Video of Docs2.0 GODORT preconference
Last month, at ALA Annual Conference 2008, FGI volunteers participated in the GODORT preconference "Docs2.0: emerging web technologies for the government documents community". At long last, we've got the video of all the speakers up and available!! It's also available on the internet archive (slightly better quality video). You can now access all the slides, video, and notes from the preconference at the GODORT wiki. Speakers:
- James R. Jacobs, International Documents Librarian, Stanford University. "Social tagging for building subject portals"
- Amy West, Interim Head, Government Publications Library, University of Minnesota. "Integration of 2.0 tools like Instant Messaging (IM) for reference"
- Jim A. Jacobs, Data Librarian Emeritus, University of California at San Diego. "RSS for documents librarians"
- David Oldenkamp, International Studies Librarian, Indiana University. "Custom search engines with GoogleCSE"
- John Wonderlich, Program Director, Sunlight Foundation. (keynote) Open House Project
Surfing with an Unsafe Browser?
A comprehensive study entitled, "Understanding the Web browser threat: Examination of vulnerable online Web browser populations and the "insecurity iceberg"" was recently released. It concludes that only 60 percent of the world's Internet users surf with the latest, most-secure versions of their preferred browsers. Why is this important? Upgrading to the latest, most-secure version of your favorite browser will provide better protection from Web dangers, such as spyware, phishing, and viruses. It is also important because it relates to changes that are coming to the FDLP Desktop. A re-release of the FDLP Desktop is due in the next few months. This re-release will improve our dissemination of Program-related content and news, but also release new community-based interactivity. During the course of the redesign, our research has shown that many of our users are surfing with legacy browsers. In addition to these legacy browsers being vulnerable to various Web dangers, they are also not built to today's Web standards. While the upcoming re-release of the FDLP Desktop is being backcoded to allow for legacy browsers, such as IE6, we are not ensuring 100% compatibility. Meanwhile, users utilizing IE6 to surf the new Desktop will receive a warning at the top of their screen regarding the dangers of IE6 and an encouragement to upgrade. So, with that said, which browsers/versions should we be using? Based on the report, they are:
Stay tuned! Next week, I will be releasing more information about the upcoming re-release of the FDLP Desktop as well as some new tools that we have up our sleeves. Continue readingGPO Forecasting the Future With FDLP Partners
In administering the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) in partnership with Federal depository libraries, GPO relies heavily upon Title 44 of the United States Code, GPO's A Strategic Vision for the 21st Century (PDF) document, the Depository Library Council document Knowledge Will Forever Govern (PDF), along with policy documents, whitepapers, and of course feedback from our FDLP partners. At the Spring Depository Library Council Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, GPO had a session on Shaping and Transforming the Future of the FDLP. A deliverable from this session is that we are preparing a draft Strategic Plan for the next Federal Depository Library Conference and Fall Depository Library Council Meeting. I am very interested in your thoughts on additional sources of information GPO should consider as we prepare this document, thinking 10 or more years out into the future, and the impact of potential technology changes. As an example, if you have not seen The Elon University/Pew Internet Project site Imagining the Internet: A History and Forecast is worth reading. Of particular note is the Forward 150, Back 150 section. Continue reading
Chicago meeting of the Independent Government Observers Taskforce
I am SOOO bummed that I can't be in Chicago tomorrow and Tuesday, but I hope there are some Chicago area librarians who can make it to the first "non-conference" of the Independent Government Observers Taskforce (IGOTF). Carl Malamud and his posse has pulled together a group of Govt observistas to...
Doesn't that just sound like something in which libraries should be involved?!?!? To top it off, I just saw the agenda for the Municipal govt group (on google groups) and the first item is:
- Encourage technical coordination
- Encourage training and outreach efforts
- Raise visibility of efforts by citizens to increase transparency of government
- Determine the need for and arrive a plan for the creation of support services, such as scanning of archives or hosting of content.
Cataloging and standardization*So please, Please, PLEASE get yourself over to the Gleacher Conference Center at the University of Chicago tomorrow and Tuesday (Aug 4-5). If anyone DOES go, please drop updates in the comments or send notes to admin AT freegovinfo DOT info and we'll post to FGI!
How to make available data easier to find and work with (clearinghouses, indexes, formats, etc.)
LOGISTICS: August 4-5, 2008Continue reading
Gleacher Conference Center
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
Map ORGANIZER: Public.Resource.Org LOCALHOST: EveryBlock SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS: Omidyar Network
Sunlight Foundation
Yahoo!
Partnering With GPO
GPO recognizes that with the ever-increasing amount of electronic U.S. Government information, we need your help! Since 1997, depository libraries have worked with GPO to ensure permanent public access to electronic content and to provide services to assist other depositories and the public by becoming a GPO partner. Our recent partnerships include:
- Government Information Online: Ask A Librarian
- Homeland Security Digital Library
- Historical Publications of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights