which the firm does not use enough to excuse both their cost and expanding shelf needs is rational and professional and most definitely not censorship, and not really illuminated by quoting from the ALA Code of Ethics.
Regards,
David Leone
Librarian
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis
Nashville, Tennessee
Michael Ravnitzky <mikerav@verizon.net> wrote:
I am not a librarian, so I have been reluctant to weigh in.
However, in my humble opinion, I believe that neither a boycott of West
Publishing products nor a boycott of their reception would be productive,
and neither would accomplish the stated objectives. In fact, the boycott of
West products smacks of censorship and is in some ways contrary to the
spirit of free and open inquiry held in such esteem by the library
profession, although censorship was obviously not at all intended by those
who suggested a boycott. It might also be contrary to the aspirational
ideals of the library profession by restricting information available to
patrons.
Instead, a solution that airs a variety of viewpoints and adds a forum for
edification on this subject seems much more in tune with the library
profession.
I think that a couple of points from the ALA Code of Ethics, which is
incorporated by reference within the AALL Code of Ethics, appear applicable
here, or at least worth thinking about.
The ALA Code of Ethics Item 2:
We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to
censor library resources.
The ALA Code of Ethics Item 7 reads:
We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and
do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of
the aims of our institutions or the provision of access to their information
resources.
The ALA Code of Ethics Item 5 reads, in part:
We treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect, fairness and good
faith....
A boycott of the reception would be mean spirited and rude, in addition to
being pointless and counterproductive.
Therefore, I respectfully suggest adding a seminar or panel discussion on
the subject of pricing and West Publishing at St. Louis, and any future AALL
meetings. I leave defining the topic specificially as an exercise for the
reader. Such a seminar or panel discussion would, by its very existence, do
a lot more to help resolve the stated concerns in a manner consistent with
the professionalism I have always seen in the law librarian community.
Michael Ravnitzky
mikerav@verizon.net
Silver Spring, Maryland
David Leone
Librarian
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP
511 Union Street, Suite 2700
Nashville, Tennessee 37219
Phone: 615-850-8144
Fax: 615-244-6804
Email: dleone@wallerlaw.com
-------------------------------------------------
The information contained in this message and any attachments is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this message in error, you are prohibited from copying, distributing, or using the information. Please contact the sender immediately by return e-mail and delete the original message from your system.
---------------------------------
Get amazing travel prices for air and hotel in one click on Yahoo! FareChase
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Nov 14 2007 - 20:46:25 PST