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.

Canadian Federation of Library Associations Spring 2024 Update

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA) has published an update about its recent activities.

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries is a member of the Federation. 

There are updates about governance, intellectual freedom, copyright, climate action, Indigenous matters, and more.

Most Recent Intake Report on Canadian Self-Represented Litigants

The National Self-Represented Litigants Project (NSRLP)  conducts research into access to justice issues, in particular those concerning people who cannot afford a lawyer and must represent themselves ("self-reps")

Every few years, it produces a report based on demographic data it has collected from self-reps.

The 2021-2023 Self-Represented Litigant Intake Report is now available.

The report includes demographic data, describes what kinds of legal help people are seeking as well as the barriers they face when trying to access justice.

The NSRLP is funded by the Law Foundation of Ontario and the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law.

Interview with New Chair of Canadian Federation of Library Associations

The website of the International Federation of Library Associations recently published an interview with Andrea Cecchetto, the new chair of the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA).

The CFLA is a Canada-wide federation of associations, including the Canadian Association of Law Libraries.

In the interview Cecchetto addresses many topics, including the Federation's recently adopted strategic plan:

"Our new strategic plan also focuses strongly on advocacy. When we were developing this plan last year, we reached out to members and ‘advocacy’ was by far the most common priority identified as a strategic goal. We have objectives around formal government relations work with the federal government, but also goals to collaborate with other national associations and agencies on joint issues. To give a couple of examples, CFLA-FCAB has a very active Copyright committee that pulls together expertise from both academic and public sector knowledge specialists. Our Intellectual Freedom Committee recently announced a joint project with the Centre for Free Expression to track IF challenges across the country. Our newest committee, the Climate Action Committee, compliments work that is happening regionally through provincial associations by focusing on Federal stakeholders – this committee secured federal funding for a national campaign which would have been inaccessible for regional organizations, but which ultimately secures a different platform to amplify their work. These are some examples of how we will focus our efforts on strengthening capacity for the Canadian library sector through collaboration."

Invitation to Participate in Global Review of the Federal Courts Rules

The Federal Courts Rules Committee is inviting comments as part of a global review of the Federal Courts Rules:

"The areas for discussion identified by the 2024 Sub-Committee encompass several broad and recurring themes. Most of the proposed changes are intended to update the Rules to reflect technological advances and current procedures. For example:

1. Update the Rules to permit electronic service and filing of documents throughout;
2. Remove references to anachronistic practices and technology;
3. Incorporate important elements from the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA)’s Consolidated Practice Direction and the Federal Court (FC)’s Amended Consolidated General Practice Guidelines (collectively the “Practice Directions”);
4. Amend the Rules to reflect jurisprudential developments;
5. Increase the monetary limit for simplified actions;
6. Expand the role of associate judges;
7. Grant a limited discretionary power to the registry to accept or refuse non-compliant documents;
8. Revise the Rules governing class actions to reflect procedural changes in the provinces; and
9. Miscellaneous amendments."

The consultation period ends on July 2, 2024.

The current version of the Rules can be found on many sites, including CanLII.

Association of Research Libraries Report on Evolving AI Strategies in US and Canadian University Libraries

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has published a new report on Evolving AI Strategies in Libraries: Insights from Two Polls of ARL Member Representatives over Nine Months.

The ARL is an organization of more than 100 research libraries at major universities in Canada and the United States.

Close to half the member institutions completed the surveys conducted by the Association. A first survey was conducted in April 2023 and a second one in December 2023.

"The survey was designed to elicit both structured and open-ended responses, allowing members to share their perspectives on key aspects concerning AI in libraries (...) The primary areas of focus include their views on the potential impact of AI on library services, the extent of current AI exploration and implementation within their libraries, and the identification of potential AI applications that they find most relevant. The survey instrument did not change significantly between the April and December survey periods. We did add a few answer choices to reflect new uses of AI in library infrastructure and services. Overall, this methodological approach offers a nuanced understanding of the research libraries’ views, enabling a comprehensive analysis of their attitudes, strategies, and anticipations regarding AI integration in the library environment."

Canadian Association of Law Libraries Upcoming Webinar on Data Analytics

The Canadian Association of Law Libraries (CALL) is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 1:30-2:30 ET on Introduction to Data Analytics.

The speaker is Sarah A. Sutherland, Parallax Information Consulting:

"Information professionals often perform basic data analytics, scrutinizing what has happened in the past, as part of the decision-making process and to optimize operation efficiencies, among other reasons. In this session, attendees will obtain a general overview of the different types of data analytics and the circumstances in which each can be utilized. They will also gain an understanding of the forms of data analysis that law firms are/should be implementing, and the benefits of doing so. Attendees are encouraged to share their experiences. What internal data analysis is your employer implementing? What legal data are you being asked to track down and what data analytics resources do you subscribe to?"

The CALL National Office will soon send out the registration link.