As an Idahoan, I was excited to learn that the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the Idaho state legislature have made preserving and providing digital access to government publications and other information a priority.

First a little background: the Idaho Commission for Libraries is the State Library of Idaho, and assists libraries throughout the state to build the capacity to better serve their clientele. The Commission has been charged with the responsibility of establishing and maintaining a digital repository of state publications in a publicly accessible database in revised Idaho Code 33-2505. Many state publications are preserved and made available online here.

To further achieve this end, the Idaho Commission for Libraries has used Archive-it to preserve Idaho state government websites in their Idaho Digital Publications collection. This collection includes websites for state departments, universities, local and statewide initiatives, and even the first lady’s website. Check it out!

-Lori

Thanks James! And greetings to FGI readers! A couple of recent posts piqued my interest over the last few days ---

The first is from the wonderful community of booklovers at the LibraryThing about Thomas Jefferson: a fascinating exercise in "social bibliographic control."  

The second is an announcement from the institution that owes much to Jefferson's library, the Library of Congress, and its news release that describes its efforts to preserve state government information -- Digital Preservation Program Adds New Partners To Preserve State Government Digital Information. Just another indication that the best preservation efforts are often multi-institutional.

Finally, not to leave the civil rights stones unturned, here is an article that describes the legal troubles over border inspectors asking folks coming into the United States to turn on their laptops and show the officials what is on the hard drive. Setting Boundaries at Borders: Reconciling Laptop Searches and Privacy.

Looking forward to much discussion and reading, and thanks for the opportunity to join the conversation.

jashuler