[Publib] A Question of Confidentiality

[Karen Mahnk]

 Many authors write about true cases. Such cases are public record. In
fact, attys often argue venue change using news coverage as supporting
evidence.  - In at least one case, I had to testify  in court as a
research librarian that the news items covering the event were
retrieved during a period from a particular news provider. - The only
thing that is private is atty/client privilege & anything not in
public record. That may require permission &/or royalties. If it's
about someone incacarated, they may not profit from any writings as of
the last time I checked.
 Karen
Karen Mahnk,
Reference Librarian
Lake Park Public Library
529 Park Avenue
Lake Park, Fl., 33403
561 881-3330 Fax: 561881-3336
kmahnk at lakeparkflorida.gov
www.lakepark-fl.gov




On 7/19/06, Donna Scanlon <dscanlon at lancaster.lib.pa.us> wrote:
> How did I get from point a to point b, allow me to elucidate. In the article, she mentions a case of a skeleton found hanging in the forest. Now, that's not likely to happen too often, I should think. Could that not be identifiable? Could not someone read or see that and think "Oh my God! Uncle Ned! They used poor Uncle Ned in this book/tv program!"? That's using an old case that can be identified, is it not?
>
> On the other hand, the person might be as likely to say "Uncle Ned! Look honey, she used Uncle Ned in this book/tv show."
>
> Regardless, it's clear to me that this horse is dead, and it's time to dismount.
>
> Donna
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> From: "Tobin, Karen" <TobinK at town.sudbury.ma.us>
> Date:  Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:48:08 -0400
>
> >I don't think anyone was upset, per se. Perhaps surprised, but not
> >upset.
> >
> >Back in your original message, you said "it seems to me that she
> >shouldn't be using actual cases that can be identified." I don't
> >understand how you got from "uses old cases of hers as the basis not
> >only for her novels but also the series 'Bones.'" To "actual cases that
> >CAN BE IDENTIFIED." Because that WOULD be a breach. Many authors dip
> >into their own personal and professional lives for their material, but
> >most who do would tell you it's more matter of a detail here and a
> >detail there, not a blow by blow account of one discrete incident.
> >
> >Karen M. Tobin
> >Assistant Director
> >Goodnow Library
> >21 Concord Rd
> >Sudbury MA  01776
> >TobinK at town.sudbury.ma.us
> >978-443-1035 x228
> >http://library.sudbury.ma.us
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-
> >> bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Donna Scanlon
> >> Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 7:04 PM
> >> To: Publib list
> >> Subject: RE: [Publib] A Question of Confidentiality
> >>
> >> >She's a PhD, a board certified anthropologist and a professor at a
> >major
> >> >university. I have no doubt that she understands what is and is not
> >> >appropriate.
> >>
> >> Goodness! I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone by my simple
> >musing!
> >> But that being said:
> >>
> >> 1) It is because of her credentials that I was so surprised by the
> >> article--I would expect her to be scrupulous about confidentiality.
> >>
> >> and
> >>
> >> 2) Academic credentials are not necessarily an automatic guarantee of
> >> anything. <shrug> It shouldn't be that way, but I see it a lot.
> >>
> >> I'm sorry if I upset you or anyone else. It just struck me as odd.
> >Perhaps
> >> the almost cavalier tone of the article was what made me ask. It
> >seemed
> >> that it was an appropriate question for this venue.
> >>
> >> Donna
> >>
> >> --
> >> *&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
> >> Donna Scanlon
> >> Reference Librarian
> >> Lancaster County Library
> >> 125 N. Duke Street
> >> Lancaster PA
> >>
> >> 717-396-9313 x109
> >> dscanlon at dejazzd.com
> >>
> >> BookTalk @ Duke Street, a reader's advisory blog
> >> http://lplbooktalk.blogspot.com
> >> --
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Publib mailing list
> >> Publib at webjunction.org
> >> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
> >
> >---
> >[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus]
> >
> >
>
> --
> *&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
> Donna Scanlon
> Reference Librarian
> Lancaster County Library
> 125 N. Duke Street
> Lancaster PA
>
> 717-396-9313 x109
> dscanlon at dejazzd.com
>
> BookTalk @ Duke Street, a reader's advisory blog
> http://lplbooktalk.blogspot.com
> --
> _______________________________________________
> Publib mailing list
> Publib at webjunction.org
> http://lists.webjunction.org/mailman/listinfo/publib
>


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