Help edit the “Preserving Data in Government Act of 2017”
This is a very cool idea as well as an important policy statement. Sunlight Foundation and a diverse coalition of government transparency, data innovation, scientific groups and environment defense advocates have come together to advocate for the “Preserving Data in Government Act of 2017”, which was recently introduced in the Senate. Sunlight has put the bill up on Madison, the site that allows for public collaboration on policy documents. So here’s your chance to read the bill and add your comments and suggestions to make the bill better!
This bill, which was introduced in the U.S. Senate this spring, would require federal agencies to preserve public access to data sets and prevent the removal of those data sets from the Internet without sufficient public notice. The Sunlight Foundation, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit that advocates for open government, supports the bill — but we want to make it better. You can comment on the full text of the Preserving Data in Government Act of 2017 below. Well make sure the Senate staff that drafted the bill see your contributions.
via The Preserving Data in Government Act of 2017 | Madison.
Earth & the Environment at State Agency Databases Project
This week’s State Agency Databases Project subject highlight is Earth & the Environment, featuring 44 states that project volunteers know to have publicly searchable databases in this subject area. Three examples from this compilation are:
Alabama Drought Conditions – Enter your zip code to view drought conditions in your area.
Abandoned-Inactive Mines Database – The Abandoned-Inactive Mines (AIM) database contains over 8,000 records and includes several data tables that include information on location (latitude/longitude and cadastral), ownership (as determined from 1:24,000-scale maps, GPS, or other sources), office and field screening results, and water/soil sampling (sample-ID, location, and field parameters). Login is required but is free.
Wisconsin Herbaria Plant Specimen Database – Over 250,000 records for Wisconsin’s vascular plants. Searchable by name, genus, species, location, habitat, and more. Created by the Wisconsin State Herbarium.
For more, see http://godort.libguides.com/earthdbs. If you know of state agency produced databases in this area, either comment here or use the “Email me” link on the guide to report a database, which will be forwarded to the appropriate project volunteer.
NARA to offer digitized papers of Obama administration
In a press release today, The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) announced a “new model for the preservation and accessibility of Presidential records.” The Obama Foundation has announced its commitment to fund the digitization of all of the unclassified Presidential records created during the administration of President Barack Obama and NARA says that, “Instead of constructing a building to house the textual and artifact records, existing NARA facilities will house the original materials.”
In this new model, NARA will administer neither a museum nor a traditional “Presidential Library,” and will instead focus its resources and personnel on preserving and making accessible the Presidential records of the 44th President of the United States in digital format to the greatest extent possible.
…Once the records are digitized, NARA will store and preserve the original paper records, as well as the artifacts, in an existing facility that meets NARA’s high standards for archival storage.
… In addition to the paper records, NARA received more than 250 terabytes of electronic records, including approximately 300 million emails, from the Obama White House. Together, these “born digital” and the digitized materials will represent the largest digital archive of Presidential records.
Gary Price at InfoDocket has the complete text of the NARA announcement.
State of Mississippi Breaks All Its URLs
Carl Malamud noticed that the State of Mississippi relaunched their web site and INVALIDATED EVERY SINGLE URL!
The generic 404 error message delivered by the state’s website says:
The SOS site has recently been redesigned and relaunched and the addresses for most pages and files have now changed
Pointing to government websites is neither effective nor efficient. Selecting and Acquiring and Organizing digital government information into library Digital Collections is the best, most efficient and effective way to preserve that information and ensure long-term access to it for your Designated Communities.
Crime, Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement at State Agency Databases Project
This week’s State Agency Databases Project subject highlight is Crime, Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement. This guide is one of the few cases where all 50 states and the District of Columbia have at least one publicly searchable database in a subject area. Three examples from this compilation are:
Alabama Blue Alert Search – Blue Alert is activated when a local, state or federal law enforcement officer in Alabama has been killed or seriously injured and the perpetrator is at large. Browse or search by name, city, state, or status.
Hawaii Statewide Automated Victim Information & Notification (SAVIN) – Search and Register for Offenders – Hawaii SAVIN offers victims and concerned citizens free, anonymous, and confidential access to timely information and notification 24-hours a day, 365 days a year on the custody and parole status of offenders under the jurisdiction of the State Of Hawaii’s Department of Public Safety. Search by Offender ID or Offender’s First and Last Name and enter the Date of Birth and age range if known.
South Dakota Missing Persons – The South Dakota Missing Persons Clearinghouse acts as a liaison for families and law enforcement to provide contacts and resources that can assist in the search for missing persons.
For more, see http://godort.libguides.com/crimedbs. If you know of state agency produced databases in this area, either comment here or use the “Email me” link on the guide to report a database, which will be forwarded to the appropriate project volunteer.
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