Rovere on Privacy (1958)
The technological erosion of privacy has been an important issue for a long time. Richard H. Rovere's article is as timely today as the day he wrote it almost 50 years ago, but his analysis of the issues is clearer, more complete, and more rational than most of what we hear today.
- The Invasion of Privacy: Technology and the Claims of Community, by Richard H. Rovere, The American Scholar, Autumn 1958 issue.
But the fact of the matter is that it is not narcotics peddlers whose privacy has been more efficiently violated by the use of the new techniques; the net has not been drawn tighter against society’s enemies — it has simply been spread for a larger catch…. It is one thing to deceive and trap a dope pusher by almost any means available, and quite another to tap the phone of, let us say, a philanthropic foundation on the chance of turning up a relationship between it and some citizen of a heretical turn of mind.Rovere wrote the "Washington" (later "Affairs of State") column for The New Yorker for more than 30 years, until his death in 1979. Continue reading
Federated Search Systems For Government Information
Exploring the deep web Internal and external federated systems lead users to treasures that regular search engines can't find By Drew Robb, GCN, 06/04/07 issue.
Google makes search look simple, but in fact, search is not simple, particularly when completeness is important. ...Public search engines may be fine for locating a hotel in Singapore, but not for professional research.Continue reading
UW Libraries leverage digital content with Wikipedia
Not strictly documents related, but the latest issue of D-Lib features a library using Wikipedia in a ethical way to raise awareness and usage of their digital materials: Lally, Ann M., and Carolyn E. Dunford. "Using Wikipedia to Extend Digital Collections" D-Lib Magazine 13(5/6)(May/June 2007)(http://www.dlib.org/dlib/may07/lally/05lally.html) The UW folks seems to have good before and after tables and graphs to demonstrate that it has been well worth for librarians to add quality library-based content to Wikipedia. Anyone else in the documents world doing this besides UNT? Continue reading
Recess appointment for GPO Public Printer?
According to today's Roll Call, the confirmation process for GPO's Nominee for Public Printer, Robert Tapella, seems to be progressing *very* slowly if at all. No confirmation proceedings have yet been scheduled. Might we have a recess appointment ala John Bolton? Senate Takes Its Time With GPO Nominee - By Elizabeth Brotherton, Roll Call - June 6, 2007 (NOTE: Excerpts below since the Web site is subscription access only)
Nearly two weeks after President Bush revealed his choice for the next public printer, Government Printing Office Chief of Staff Bob Tapella is still waiting for Congress to schedule confirmation proceedings on his promotion. But in the meantime, there remain a number of issues facing the GPO, from how its digital and technological transformation will continue to whether the agency will move into a new building - a primary goal of former Public Printer Bruce James. ..."A date for the hearing has not been set."? The GPO has been without a permanent head since James stepped down in January. Acting Public Printer William Turri has been leading the agency since that time - with Tapella as a close partner. The agency is in the midst of a number of technology initiatives, from making more government documents available online to implementing its Future Digital System, which would allow users to preserve, authenticate, manage and deliver federal documents digitally. ..."The Congress is dependent upon the ability of the GPO to provide printed and electronic versions of our legislative documents and the Congressional Record in a timely matter," he said. "With the increasing workload of Congress, the public printer needs to continue to assure the Congress that his agency will have the available resources to meet our legislative demands so that we can carry out our duties." ..."Turri ... is doing a competent job, and I hope the Senators will not feel rushed," Brady said. "GPO is the U.S. government's premier printing organization, among the largest in the world. I urge the Senate to give the nomination the careful scrutiny it deserves." Joint Printing ranking member Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) said he is "extremely pleased" with Tapella's nomination.Continue reading
McNeese State University docs dept gets del.icio.us
Over at the new Library 2.0 Government Documents Group, Rebecca Troy-Horton reports that her library's documents department has opened up a del.icio.us account at http://del.icio.us/MSUGovDoc. Her links are annotated and look like a good way to provide context to documents link. We at FGI look forward to seeing her growing list and seeing how Rebecca's tag cloud works out. If your local depository library has a del.icio.us account, would you let us know in comments below? Perhaps docs del.icio.us users could build a network like James R. has suggested from time to time. Knowing who we are is an important first step. Continue reading