by Richard M. Stallman rms@gnu.org
To the Management of the Boston Public Library,
Don Saklad forwarded me your message which reports that OverDrive
Audio Books use "copyright protection technology" made by Microsoft.
The technology in question is an example of Digital Restrictions
Management (DRM)--technology designed to restrict the public.
Describing it as "copyright protection" puts a favorable spin on a
mechanism intended to deny the public the exercise of those rights
which copyright law has not yet denied them.
The use of that format for distributing books is not a fact of nature;
it is a choice. When a choice leads to bad consequences, it ought to
be changed, and that is the case here. I respectfully submit that the
Boston Public Library has a responsibility to refuse to distribute
anything in this format, even if it seems "convenient" to some in the
short term.
By making the choice to use this format, the Boston Public Library
gives additional power to a corporation already twice convicted of
unfair competition.
This choice excludes more than just Macintosh users. The users of the
GNU/Linux system, an operating system made up of free/libre software,
are excluded as well. Since these audiobooks are locked up with
Digital Restrictions Management (DRM), it is illegal in the US to
release free/libre software capable of reading these audiobooks.
Apple may make some sort of arrangement to include capable software in
MacOS (which is, itself, non-free software for which users cannot get
source code). But we in the free software community will never be
allowed to provide software to play them, unless laws are changed.
There is another, deeper issue at stake here. The tendency of
digitalization is to convert public libraries into retail stores for
vendors of digital works. The choice to distribute information in a
secret format--information designed to evaporate and become
unreadable--is the antithesis of the spirit of the public library.
Libraries which participate in this have lost their hearts.
I therefore urge the Boston Public Library to terminate its
association with OverDrive Audio Books, and adopt a policy of refusing
to be agents for the propagation of Digital Restrictions Management.
Sincerely
Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation
MacArthur Fellow
cc: John Sullivan for posting on http://fsf.org
General Reference gref@bpl.org
This is a follow-up message to our response to your
recommendation that the Library's digital audio book collection
be accessible to Mac users.
OverDrive Audio Books use copyright protection technology from
Microsoft Corporation.
Unfortunately the iPod (and Mac) do not currently support
copyright-protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files.
OverDrive, along with hundreds of online music and audio book
providers, is hopeful that Apple and Microsoft can reach an
agreement that would enable support for Microsoft-based
copyright-protected materials on the iPod/Mac.
We are hopeful too - and in the mean time, we will keep looking
for a vendor that will serve a broader audience.
There is a workaround, however, that allows you to upload
OverDrive content to an iPod, provided your computer is a PC, you
have a CD recordable drive, and the title may be burned to a CD.
If you would like to try this, follow the instructions in the
OverDrive Media Console to burn the downloaded files to CD.
Then, rip the CD into iTunes for synchronization with your iPod.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
General Reference Department
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston St
Boston MA 02116
Phone: 617 859-2270
We thank you for your suggestion.
We are forwarding your message to the staff members working on
the OverDrive Audio Book and OverDrive eMusic program.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
General Reference Department
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston St
Boston MA 02116
Phone: 617 859-2270
-----Original Message-----
Please make http://overdrive.bpl.org available to mac users !
by Richard M. Stallman rms@gnu.org
To the Management of the Boston Public Library,
Don Saklad forwarded me your message which reports that
OverDrive Audio Books use "copyright protection technology" made
by Microsoft.
The technology in question is an example of
Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)--technology designed to
restrict the public.
Describing it as "copyright protection" puts a favorable spin on
a mechanism intended to deny the public the exercise of those
rights which copyright law has not yet denied them.
The use of that format for distributing books is not a fact of
nature; it is a choice.
When a choice leads to bad consequences, it ought to be changed,
and that is the case here.
I respectfully submit that the Boston Public Library has a
responsibility to refuse to distribute anything in this format,
even if it seems "convenient" to some in the short term.
By making the choice to use this format, the
Boston Public Library gives additional power to a corporation
already twice convicted of unfair competition.
This choice excludes more than just Macintosh users.
The users of the GNU/Linux system, an operating system made up of
free/libre software, are excluded as well.
Since these audiobooks are locked up with Digital Restrictions
Management (DRM), it is illegal in the US to release free/libre
software capable of reading these audiobooks.
Apple may make some sort of arrangement to include capable
software in MacOS (which is, itself, non-free software for which
users cannot get source code).
But we in the free software community will never be allowed to
provide software to play them, unless laws are changed.
