Charles
Hillingdon does have a link to Amazon
We did check the legality of this service with our legal
people and we also got much useful information from Kensington & Chelsea
who had already a link with Amazon. You may wish to check the K&C site for their
disclaimer
http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/Help/linking/amazon.asp
As I understand it, the Local Government Act 2000 allows you
to provide services for profit provided that those services promote or improve
the economic social or environmental well being of the area. It is OK If the
money goes to extra services that are not normally provided by the normal revenue.
Cheers
Derrick
Derrick Fernandes
ICT & Information Services Development Manager
Planning and Community Services
Library services
Uxbrdge Central Library
High Street
Uxbridge
UB8 1HD
01895 250701
[log in to unmask]
From:
lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Charles Pettit
Sent: 18 May 2007 15:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Amazon link from online
catalogue
Oxfordshire would like to provide a link to Amazon from our
online library catalogue. We see this as primarily a facility that will assist
our users, though we do not see it as a disadvantage that it may bring in a
little income. We are aware that many other library authorities provide a link
to Amazon from their catalogue, and the mechanics seem fairly straightforward
both as regards Amazon and our LMS supplier.
However we have been informed by our legal section that it
is “unlikely” that we have the legal power to provide a link to
Amazon and to earn commission from any sales generated. This has come as both a
blow and a considerable surprise.
I would be most grateful if those authorities which do
provide a link to Amazon could let me know how they have resolved this issue of
legal powers.
Also, are there other authorities out there that would have
liked to implement Amazon links but have been unable to do so in the light of
advice from their legal departments?
Cultural
Services, Holton,
( 01865 810221
Email: