American Libraries Releases 2024 Library Systems Report

The magazine American Libraries has released the 2024 Library Systems Report, its most recent annual report on the worldwide library technology industry.

"The library technology industry had a quiet year in 2023. But in the absence of major business moves and acquisitions, companies set their sights on executing strategies to strengthen their market position."

"Previous cycles of business consolidation have yielded a layered landscape with distinct levels of competition. At the top, a handful of large organizations with considerable resources—Clarivate, EBSCO Information Services, Follett School Solutions, and OCLC—continue to expand their portfolios, covering multiple business sectors and library types. Middle-tier companies, including Axiell, ByWater Solutions, The Library Corporation (TLC), and SirsiDynix, offer growing suites of products used by thousands of libraries. And finally, a group of smaller companies round out the industry, covering specialized libraries with niche products and services."

"Competition at each level remains vigorous. Libraries may have fewer product choices because of past acquisitions, but the options remaining are distinctive. Most libraries can choose between for-profit and nonprofit vendors, and between proprietary and open source products. For instance, academic libraries can pick from a short list of library services platforms (LSPs), including a proprietary solution from a for-profit company (Alma), an open source product supported by for-profit companies (FOLIO), or a proprietary product from a nonprofit organization (WorldShare Management Services)."

"Libraries see their technology vendors as strategic partners. They are increasingly purchasing core products from a single provider, rewarding companies’ efforts to create suites of integrated applications that function more efficiently than mix-and-match offerings. These days, libraries expect third-party integration from their products—but they generally acquire new components from a single main vendor."

The report is written by Marshall Breeding, a well-known library tech expert. He also edits the Library Technology Guides website and produces the annual international Library Automation Perceptions Surveys.

Statistics Canada Article on Police Clearance Rates for Sexual Assault

Juristat, a publication produced by Statistics Canada, has published an article on Recent trends in police-reported clearance status of sexual assault and other violent crime in Canada, 2017 to 2022.

Prior to 2018, criminal incidents were recorded by police as unfounded when there was not enough corroborating evidence.

As of 2018, incidents were recorded as "founded" (the reported incidents had in fact occurred) unless there is evidence demonstrating that incidents had not taken place.

The article looks at trends following the implementation of revised coding practices which are intended to be more victim-centric.

The article found that 14% of all reported incidents of sexual assault were classified by police as unfounded in 2017, which dropped to 7% in 2022. This pattern was similar for other selected types of violent crime.

The number of incidents of sexual assault cleared by charge increased between 2017 and 2022. However, because of the increase in the number of founded and uncleared incidents of sexual assault, the proportion of incidents of sexual assault that were cleared by charge decreased from 34% to 31% during this period.

Newest Episode of Arrêt sur le Droit Podcast about Good Faith in Contracts

Arrêt sur le droit is a relatively new French-language podcast whose goal is to help people better understand decisions by the Supreme Court of Canada.

It is co-produced by the Bar Association of Montreal and CAIJ (the free legal information portal of the Quebec Bar Association) in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Canada. 

The most recent episode analyzes the Ponce v. Société d’investissements Rhéaume ltée decision (2023 SCC 25, October 27, 2023). The case was about the obligation of good faith imposed on corporate directors when dealing with shareholders.

Arrêt sur le droit is hosted by Michel Désautels who for years was one of the top current affairs hosts of the public broadcaster Société Radio-Canada. His guests for this episode are Paul Martel, a lawyer with Blakes, and Stéphane Rousseau, law professor at the Université de Montréal.

New British Columbia Law Institute Primers on Indigenous Law

This is a follow-up to the post from August 21, 2023 called British Columbia Law Institute Primers on Indigenous Law.

The British Columbia Law Institute (BCLI) has been publishing information on the province's adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

Since last August, the BCLI has published 3 new primers as part of its series on how to bring the laws in into alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

They are:

• Legal Pluralism in Canada
• Legal Pluralism: Indigenous Legal Orders & Other State Jurisdictions
• Legal Pluralism: Indigenous Legal Orders & Canadian State Law

Library Journal's Movers and Shakers 2024

Library Journal recently released its 2024 list of Library Movers and Shakers.

