LISNews: Librarian News

Anonymous Patron writes "A neat little piece at MercuryNews.com on a special humor tour of the National Archives in Washington. Some stuff the author saw is actually on public display, and some is hidden away in the ``stacks,'' which is an enormous warren of old files that has a distinctive smell and feel."

Anonymous Patron writes "White House Letter: Why is Bush reading Tom Wolfe? Don't ask: If you ask the White House what President George W. Bush is reading these days, the press office will call back with the official list: "His Excellency: George Washington," by Joseph J. Ellis, "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow and, not least, the Bible.

What the official list omits is Tom Wolfe's racy new beer- and sex-soaked novel, "I Am Charlotte Simmons." The president, a Wolfe fan, has not only read the book but is enthusiastically recommending it to friends."

One librarian's take on the role of (and need for) librarians in e-government projects:

There are many librarians involved in e-government projects. I chair a group of information professionals working in local government and many of its members will have been involved in e-government in one way or another. Librarians should be at the forefront as the provision of information is a key element; and that is what we do best.

I do not know if Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science are still taught but it would be interesting to apply these to e-government. The five laws are:

An ALA Washington Office Press Release is extremely disturbing, if correct:

ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 14, Number 6
January 27, 2005

In This Issue: Call for Oversight on GPO Initiatives

ACTION:

We are writing to ask you to contact your Members of Congress to tell them about GPO's proposed plan that would eliminate almost all print distribution to depository libraries beginning October 1, 2005. Urge them to support a call for an oversight hearing on the impact of the
Government Printing Office's (GPO) proposed initiatives and changes to the Federal Depository Library Program and the impact on the public's
permanent access to authentic government information.

Use our Legislative Action Center http://capwiz.com/ala/home/> to send a letter, or use the toll-free free number to call members of Congress: 1-800-839-5276.

We also urge you to send copies of your letters to Public Printer Bruce James (bjames@gpo.gov / fax: 202-512-1347) and to Superintendent of Documents Judith C. Russell (jrussell@gpo.gov / fax: 202-512-1432).

We will send out a separate ALAWON Alert on the GPO budget issue when their budget request is officially submitted.

BACKGROUND:

The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)was established by Congress more than 150 years ago as a geographically dispersed system to provide no-fee public access to government information and has proven to be a very successful partnership among Congress, federal agencies, the courts, the Government Printing Office (GPO), depository libraries, and the American public in ensuring the public's right to know.

At ALA's Midwinter Meeting in Boston, GPO informed the library community that their FY 2006 Salaries and Expenses (S&E) appropriations request for the FDLP will be for level funding (at the 2005 level), plus cost of living increases. One result of this request will be drastic changes in the distribution of print materials to our Nation's federal depository libraries. These proposed changes would take effect October 1, 2005.

Among the changes, the key is that GPO would produce and distribute in print only the 50 titles listed on the "Essential Titles for Public Use in Paper Format." The Essential Titles List
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/estitles.html", last revised in 2000, does not include important materials including maps, geological information, administrative decisions and other congressional
and legal materials, as well as Senate and House reports, documents, and hearings that inform the citizenry of the workings of Congress. All other agency information will be disseminated only in electronic format to depository libraries - whether they are equipped to handle this format adequately and whether or not this is the most usable format for their publics. This decision, if allowed to go forward, will have a profound negative impact on access to authenticated government information in formats most usable to the American public.

Second, to supplement the "Essential Titles" publications, GPO will initiate a Print on Demand (POD) Allowance Program of $500 for selective
depository libraries and $1500 for the 53 regional depository libraries for purchase of other titles. GPO is, in effect, asking Congress to support and depository libraries to accept a new fee-based Print on Demand Program that has not yet been established or tested. -- Read More