NCLA Executive Board, Governmental Relations Committee report, Jan. 2002

NCLA Executive Board Meeting
Governmental Relations Committee Report

January 25, 2002

The Governmental Relations Committee is currently in the process of planning its first meeting of this term for early spring to discuss membership issues, a new agenda, and planning for Library Legislative Day 2002 which is scheduled for May 6 and 7, 2002. We plan to discuss strategies for increasing attendance both from North Carolina librarians as well as attendance at the NCLA sponsored event.

Legislative Update:

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was reauthorized and it established the new school library resources program funded by appropriators at $12.5 million.

The TEACH bill remains before the House, apparently having stalled by the events of September 11th.

The U.S.A. Patriot Act (October 26, 2001) is resulting in an increased interest in library patron records by law enforcement authorities. ALA has issued guidelines for librarians, available at http://www.ala.org/washoff/patstep.pdf

The North Carolina Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, containing the anti-UCITA provision (the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act) became effective October 1, 2001.

Submitted by
Peggy E. Hoon
Chair, Governmental Relations Committee