[841] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Public access software
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (RHADDEN%USGSRESV.BITNET@ricevm1.ri)
Tue Jul 28 11:13:08 1992
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 09:58:57 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
From: RHADDEN%USGSRESV.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@ricevm1.rice.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
One of the chilling items about this discussion is the confusion among
librarians about who they serve- the public or the publisher? The librarian
should be an advocate for the library user, not a watchdog for a publisher.
Yes, it is very easy to copy software. It is also easier to copy books
and other items as well. However, the librarian should be concerned with
getting information to the patron, not looking over their shoulder to
prevent them using it. The next step is not for the librarain to
prevent the patron from using software illegally, but to inform thew
copyright holder of the infraction so they can sue the user.
The librarian should be an advocate of the user, not the puvblisher!
lee hadden