There is another, deeper issue at stake here.
The tendency of digitalization is to convert public libraries
into retail stores for vendors of digital works.
The choice to distribute information in a
secret format--information designed to evaporate and become
unreadable--is the antithesis of the spirit of the
public library.
Libraries which participate in this have lost their hearts.
I therefore urge the Boston Public Library to
terminate its association with OverDrive Audio Books, and
adopt a policy of refusing to be agents for the propagation of
Digital Restrictions Management.
Sincerely
Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation
MacArthur Fellow
cc: John Sullivan for posting on http://fsf.org
General Reference gref@bpl.org
This is a follow-up message to our response to your
recommendation that the Library's digital audio book collection
be accessible to Mac users.
OverDrive Audio Books use copyright protection technology from
Microsoft Corporation.
Unfortunately the iPod (and Mac) do not currently support
copyright-protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files.
OverDrive, along with hundreds of online music and audio book
providers, is hopeful that Apple and Microsoft can reach an
agreement that would enable support for Microsoft-based
copyright-protected materials on the iPod/Mac.
We are hopeful too - and in the mean time, we will keep looking
for a vendor that will serve a broader audience.
There is a workaround, however, that allows you to upload
OverDrive content to an iPod, provided your computer is a PC, you
have a CD recordable drive, and the title may be burned to a CD.
If you would like to try this, follow the instructions in the
OverDrive Media Console to burn the downloaded files to CD.
Then, rip the CD into iTunes for synchronization with your iPod.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
General Reference Department
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston St
Boston MA 02116
Phone: 617 859-2270
We thank you for your suggestion.
We are forwarding your message to the staff members working on
the OverDrive Audio Book and OverDrive eMusic program.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
General Reference Department
Boston Public Library
700 Boylston St
Boston MA 02116
Phone: 617 859-2270
-----Original Message-----
Please make http://overdrive.bpl.org/ available to mac users !
Where around the web would there be better information about Spamassassin that any novice can understand and use without having to research vocabulary and arcane references?...
Spamassassin has difficulties for people with little mastery of computers. The difficulty of instructive materials for Spamassassin is an overabundance of jargon and references unfamiliar to people with little mastery of computers.
Too many librarians expend more effort and energies with regard to rules and limitations than they do in inspiring library users to make more robust use of library collections and services. ALA president Michael Gorman represents that.
Many librarians are underutilized by their very same institutions. Take for example, Boston Public Library's Matt Callaway. Oxford educated in Russian studies yet Matt is assigned to BPL departments that have not made the best use of their own departmental personnal.
What our Boston Public Library needs is a philanthropic program like the faculty chairs at universities. Curators and librarians would hold a chair they are awarded in an area of specialty in addition to their routine departmental activities. Curators and librarians would be encouraged to publish blogs and books about their areas of expertise. Imagine what BPL President Berne Margolis might write or edit if there were a better publishing program at our library as there is at New York Public Library http://bpl.org/search/
The best librarians do not join ALA American Library Association. ALA exorbitant membership rates overly tax professionals considering the remuneration librarians get for their work.
Most library schools curricula are mostly indoctrination than encouraging new ways of looking at our libraries. For example, in Massachusetts, Simmons College has prevented the establishing of affordable public programs in library and information studies at our University of Massachusetts at Boston. Simmons tuition is high and lacking in financial assistance. Compare SUNY Albany State University of New York at Albany's more theoretical curricula in information policy that inspires students and faculty to look at our libraries and technology in more innovative ways http://www.albany.edu/sisp/level3/SISPHistory.html
Of interest, at Boston Public Library some BPLers are unable or unwilling to use plain ASCII text when sending email, when replying to reference desk enquiries from BPLusers!
ALA American Library Association gets a failing grade for years of ignoring FOI freedom of information with regard to local and state government. Our cities' public libraries need to get their respective Mayors and City Councils to set up more routine transmittal of municipal departments public documents to our public libraries that citizens can learn more about local government. Mayoral directives and City Council orders are needed to effect more routine transmittal of local public documents to their public libraries.
In Boston Boston Public Library's Bernie Margolis and BPL Government Documents' G. Fithian resist doing what would benefit our communities constituencies by not asking Mayor Tom Menino and City Council President Michael F. Flaherty to arrange for more routine transmittal.
