Dear all,

The following link is a commentary note of the Library Copyright Alliance’s members (ALA, ARL, AALL, SLA and MLA) on the proposed United States-Malaysia Free Trade Agreement (http://www.sla.org/pdfs/advocacy/050906MalaysiaFTAFINALcomments.pdf). The comments touch on the following areas:

1. The critical role of America’s libraries
2. The need to protect the ability of libraries to provide core library services
3. The Malaysia FTA must permit the United States to protect the right of libraries to access, preserve and provide public access to information
4. The Malaysia FTA must permit local, state and federal government support for publicly supported libraries, and
5. USTR must provide for timely, informed and transparent public comment on the draft text.

I have only a faint idea of what we are getting out of the Agreement because we have not been briefed by PPM the impact of the Agreement to the library sector in Malaysia. I wonder how we may reciprocate under the Agreement. Similarly, in view of some internal restrictions, we may be hampered in extending our full cooperation to our counterparts. Good to hear some comments from you on this.
 
 
Regards

Shaikh Mohamed Noordin