Even worse, it means that American libraries cannot legally copy records made before 1972 to digital formats for the purpose of preservation not unless those records have already deteriorated to the point where they may soon become unplayable.

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However, the American Library Association claims the program has revolutionized libraries, allowing them to provide public Internet access and other services that would disappear if the program were cut.

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Along with CCIA, the American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries, Ebay, Redbox, Overstock.com and others have joined ORI in a collective effort to secure legislative protections for the first sale doctrine.

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In addition to forming partnerships with libraries, the company has signed contracts with nearly every major American publisher.

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Companies are holding "American Idol"-esque singing contests, sponsoring dating events, constructing libraries and karaoke rooms on campus, and organizing small dinners between managers and top workers.

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Missing were the kind of sparks you'd expect when, say, representatives of the American Library Association share a drafty hotel ballroom with members of Family-Friendly Libraries.

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The Association of American Publishers is suing Google over its plans to scan the contents of several major libraries, fearing large-scale copyright infringement.

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Writing just a few years after the birth of the Web, Oldenburg was lamenting the disappearance of cafes, taverns, restaurants, libraries, and other public places that were instrumental to the development of American civic life.

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