Boston Public Library's Bernie Margolis should set up blogging for BPLers and BPLusers. Librarians' and curators' expertise needs to be shared more effectively and efficiently. BPLPSA Boston Public Library Professional Staff Association and other library unions need to encourage blogging. By blogging librarians will make more clear their value to our communities' constituencies and be in a better position to negotiate for more benefits and more remuneration.
Blogging by BPLers would assemble more information about BPL collections in greater depth according to the expertise and interests of librarians and curators who blog. Then a navigational type of blog would bring together better information for wayfinders around the BPL campus of two buildings, many floors of different departments, services and collections.
Failures. How to use Spamassassin.
on
The Webmail Wars
·
· Score: 1, Insightful
Many Spamassassin users do not have the mastery of computers that is presumed by the spamassassin principle people. More and better basic users materials without the industry jargon is needed.
Would any of you nice folks out there post a message for me to a listserver forum that some participants got the moderator to kick me out because they did not agree with my contrarian point of view?...
For people around New England the best offers appear to be from http://rnktel.com
10 percent off verizon calling plans.
Also a 1/2 or 1/3 cent per minute USA long distance offer... Talk 1000
Wait a bit longer for illustrative images of the products to appear
where you click on ...Purchase
but first click in the left sidebar on ...Talk 1000
at http://rnktel.com
Slashdot Mirror
by Richard M. Stallman rms@gnu.org To the Management of the Boston Public Library, Don Saklad forwarded me your message which reports that OverDrive Audio Books use "copyright protection technology" made by Microsoft. The technology in question is an example of Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)--technology designed to restrict the public. Describing it as "copyright protection" puts a favorable spin on a mechanism intended to deny the public the exercise of those rights which copyright law has not yet denied them. The use of that format for distributing books is not a fact of nature; it is a choice. When a choice leads to bad consequences, it ought to be changed, and that is the case here. I respectfully submit that the Boston Public Library has a responsibility to refuse to distribute anything in this format, even if it seems "convenient" to some in the short term. By making the choice to use this format, the Boston Public Library gives additional power to a corporation already twice convicted of unfair competition. This choice excludes more than just Macintosh users. The users of the GNU/Linux system, an operating system made up of free/libre software, are excluded as well. Since these audiobooks are locked up with Digital Restrictions Management (DRM), it is illegal in the US to release free/libre software capable of reading these audiobooks. Apple may make some sort of arrangement to include capable software in MacOS (which is, itself, non-free software for which users cannot get source code). But we in the free software community will never be allowed to provide software to play them, unless laws are changed. There is another, deeper issue at stake here. The tendency of digitalization is to convert public libraries into retail stores for vendors of digital works. The choice to distribute information in a secret format--information designed to evaporate and become unreadable--is the antithesis of the spirit of the public library. Libraries which participate in this have lost their hearts. I therefore urge the Boston Public Library to terminate its association with OverDrive Audio Books, and adopt a policy of refusing to be agents for the propagation of Digital Restrictions Management. Sincerely Richard Stallman President, Free Software Foundation MacArthur Fellow cc: John Sullivan for posting on http://fsf.org General Reference gref@bpl.org This is a follow-up message to our response to your recommendation that the Library's digital audio book collection be accessible to Mac users. OverDrive Audio Books use copyright protection technology from Microsoft Corporation. Unfortunately the iPod (and Mac) do not currently support copyright-protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files. OverDrive, along with hundreds of online music and audio book providers, is hopeful that Apple and Microsoft can reach an agreement that would enable support for Microsoft-based copyright-protected materials on the iPod/Mac. We are hopeful too - and in the mean time, we will keep looking for a vendor that will serve a broader audience. There is a workaround, however, that allows you to upload OverDrive content to an iPod, provided your computer is a PC, you have a CD recordable drive, and the title may be burned to a CD. If you would like to try this, follow the instructions in the OverDrive Media Console to burn the downloaded files to CD. Then, rip the CD into iTunes for synchronization with your iPod. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you very much. Sincerely, General Reference Department Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St Boston MA 02116 Phone: 617 859-2270 We thank you for your suggestion. We are forwarding your message to the staff members working on the OverDrive Audio Book and OverDrive eMusic program. Thank you very much. Sincerely, General Reference Department Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St Boston MA 02116 Phone: 617 859-2270 -----Original Message----- Please make http://overdrive.bpl.org available to mac users !
