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Free Government Information (FGI) is a place for initiating dialogue and building consensus among the various players (libraries, government agencies, non-profit organizations, researchers, journalists, etc.) who have a stake in the preservation of and perpetual free access to government information. FGI promotes free government information through collaboration, education, advocacy and research.

State Agency Databases Activity Report March 30, 1014

It was a busy week for the volunteers at the State Agency Databases Project at http://wikis.ala.org/godort/index.php/State_Agency_Databases.

NO MORE ORPHANS!

In the past week, Mississippi was adopted by Aimee Slater of Brooklyn College and Virginia was adopted by Louise Buckley of University of New Hampshire.

In the past we have had requests for pages on US Territories and sub-state jurisdictions in the project. If you would like to start a page for such a government, let’s talk.

FEATURED DATABASE

Today’s featured database is from Marilyn Von Seggern who maintains the Washington page:

Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological Records Data (WISAARD)   http://www.dahp.wa.gov/learn-and-research/find-a-historic-place

WISAARD is a searchable GIS map tool and database of over 1800 registered historical sites and over 300,000 inventoried sites including images, a summary of the significance, and a link to the nomination document. Simple or advanced searches may be initiated via map or by text query for historic name, address, city, county, architectural style, built date, historic use, architect, and listing status. Information on archaeological sites is limited to prevent vandalism.

The database, funded with a grant from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, won the 2010 Intergovernmental Solutions Award from the American Council for Technology.

For example, one can view the Fort Columbia Barracks in Ilwaco, WA, view a photo of the building which was built in Queen Anne style in 1903, and view the Historic Property Inventory Report.

 

DATABASE CHANGES

See the full story of the last week’s changes by visiting http://tinyurl.com/statedbs. Below are some highlights of the week.

 

PAGES WITH UPDATED LINKS

 

DATABASES ADDED

KANSAS (Pam Crawford)

Lesson Plans and Other Resources – This Kansas Educational Resource Center site offers resource-type, topic and/or grade-level searching.

KENTUCKY (Glen McAninch)

KRS search – Keyword search of Kentucky revised statutes.

VIRGINIA (Louise Buckley)

License Lookup & Disciplinary Actions – This resource allows users to check the license status and complaint history of contractors; real estate individuals, businesses, and schools; cosmetologists; home inspectors; geologists; polygraph examiners; and more. The database is searchable by name, zip code, or license/certificate number, with the option to limit by area(s) of practice. There is also a separate keyword search for disciplinary actions occurring on or after April 1, 2002 for those records appearing in License Lookup.

 

DATABASES REMOVED

WISCONSIN (Mark Rozmarynowski)

Find a State Park, Forest or Trail – interactive map with annotations and links to specific park websites with maps, directions, current conditions and upcoming events. is a table listing parks and their facilities and amenities so that you can easily see which parks best suit your recreational needs. Former URL – http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/specific/findapark.html

Kentucky Shows How to Publish and Deposit Government Documents

The State of Kentucky has developed a best-practices manual for publishing — and depositing — government documents digitally.

The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) has been the official repository for Kentucky state agency publications since 1958

…Kentucky state agencies are required to send their publications to KDLA. The Public Records Division (PRD) and State Library Services (SLS) at KDLA work together not only to provide access to the valuable information contained in state agency publications, but also to preserve the publications for future generations.

The handbook says that “Electronic publications should be forwarded in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).” We would love to see all U.S. government publications in PDF format deposited in FDLP libraries. It would be a great first step toward digital deposit of all government information.

Other Transparency Measures

Yesterday, I posted an entry about Maryland’s new accountability website. There are other states and non-profits that have taken similar efforts. The ones that I came across are:

On 01/05/09, Georgia launched the Open Georgia: Transparency in Government – Not only does it provide information, but also solicits feedback from the public.

On 01/01/09, Kentucky started the Open Door: Kentucky’s Portal to eTransparency. There are plans to provide a new Budget Builder Game and also educational materials.

Websites launched in 2007 & 2008

Missouri – Missouri Accountability Portal (MAP)

Nebraska – Nebraska.Spending.com

Oklahoma – Open Books: Oklahoma’s Finances Online

Texas – Window on State Government

Alaska – Checkbook Online

Kansas – KanView

Louisiana – Louisiana Transparency and Accountability (LaTrac)

Maine – MaineOpenGov.org

New York – SeeThroughNY

South Carolina – South Carolina Spending Transprency

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