View this page "ALA Resolution 2008 background paper"

[Steve Marquardt]

Here is a link to a "background brief" in support of the resolution
proposed to asking the American Library Association to call for the
release of Cuba's library prisoners of conscience:

Click on http://groups.google.com/group/Cuba451Letters/web/ala-resolution-2008-background-paper
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't
work.

FEEL FREE TO DISTRIBUTE the background paper to anyone, especially
librarians who might contact their friends, colleagues and State and
Divisional representatives on the ALA Council (see keyword searchable
e-mail list at http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governanceofficeb/council/councilroster/allcouncilors.cfm).

Urge Council members to support ALA intellectual freedom policies
53.1.12, 53.4, 53.7, 58.1.1, 58.1.2, 58.1.4, 58.3, 58.4, and 58.4.1
(available at http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/aboutala/governanceresources/policymanual/intellectual.cfm)
by supporting this proposed resolution:

Resolutions Calling For Release Of Persons Imprisoned For Independent
Library Activities in Cuba

Barbara Silverman,
Councilor-at-Large
Kidz...@aol.com
760-845-6496

Shixing Wen
UMD Library
416 Library,
Duluth, MN 55812-3001
Sw...@ad.umn.edu
218-828-8832

Cristina Ramirez
Collecting Librarian of Social & Behavioral Sciences
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 842033
Richmond, VA 23284-2033
cram...@vcu.edu
804-828-8832

Whereas: In March and April of 2003, twenty-three persons who
established independent libraries were arrested in Cuba, sentenced in
one-day summary trials to long prison sentences, and the entire
contents of at least eight of their library collections were ordered
by Cuban provincial courts destroyed, incinerated or otherwise
destroyed and

Whereas, The American Library Association "believes that freedom of
expression is an inalienable human right, necessary to self-
government, vital to the resistance of oppression, and crucial to the
cause of justice, and further, that the principles of freedom of
expression should be applied by libraries and librarians throughout
the world" (Policy 53.1.12), and

Whereas, The American Library Association "deplores the destruction of
libraries, library collections and property, and the disruption of
educational process by that act, whether it be done by individuals or
groups of individuals and whether it be in the name of honest dissent,
the desire to control or limit thought or ideas or for any other
purpose," (Policy 53.7, Destruction of Libraries) and

Whereas, The American Library Association includes in its policy
objectives" 1. To encourage the exchange, dissemination, and access to
information and the unrestricted flow of library materials in all
formats throughout the world" (ALA priority Area A: Access to
information) 2. To promote and support human rights and intellectual
freedom worldwide" (58.1 Policy Objectives ALA Priority Area C:
Intellectual Freedom, Implemented 1989-1990), and

Whereas, The American Library Association has adopted as policy 58.4
Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, which states that "Everyone has the right to freedom of
opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions
without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and
ideas through any media regardless of frontiers", therefore be it

Resolved, that the American Library Association joins with Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch, International PEN, the Campaign for
Peace and Democracy, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the
International Federation for Human Rights, the International Press
Institute, the Global Coordinating Committee of Press Rights, the
International Press Institute, the Global Coordinating Committee of
Press Freedom Organizations, the Inter American Press Association, the
Organization of American States, the European Union Council and
Presidency, the Personal Representative of the UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights, the German Bundestag Commission of Human Rights and
Humanitarian Aid, the French Communist Party, the French Foreign
Minister, Pax Christi of the Netherlands, the Socialist International,
the World Council of Churches, and the national library associations
of Estonia, Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic, in calling for the
immediate and unconditional release of those persons involved in the
operation of independent libraries arrested in March 2003, and
imprisoned following one day summary trials in April 2003 for the
nonviolent exercise of their freedoms of expression, association, and
the freedom to read, and be it further

Resolved, that the American Library Association call on the Cuban
government authorities to return any materials confiscated from
independent library collections which have not been incinerated or
destroyed and be it further

Resolved that the American Library Association recognize the
importance of and affirms its support for the whole Cuban library
community, both those working in libraries funded and controlled by
the government and those working in independent libraries, and be it
further

Resolved that this resolution be sent to President Raul Castro and to
Sr. Eduardo Torres Cuevas, Director of the Biblioteca Nacional Marti.