by Richard M. Stallman rms@gnu.org To the Management of the Boston Public Library, Don Saklad forwarded me your message which reports that OverDrive Audio Books use "copyright protection technology" made by Microsoft. The technology in question is an example of Digital Restrictions Management (DRM)--technology designed to restrict the public. Describing it as "copyright protection" puts a favorable spin on a mechanism intended to deny the public the exercise of those rights which copyright law has not yet denied them. The use of that format for distributing books is not a fact of nature; it is a choice. When a choice leads to bad consequences, it ought to be changed, and that is the case here. I respectfully submit that the Boston Public Library has a responsibility to refuse to distribute anything in this format, even if it seems "convenient" to some in the short term. By making the choice to use this format, the Boston Public Library gives additional power to a corporation already twice convicted of unfair competition. This choice excludes more than just Macintosh users. The users of the GNU/Linux system, an operating system made up of free/libre software, are excluded as well. Since these audiobooks are locked up with Digital Restrictions Management (DRM), it is illegal in the US to release free/libre software capable of reading these audiobooks. Apple may make some sort of arrangement to include capable software in MacOS (which is, itself, non-free software for which users cannot get source code). But we in the free software community will never be allowed to provide software to play them, unless laws are changed. There is another, deeper issue at stake here. The tendency of digitalization is to convert public libraries into retail stores for vendors of digital works. The choice to distribute information in a secret format--information designed to evaporate and become unreadable--is the antithesis of the spirit of the public library. Libraries which participate in this have lost their hearts. I therefore urge the Boston Public Library to terminate its association with OverDrive Audio Books, and adopt a policy of refusing to be agents for the propagation of Digital Restrictions Management. Sincerely Richard Stallman President, Free Software Foundation MacArthur Fellow cc: John Sullivan for posting on http://fsf.org General Reference gref@bpl.org This is a follow-up message to our response to your recommendation that the Library's digital audio book collection be accessible to Mac users. OverDrive Audio Books use copyright protection technology from Microsoft Corporation. Unfortunately the iPod (and Mac) do not currently support copyright-protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files. OverDrive, along with hundreds of online music and audio book providers, is hopeful that Apple and Microsoft can reach an agreement that would enable support for Microsoft-based copyright-protected materials on the iPod/Mac. We are hopeful too - and in the mean time, we will keep looking for a vendor that will serve a broader audience. There is a workaround, however, that allows you to upload OverDrive content to an iPod, provided your computer is a PC, you have a CD recordable drive, and the title may be burned to a CD. If you would like to try this, follow the instructions in the OverDrive Media Console to burn the downloaded files to CD. Then, rip the CD into iTunes for synchronization with your iPod. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you very much. Sincerely, General Reference Department Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St Boston MA 02116 Phone: 617 859-2270 We thank you for your suggestion. We are forwarding your message to the staff members working on the OverDrive Audio Book and OverDrive eMusic program. Thank you very much. Sincerely, General Reference Department Boston Public Library 700 Boylston St Boston MA 02116 Phone: 617 859-2270 -----Original Message----- Please make http://overdrive.bpl.org/ available to mac users !
What can be done to fix http://overdrive.bpl.org/
2 /30/library_audiobooks_now_just_a_few_mouse_clicks _away/?page=full
for our Boston Public Libraries' Mac users?...
Here's the article by Hiawatha Bray http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/1
How do you use RSS with email ?...
Threads of deliberation at the records management forum http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html have a number of contributors interested, concerned or affected by it.
The records management forum at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html has a number of active contributors who write about it.
boston, cambridgea l_library_use
a guide to problematical library use
http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/guide_to_problematic
Where around the web would there be better information about Spamassassin that any novice can understand and use without having to research vocabulary and arcane references?...
Spamassassin has difficulties for people with little mastery of computers. The difficulty of instructive materials for Spamassassin is an overabundance of jargon and references unfamiliar to people with little mastery of computers.
Here's library director Francis DiMenno's blog
http://www.dimenno.blog-city.com
> ...a blog is a blog is a blog
Gertrude Stein !
Too many librarians expend more effort and energies with regard to rules and limitations than they do in inspiring library users to make more robust use of library collections and services. ALA president Michael Gorman represents that.
h tml
Compare former ALA president Mitch Friedman http://www.mjfreedman.org/mediaappearances/media.
Many librarians are underutilized by their very same institutions. Take for example, Boston Public Library's Matt Callaway. Oxford educated in Russian studies yet Matt is assigned to BPL departments that have not made the best use of their own departmental personnal.
