I should point out that it actually turned out to be far more interesting than expected – newsworthy, even – when the head librarian – the Librarian himself, William Young – implored the committee to do whatever it can to ensure that the next round of amendments to the Copyright Act (which, incidentally, have been languishing on the Order Paper for months because the government is pretty well resigned to the fact that the bill is doomed) include a fair use exemption for the Library of Parliament, so that it won’t be stifled from providing necessary services to parliamentarians. In fact, he even pitched a similar dispensation for all libraries. Not a bad tactic – and definitely a welcome ally for the Canadian Library Association, which has been fighting for genuinely fair fair dealings rules for years.
I should point out that it actually turned out to be far more interesting than expected – newsworthy, even – when the head librarian – the Librarian himself, William Young – implored the committee to do whatever it can to ensure that the next round of amendments to the Copyright Act (which, incidentally, have been languishing on the Order Paper for months because the government is pretty well resigned to the fact that the bill is doomed) include a fair use exemption for the Library of Parliament, so that it won’t be stifled from providing necessary services to parliamentarians. In fact, he even pitched a similar dispensation for all libraries. Not a bad tactic – and definitely a welcome ally for the Canadian Library Association, which has been fighting for genuinely fair fair dealings rules for years.