Michigan marks a milestone in book digitization
The librarians at the University of Michigan/Google book digitization project - called the "MBook Project" - had cause to celebrate on Friday as they digitized the millionth book in their collection, leaving just 6.5 million more to go. Michigan is one of the only institutions partnering with Google to agree to scan every one of its holdings — even those that are still covered by copyright. The MBooks project provides full text of works that are in the public domain, creating new ways for users to search and access U-M Library content (anyone can access this digital content). Materials that are currently in copyright are available for searching on-line, allowing users to assess the contents of a book before deciding whether to purchase it or borrow it from the library. Are there any govdocs in the collection? A quick search in their catalog did turn up some govdocs, beautifully digitized. I went to the Mirlyn library catalog (very nice OPAC, btw) and did an Advanced Search using keyword Subcommittee AND Titleword =Congress AND titleword= Hearing* and searched just the format= Electronic Resource (according to their FAQ, that's the way to find the MBook content). I got 3064 hits ranging in date from 1896 to 2007 - for example, this 1935 digitized hearing before "a subcommittee of the Committee on military affairs, United States Senate, 74th Congress, on S. 1404, a bill to promote the efficiency of national defense." We don't even have the microfiche in my law library. So the good news is that there are digitized Congressional hearings freely available to the public in the MBook project. For some reason, though, I have found that a number of them, like this 1924 hearing, come up as "Search Only: Page images and full text of this item are not available due to copyright restrictions." I thought there weren't any copyright restrictions on government documents.
Continue readingAIDS.gov blog on how to use new media to fight AIDS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of AIDS Policy website AIDS.gov. has recently launched a blog blog.aids.gov for discussions of effective ways of using new media tools in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Each Tuesday morning they post information from an interview with leading new media and HIV/AIDS professionals, summarize the interview and reflect on ways AIDS.gov and others can implement new media. They invite comments!
Continue readingThe Transportation Security Administration has a blog
Yes it's true. The Transportation Security Administration, those people who xray your suitcase and make you take your shoes off at the airport, has started a blog called Evolution of Security with the blog description "Terrorists Evolve. Threats Evolve. Security Must Stay Ahead. You Play A Part.
And it's (gasp) clever! Take for example the opening sentence of a Feb. 1 post: "Throughout the ages, there have been many unanswered questions that continue to baffle the human race. Who built Stonehenge? Is there life on other planets? Why does the TSA make me place my liquids in a clear sealable baggie?" There are even a couple of videos about why they do what they do, and they promise more. Transparency and humor from the government. Thank you. I'm so pleased that I won't even ask about the mascara they stole appropriated from my toiletry bag last year. Continue reading
NTIA says we are “reaping the rewards” of government’s broadband policy
We have recently seen reports on the sorry state of broadband network access in the United States (New Broadband Report and Two More Stories About Broadband). Now, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has released an official view of the state of broadband in the U.S in which it emphasizes the fact that things aren't as bad as they used to be and calls that progress. It says that "America’s consumers are now reaping the rewards of the Administration’s pro-investment, deregulatory policies..."
- Networked Nation: Broadband In America 2007, National Telecommunications And Information Administration, United States Department of Commerce, January 2008
The report says that "broadband availability and subscribership have increased dramatically" but ignores the fact that the U.S. has fallen from fourth to 15th in the world in broadband penetration. This is pure politics, it ignores reality, and does nothing to help us move forward.
The report says, "...the Administration has implemented a comprehensive and integrated package of technology, regulatory, and fiscal policies designed to lower barriers and create an environment in which broadband innovation and competition can flourish. The results have been striking." "Strikingly bad" is how most of the recent independent reports would describe the results.
- We have a broadband strategy? Bush administration says "yes" in cheerleading report, By Nate Anderson, ars technica, January 31, 2008
- Ignoring Reality, Bush Declares Broadband Mission Accomplished, press release, Free Press, January 31, 2008
More here.
Continue readingNational Dialogue on Open Government and Secrecy: Sunshine Week 2008
There's a new, updated “Save the Date” announcement for the Third National Dialogue on Open Government and Secrecy, that will take place on March 19, 2008 from 1 - 2:30 PM (EST) on the Open the Government website. The topic is "Government Secrecy: Censoring Your Right to Know" You can participate in person at the National Press Club in Washington DC, or join the conversation online anywhere. The scheduled discussions are: The Secret Executive -- What Can Congress and the Public Do? Confirmed Speakers: Mickey Edwards, Director of the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership and former Republican member of Congress from Oklahoma for 16 years (1977-92), Ann Beeson, Director of U.S. Programs at the Open Society Institute and previously Associate Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union, and John Podesta, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for American Progress, Chief of Staff to President William J. Clinton from October 1998 until January 2001, and formerly in senior staff positions in Congress, will discuss executive branch power and secrecy, congressional rights and responsibilities, and the role of the press in combating government secrecy. Patrice McDermott, Director of OpenTheGovernment.org, will moderate the discussion. Citizen Self-Help: Finding the Information You Need We will be visiting and talking with creators of web sites that help the public avoid having to file official requests or go to offices and meetings to learn what our government is doing. These sites make hard-to-find government information -- federal, state and local -- easy for the public to find and use and may inspire you to do likewise. A quick report will be given, as well, on an initiative to develop a 21st Century Right-to-Know agenda and recommendations for the next President and Congress. In each segment, opportunities will be available for audience questions from all participants. There's lots more information on the Open the Government dot org website. The Sunshine Week website has information about activities for Sunshine Week, March 16 - 22, 2008. Continue reading