What our Boston Public Library needs is a philanthropic program like the faculty chairs at universities. Curators and librarians would hold a chair they are awarded in an area of specialty in addition to their routine departmental activities. Curators and librarians would be encouraged to publish blogs and books about their areas of expertise. Imagine what BPL President Berne Margolis might write or edit if there were a better publishing program at our library as there is at New York Public Library http://bpl.org/search/
The best librarians do not join ALA American Library Association. ALA exorbitant membership rates overly tax professionals considering the remuneration librarians get for their work.
l
Most library schools curricula are mostly indoctrination than encouraging new ways of looking at our libraries. For example, in Massachusetts, Simmons College has prevented the establishing of affordable public programs in library and information studies at our University of Massachusetts at Boston. Simmons tuition is high and lacking in financial assistance. Compare SUNY Albany State University of New York at Albany's more theoretical curricula in information policy that inspires students and faculty to look at our libraries and technology in more innovative ways http://www.albany.edu/sisp/level3/SISPHistory.htm
Here are a few leading library blogs
m
http://librarian.net
http://librarystuff.net
http://lisnews.com
http://libr.org/juice
http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html
http://marylaine.com/exlibris/index.html
a collaborative blog, a guide to problematical library use
http://GuideToProblematicalLibraryUse.buzzword.co
Of interest, at Boston Public Library some BPLers are unable or unwilling to use plain ASCII text when sending email, when replying to reference desk enquiries from BPLusers!
ALA American Library Association gets a failing grade for years of ignoring FOI freedom of information with regard to local and state government. Our cities' public libraries need to get their respective Mayors and City Councils to set up more routine transmittal of municipal departments public documents to our public libraries that citizens can learn more about local government. Mayoral directives and City Council orders are needed to effect more routine transmittal of local public documents to their public libraries.
y -blogs.net/
In Boston Boston Public Library's Bernie Margolis and BPL Government Documents' G. Fithian resist doing what would benefit our communities constituencies by not asking Mayor Tom Menino and City Council President Michael F. Flaherty to arrange for more routine transmittal.
See also
http://foi.library-blogs.net
http://greyliteratureatbostonpubliclibrary.librar
See also a collaborative blog, a guide to problematical boston public library usem
http://GuideToProblematicalLibraryUse.buzzword.co
Boston Public Library's Bernie Margolis should set up blogging for BPLers and BPLusers. Librarians' and curators' expertise needs to be shared more effectively and efficiently. BPLPSA Boston Public Library Professional Staff Association and other library unions need to encourage blogging. By blogging librarians will make more clear their value to our communities' constituencies and be in a better position to negotiate for more benefits and more remuneration.
Blogging by BPLers would assemble more information about BPL collections in greater depth according to the expertise and interests of librarians and curators who blog. Then a navigational type of blog would bring together better information for wayfinders around the BPL campus of two buildings, many floors of different departments, services and collections.
Many Spamassassin users do not have the mastery of computers that is presumed by the spamassassin principle people. More and better basic users materials without the industry jargon is needed.
Ask for your favorite elections departments software programs...
4 \
10b&L=archives#45
4 \
10c&L=archives#58
4 \
10d&L=archives#47
4 \
10e&L=archives#11
See also RAIN 1010 Records and Archives in the News
Scroll down to
rain
at
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0
RAIN 1015
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0
RAIN 1022
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0
RAIN 1029
http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A1=ind0
How do you set up a listserver, weblog or usenet newsgroup that would automatically convert forwarded .doc notices to plain text ASCII ?...
.doc
Boston City Council sends out by email public notices of Council Committees public hearings formatted in
City Hall is unwilling to send public notices like the Council Human Rights Committee public hearings in plain text ASCII formatting.
In emacs rmail, how do you use metamail in converting a message with an attachment in .doc to plain text ASCII ?...
Apparently, it is not a simple thing for people who do not have emacs mastery !
In emacs rmail, how do use metamail in converting a message with an attachment in .doc to plain text ASCII ?...
Apparently, it is not a simple thing !
Would any of you nice folks out there post a message for me to a listserver forum that some participants got the moderator to kick me out because they did not agree with my contrarian point of view?...
I have been kicked out of a number of listserver forums, for example
http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/publib
and
http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html
What prevents the disease prion from getting into cheese or other dairy products?...
For people around New England the best offers appear to be from http://rnktel.com
...Purchase
...Talk 1000
10 percent off verizon calling plans.
Also a 1/2 or 1/3 cent per minute USA long distance offer... Talk 1000
Wait a bit longer for illustrative images of the products to appear
where you click on
but first click in the left sidebar on
at
http://rnktel.com