A trend in libraries that is not limited to government documents
In her published remarks at the Spring 2005 Depository Library Council meeting, Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) Judy Russell made this statement towards the end of her remarks: We will continue working with you on an orderly, but accelerated, transition to a digital FDLP. This will continue to cause depository librarians to transform themselves from managers of collections into managers of electronic services, a trend in libraries that is not limited to government documents. Ms. Russell is right that parts of librarianship are forcing librarians "to transform themselves from managers of collections into managers of electronic services." This is especially true in serials. But this seeming throwaway line hides a lot of potentially difficult issues that the Government Printing Office (GPO) MUST address while developing plans for the future. A major trend in serials is moving away from physical collections of journals to subscriptions to massive "big deal" aggregations. In many ways this is a boon to libraries everywhere. For example, Alaska has a statewide EBSCOhost license that gives even the smallest village library access to over 8,000 full text journals, magazines and full text books. Without such a license, no library could afford a fraction of what EBSCOhost can offer. EBSCOhost is really cool and if you don't have it already, you should ask for a trial. Continue reading
Official GPO Spring DLC Proceedings starting to become available
A month after the close of the Spring 2005 DLC Council meeting, the Government Printing Office (GPO) has begun to post its official proceedings at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/proceedings/05spring. As of May 23, 2005 only two items were available at the official site:
- GPO Update Handout - PDF
- Judy Russell, Superintendent of Documents Remarks of the Superintendent of Documents - PDF
Fingerprinting Library Users
Ill. Library Getting Fingerprint Scanners The Associated Press Friday, May 20, 2005; Washington Post.
NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Library officials in this suburb west of Chicago have come up with a high-tech solution for keeping unauthorized visitors from using their computers: fingerprint scans. The scanners _ to be installed on 130 library computers this summer _ will verify the identity of computer users.Continue reading
Pennsylvania survey of access to public records
A series of articles about access to public records in Pennsylvania:
Obtaining public records can be a challenge By FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS Bucks County Courier Times, phillyBurbs.com May 22, 2005
Government offices wrongly giving public less access than press By MARK SCOLFORO, phillyBurbs.com, May 22, 2005.
Survey finds barriers to public records _ and ways to overcome By MARK SCOLFORO, phillyBurbs.com, May 22, 2005.
"Many government offices in Bucks County and across Pennsylvania treat requests for basic public records and documents with suspicion, hindering or even denying prompt access, a survey of almost 700 government offices found."
Continue readingIMLS invites proposals on government information access
PROGRAM SOLICITATION for a Cooperative Agreement to STUDY USER SATISFACTION WITH ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AND SERVICES AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC ACCESS COMPUTING CENTERS Issued by Institute of Museum and Library Services Office of Library Services
"The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) invites proposals for a project to conduct a research study on how the part of the population with limited access to Internet resources (individuals who do not have broadband access from home, work, or school; who choose to access government services and information from locations other than home, work, or school; or who do so through traditional means of access) accesses federal, state and local government services and information, and whether such users are satisfied with the information and services they are able to access. Additionally, the study shall examine the ways that public libraries and public access computing centers provide assistance (e.g., reference services, tutorials, classes, training) to users seeking federal, state, and local government information and services."
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