It is an annual snapshot of the transformative work being done by those in libraries of all types and sizes and across the field:

"Over the past 22 years, Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers awards have offered a compelling snapshot of what’s up and coming in the library world, as well as how it has changed. Our 2024 Movers cohort represents a range of innovative, proactive, and supportive work; they are imaginative and kind and brave in a world that needs those qualities—and the results they produce—very much."

The publication provides a map of all the Movers and Shakers from 2002 to today. Over the years, quite a few Canadians have been added to the list. 

Most Recent Annual Report of Amnesty International

The human rights NGO Amnesty International this week released its most recent report on the situation of human rights worldwide.

Not a pretty picture...

Regression on many fronts, according to the report. 

The organization's secretary general calls the situation "a descent into a hell."

Creative 404 Error Pages of US Government Agency Websites

 FedScoop, a US site that covers technology in government, published an article 404 page: the error sites of federal agencies that looks at a few creative ways that public agencies South of the border have adopted to indicate an error on their webpages:

"404 pages are what appear when a server cannot locate a website or resource at a specific URL. Hitting a 404 could be due to a number of reasons: a spelling error in the URL, the page may not exist anymore, or the server moved a page without having the link redirect. As a result of the error, many different entities with websites — such as state and local governments — have had a stroke of creative genius to make users aware of an issue while also having a bit of fun — which rings true for some federal agencies as well (...)"

"Currently, the park service’s site [National Park Service] has a revolving 404 page that showcases several different nature-themed images, with puns or quotes alongside information on how to get back on the right track for whatever online adventure a visitor seeks."

My favourite error page is from NASA's website where the message reads in part: "404 The cosmic object you were looking for has disappeared beyond the event horizon".

 

Learning About Law Through Taylor Swift

Fun little article from a while back in the ABA Journal: Swift Justice: Students learn about the law through Taylor Swift cases.

It describes a few US law schools that offer law classes, often about intellectual property but covering other legal topics as well, using the legal troubles of mega-starTaylor Swift:

As stated by Vivek Jayaram, co-director of the University of  Miami Law’s Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law LL.M program:

"I bet Swifties know more about IP law than a lot of lawyers..."

Recent Government of Canada Publications from the Weekly Acquisitions List

The Government of Canada's Weekly Acquisitions List can be a great way to discover new research reports published by various public bodies and agencies of the federal government. 

It is a record of all publications catalogued in the previous week.

The most recent list had a few documents that attracted my attention:

• Organized crime involvement in vehicle theft in Canada (Criminal Intelligence Service Canada)
• Every voice counts: Anti-racist transformation from the inside out (Canadian Human Rights Commission)
• Evaluation of the British Columbia Exemption to Allow for Personal Possession of Small Amounts of Illegal Drugs (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)
• Indigenous Mobility and Canada’s International Borders: Reflecting back and looking forward (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada)

Stanford University AI Index Report 2024

The AI Index Report developed at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence at Stanford University in California is an interesting resource to help track developments in the field.

The 2024 edition has just been published.

"Welcome to the seventh edition of the AI Index report. The 2024 Index is our most comprehensive to date and arrives at an important moment when AI’s influence on society has never been more pronounced. This year, we have broadened our scope to more extensively cover essential trends such as technical advancements in AI, public perceptions of the technology, and the geopolitical dynamics surrounding its development. Featuring more original data than ever before, this edition introduces new estimates on AI training costs, detailed analyses of the responsible AI landscape, and an entirely new chapter dedicated to AI’s impact on science and medicine."

"The AI Index report tracks, collates, distills, and visualizes data related to artificial intelligence (AI). Our mission is to provide unbiased, rigorously vetted, broadly sourced data in order for policymakers, researchers, executives, journalists, and the general public to develop a more thorough and nuanced understanding of the complex field of AI."

"The AI Index is recognized globally as one of the most credible and authoritative sources for data and insights on artificial intelligence. Previous editions have been cited in major newspapers, including the The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Guardian, have amassed hundreds of academic citations, and been referenced by high-level policymakers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, among other places. This year’s edition surpasses all previous ones in size, scale, and scope, reflecting the growing significance that AI is coming to hold in all of our lives."

