The University of Houston Libraries are recruiting a Web Developer 2.

Here's an excerpt from the ad (posting number: 066088):

Works as a member of the Web Services Department and in conjunction with the Digital Services Department to design, develop and maintain the many proprietary and open source web applications used within the University of Houston Libraries to enhance the Libraries' virtual presence and digital initiatives. . . .

1. Manages the customization of the user interface within the Digital Library and related applications
2. Incorporates appropriate design principles and branding consistent with guidelines established by the UH Libraries
3. Assists in the planning, designing, development, documentation and ongoing maintenance of the Libraries' internal and external web applications, database interfaces and mobile tools
4. Assists with quality assurance, accessibility and usability testing of web applications to ensure user satisfaction and compliance with UH Libraries' standards
5. Acts as a creative team player within Web Services on projects and coordinates with colleagues in the Libraries and UH community as needed

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Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) has introduced the Reader Privacy Act of 2011 in the California State Senate.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

Today, California Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) announced the Reader Privacy Act of 2011 – legislation that would require government agencies to seek a warrant or court order in order to access consumers' reading records from bookstores and online retailers.  SB 602 would establish consumer protections for book purchases similar to long-established privacy laws for library records.

"Current law is completely inadequate when it comes to protecting one's privacy for book purchases, especially considering the increasing popularity of online shopping and electronic books," said Yee. "Individuals should be free to buy books without fear of government intrusion and witch hunts. If law enforcement has reason to suspect wrongdoing, they can obtain a warrant for such information."

Many bookstores already collect information about readers and their purchases.  Digital book services can collect even more detailed information including which books are browsed, how long each page is viewed, and even digital notes made in the margins.

Historically, sensitive reader information has come under fire. During the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, Americans were questioned about whether they had read Marx or Lenin. In the years following September 11, 2001, the FBI sought patron information from more than 200 libraries.

Just this past year, Amazon was asked by the North Carolina Department of Revenue to turn over 50 million purchase records including books, videos, and other expressive material. 

SB 602 will update California state law to ensure that government and third parties cannot access Californians' reading records without proper justification. . . .

SB 602 will receive its first hearing in Senate Judiciary Committee in April.

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• Islandora Project Announces Release Candidate 1 (RC1), http://bit.ly/hkL1ZH
• Greenstone 2.84 Released!, http://bit.ly/eXCRhv
• Dramatic Growth of Open Access March 31 2011, http://bit.ly/igv13A
• Microsoft Academic Search (Beta) Appears Ready to Expand Database Coverage, http://bit.ly/dL9ESP
• Six Reasons Google Books Failed, http://bit.ly/g9J375

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Here's an excerpt from the ad (job number: B01293):

The Digital Repository Manager will be responsible for managing the Brown Digital Repository. He/she will oversee programming projects, data management, and the development of web services for working with repository materials.

Supervise the on-going development of the Brown Digital Repository to meet the critical needs of University and Library stakeholders. Identify and prioritize programming projects based on stakeholder needs. Implement project management methodologies to ensure that repository services are deployed in a reliable and timely manner. Supervise the Digital Repository Programmer and coordinate assignments and with other digital library developers and project managers. Ensure that developers have sufficient information and resources to meet project goals. Facilitate the ongoing training and development of repository staff to address new technology requirements. Contribute to programming efforts as needed.

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The Library Copyright Alliance has released A Guide For the Perplexed Part IV: The Rejection of the Google Books Settlement.

Here's an excerpt from the press release:

This guide is the latest in a series prepared by LCA legal counsel Jonathan Band to help inform the library community about this landmark legal dispute.

In the Guide Part IV, Band explains why the Court rejected the proposed class action settlement, which would have allowed Google to engage in a wide variety of activities using scanned books.

As stated in the Guide, "The court concluded that the settlement was unfair because a substantial number of class members [i.e., authors and publishers] voiced significant concerns with the settlement.… However, the validity of the objections seemed less important to the court than the fact that many class members raised them."

As for the impact of the decision on libraries, Band writes that while it is too early to say what the parties will do next, "it appears that both the challenges and the opportunities presented to libraries by the settlement when it was announced in the fall of 2008 are growing narrower and more distant."

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