With contributions from Virginia Cairns, Chapel Cowden, Jason Griffey, and Colleen Harris

Starting at midnight on Wednesday, January 18 you may notice that many websites (notably Wikipedia) have gone dark or otherwise altered their appearance in protest of proposed U.S. legislations known as the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Pro IP Act (PIPA).

In a very broad sense, these bills concern liability for illegal online content and control over websites. Supporters such as the Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA), the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and the Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) contend that the bills will protect consumers from so-called rogue websites that peddle counterfeit goods and also protect jobs in industries that produce intellectual property. Detractors of the bills include some of the internet’s largest players: Google, Facebook, Wikipedia, Twitter, eBay, Yahoo!, and more. Opponents argue that the bills extend too much power to the federal government and powerful content-producers to shut down entire websites for just one instance of copyright infringement or even an unproven claim of infringement which, in turn, will stifle tech companies that make up the infrastructure of the internet.

If you’re interested in learning more about the debate, we are including links to selected websites of SOPA/PIPA opponents and supporters below. For those of you that simply want to continue using Wikipedia during its blackout, check out this guide to accessing a cached version of the site.

Opposing arguments:
Fight for the Future at AmericanCensorship.org. View the video “PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks the Internet”
Electronic Frontier Foundation: with information directed to students here
Library Copyright Alliance: including a letter to the House of Representatives

Supporting arguments:
The Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (Global IP Center) at FightOnlineTheft.com. View the video “Fight Theft Online”
The MPAA on rogue websites

Bea (rockin' it out)

For those of you who frequent the library, you might notice a couple of things missing this semester.  After 20-plus years at the Lupton Library, our marvelous Interlibrary Loan (ILL) maven, Bea Hudson, has retired.  Though we are on the hunt for a warm body to fill her space, we will never be able to replace Bea.  Her co-workers offer some of their fondest memories:

“I’ll always fondly remember her infectious laugh and her claim to being a fashionista.  Her black & white checkerboard plaid rain boots are indelibly etched in my mind.”

“[I'll always remember] hearing Bea’s laughter as it penetrated through three different departments, and watching people look to see where the laughter was coming from.  And remembering the big smile on her face.”

“Mmmm….I already miss Bea’s smell (which sounds weird I know).  She had an army of primo perfumes & left a faint trail wherever she went and believe me, it’s rare to have nice smells in an aging college library…”

“I will always remember her sense of humor and no matter how bad the day might be, she could always make me laugh!”

Caitlin (sans glasses, plus cake)

Also gone but not forgotten is the inimitable Caitlin Shanley, Instructional Design Librarian and all around fun gal.  You might notice her bespectacled absence from the Reference desk and from your library instruction classes because, alas, she has moved on up to the east side of Pennsylvania to be the Educational Technology Librarian at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.  Here’s what her colleagues remember most:

“Caitlin came back from one of her lunchtime forays into North Chattanooga with a rather moth-eaten stuffed squirrel.  Said squirrel was cute, but had definitely been around the block a few times and was missing part of his (her?) ear.  Caitlin tried for months to come up with a good name for Squirrel (despite the fact that I immediately suggested “Vincent” which I thought was not only brilliant but obvious.)  I don’t think she ever named him but I think he accompanied her to Pennsylvania.  Perhaps she’ll call him “Dutch”?”

“I’ll never forget the time we persuaded Caitlin to bring her taxidermied squirrel to our weekly staff meeting.”

“Caitlin always helped me investigate food options in different cities whenever we went to a conference together. I never ever had a bad meal on a food adventure with her. Her food research skills are unparalleled.”

“She was a great fit on our team, always bringing humor, thoughtful input and a student focus.”

All of us at the Lupton Library tip our hats to these fine ladies and wish them a fond farewell!

If you’re like me, you tend to forget stuff when you return from vacation: the combination to your gym locker, where you left your Mocs Card, how to wake up some time before The Price is Right comes on (seriously, did you see Snoop CRUSH IT on Check Out?), and plenty of other elements of your semester routine. Well, we can help you remember some library essentials to make the start of the term a little easier. Continue Reading