Federal Budget Highlights of Interest to the Library and Information Community

The website Librarianship.ca has published an overview of the 2024 federal budget that was tabled yesterday in the House of Commons.

The post presents highlights of interest to the Canadian library and information management community in areas such as:

• artificial intelligence
• arts and culture institutions
• cybersecurity
• digital economy
• DEI
• government information
• and more

New Canadian Human Rights Commission Documents on Workplace Harassment

The Government of Canada's Weekly Acquisitions List can be a great way to discover new research reports published by various public bodies and agencies of the federal government. 

It is a record of all publications catalogued in the previous week.

The most recent list includes 2 documents from the Canadian Human Rights Commission on the prevention of workplace harassment and violence:

• Preventing and addressing workplace harassment and violence : a guide for federally regulated employers: "The purpose of this guide is to help federally regulated employers develop a human rights-based approach to preventing and addressing workplace harassment and violence, and to meet their obligations under the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) and the Canada Labour Code (Code). The information in this guide is intended to help federally regulated employers understand their responsibilities in creating and maintaining work environments free from  workplace harassment and violence. That said, employers should also consult the CHRA, the Code, the Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations (Regulations), and any applicable collective agreement to ensure that they are meeting all of their related legal obligations."
• Human rights-based approach to workplace investigations: "Workplace harassment and violence create systemic barriers to equality in employment. They can cause significant and long-lasting psychological, emotional, and physical harm to those involved. They can profoundly impact a person’s dignity and negatively affect their ability to earn a living, to feel safe and secure, and to meaningfully take part in society. Unaddressed, workplace harassment and violence can decrease productivity and morale, and lead to increased turnover, absenteeism, and health care costs. Workplace investigations are an important way an employer can prevent and resolve issues of workplace harassment and violence. This guide will help federally regulated employers learn more about what is required to conduct workplace investigations in a way that respects people’s human rights and promotes a healthy and inclusive workplace."

April 2024 Issue of In Session E-Bulletin of Canadian Association of Law Libraries

The April 2024 issue of In Session has been published. 

It is the monthly e-newsletter of the Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) and contains news from CALL committees and special interest groups, member updates and events. 

The current issue has news about the upcoming annual conference of the association in Montreal in June, the association's mentorship program, and an April 16 webinar on legal data analytics.

Call for Proposals for Access 2024 Conference on Library Technology

Planners are inviting proposals for the upcoming Access conference, which will be held October 21 – 22, 2024 in Montréal at the Delta Hotel:

"As Canada’s premier library technology conference, Access brings librarians, technicians, developers, programmers, and managers together from all library sectors to connect, learn, and share insights."

"Access is a single-stream conference offering a platform for keynotes, presentations, and opportunities to connect and socialize. The Access 2024 Conference Committee invites you to submit session proposals for our upcoming event."

It is possible to consult an archive of past conferences. 

Speed Networking Session at CALL 2024 Conference

The New Professionals Special Interest Group of CALL (Canadian Association of Law Libraries) is looking for professionals from different kinds of law libraries to participate  in a Speed Networking Event at the association's upcoming annual conference in Montreal at the end of June.

The goal is to encourage connections and dialogue between experienced Legal Information Professionals and students, graduates, and new professionals. 

The event will be set up with professionals at tables and attendees rotating at 12 minute intervals. There will be icebreaker questions to get discussions started.

People attending the CALL conference who are interested in participating in the Speed Networking Session should complete the appropriate form by May 8, 2024.

Supreme Court of Canada Calendar of April 2024 Hearings

The Supreme Court of Canada has published its calendar of upcoming appeals that will be heard later this month.

To find out more about any particular case, click on a case number in parentheses to find docket information, case summaries as well as factums from the parties and any interveners.

Supreme Court of Canada Releases 2023 Year in Review

The Supreme Court of Canada has released its annual report 2023 Year in Review.

This is the 6th edition of the annual report that covers the Court's activities over the past year, including information about decisions and statistics.