Congress Considers PATRIOT Expansion Behind Closed Doors
The Senate Intelligence Committee is considering behind doors not only to renew the USA PATRIOT act -- including the infamous section 215 -- but to also expand the FBI's power to demand private records of people who aren't suspected of any crime - *without* a judge's approval. Say No to New PATRIOT I think the reality that USAPA will be continued and expanded confirms that the government documents community needs to challenge and fight against any future government controlled/ centralized government information system as the sole repository of all digital government information. Just imagine if the FBI knocks GPO door asking user information! They will already have it, or the ability to mine it without asking libraries or users' permission. Continue reading
OPEN Gov’t Act: Bipartisan Bill Strengthens Open Government
Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced the OPEN Government Act (S. 394) to reinforce openness in the federal government. The bill requires agencies to pay legal costs when they face with a lawsuit over improperly withheld records. The purpose of the bill is to make agencies more accountable for fulfilling public requests for documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The bill was introduced on Feb. 16 and a Judiciary Committee hearing was held March 15. The companion bill in the House, H.R. 867, now has 6 cosponsors. The OPEN Government Act of 2005: A Summary Continue reading
Public Printer Bruce James speech now available on audio
The plenary session for the spring DLC is now available in audio. The audio includes speeches by Public Printer Bruce James, co-director of the Office of Innovation and New Technology Mike Wash and a question-and-answer period with the Depository Library Council, Superintendent of Documents Judy Russell and DLC attendees. The audio is not of the best quality, so please use headphones for best results. As always, we'd like to hear your comments. Continue reading
Audio of GODORT session at Spring ’05 DLC now available
Much happened and was discussed at the Spring '05 Depository Library Council meeting in Albuquerque, NM (schedule and notes can be found here). Were you unable to attend? Have no fear. Here is an audio recording of the Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT) session on Monday evening, April 18, 2005. The panel, chaired by GODORT chair John Stevenson, included FGI's own James R. Jacobs, Elizabeth Cowell (Stanford University Library), Mary Alice Baish (American Association of Law Libraries), and Patrice McDermott (American Library Association (ALA) Washington Office). the discussion centered on issues surrounding the future of the Federal Depository Library Program. GODORT Secretary Nan Myers took notes. The audio will soon be linked from the GODORT website as well. Continue reading
DLC spring, 2005 handouts
Here are three more handouts from Spring DLC. They include:
- Future Digital System executive summary of phase 3
- ID71: Dissemination/distribution policy for the Federal Depository Library Program
- ID72: Withdrawal of Federal information products from GPO's information dissemination programs Continue reading
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