17 Oct 1.       Goal: This assignment gives the student the opportunity to reflect on course topics and draw connections across c

1.       Goal: This assignment gives the student the opportunity to reflect on course topics and draw connections across course material. Meets Student Learning Outcomes 1, 4, and 5.

 

Deliverable: 10-12 pages (~2750-3000 words), double-spaced (Bibliography will not count against your word count.)

 

Instructions:

Research an information policy that impacts libraries and their communities, prioritizing primary documents from government sites, and secondary sources from reputable authors and agencies. These might include legal scholarship, reports or whitepapers from non-profits, watchdogs, or stakeholder groups, among other source material.

 

 Your policy report must include the following information:

 

·                     A summary statement of the policy issue in question that defines and summarizes the policy – include a link and full citation.

·                     Brief background of the policy including any landmark events and recent developments.

·                     Discussion of stakeholder and interest groups for your policy, presenting their various viewpoints and points of contention. (Hint: this also includes LIS professional organizations, e.g. where does ALA stand on this policy or issue?)

·                     An update on the current status of the policy.

·                     A discussion of the relevance of this policy for library and information science professions/professionals as well the diverse communities they serve. Clearly articulate how these policies connect to LIS core values and how they may impact the practical aspects of informationprovision in libraries. Who is helped and who is harmed by your policy? Examples are welcome toillustrate your points!

·                     Provide a bibliography of sources that you consulted to gather this information.

 

The resulting report should be lucid (assume you are addressing this to a general audience of librarians), well-organized, and as comprehensive as possible within the given constraints. The goal is to offer a nuanced analysis of your policy, practice professional writing, and demonstrate an understanding of how your policy potentially impacts LIS professional practice and the various patron communities we work with.

Examples of Information Policies:

·         Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

·         Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA)/ PROTECT IP (PIPA)

·         Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA)

·         Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

·         Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA)

·         FCC’s Open Internet (Net Neutrality)

·         EU’s Right to Be Forgotten

·         E-Rate Program

·         Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

·         Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

·         EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

·         The Clarifying Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act

·         #ebooksforall Campaign (MacMillian Publishers e-book Licensing)

·         2020 Census (online for the first time)

 

---