Notable Government Documents 2007: Content and Access Remain Key

By Linda B. Johnson -- Library Journal, 5/15/2007

It is impossible to review the year's outstanding government publication landscape without acknowledging that change remains paramount (see “Opportunity, Vision, Change,” LJ 5/15/06, p. 52). Just as striking, however, is that these changes go hand in hand with some familiar constants. Within this shifting environment, there are the consistency and dependability of government information itself, regardless of format or method of delivery. The ongoing dialog surrounding free access to government information is balanced against the, at times, compelling need for security and privacy; the continuing privatization of government information publishing; and the growing prevalence of digital versions replacing tangible texts, frequently with little attention paid to archiving the electronic version not just for tomorrow but for 50 to 100 years from now.

The third national Sunshine Week (March 11–17, 2007) and the 33rd Annual National Library Legislative Day (May 1–2, 2007) encouraged the public, information professionals, journalists, policymakers, and others to advocate for a variety of information access issues. The Federal Research Public Access Act of 2006, which would have required that a large portion of federal research be posted online within six months of publication, nicely illustrates the intersection of access with digital format concerns. Although it failed to pass, the idea will undoubtedly reappear, given its wide support.

Federally speaking, the Government Printing Office (GPO) progresses in its transition from a “print-centric” to a “content-centric” system with the continued development of its integrated information management system, the Future Digital Content System (FDsys). The goal is to include and provide access to all government documents, whether born-print or -digital.

These are laudable if ambitious goals given the climate of privatization that surrounds some government publishing. Case in point, the GPO provided depository libraries with both permanent electronic access and paper copies of the long-awaited document The Iraq Study Group Report. Although the study committee was formed at the behest of Congress, the independent U.S. Institute of Peace served as facilitator, and the report was published by a commercial vendor rather than the GPO—something unlikely to occur in the past with a report of this importance. Additionally, the web version went through some changes after posting, which created initial questions as to what was the “true copy” on the web.

At all levels of government, but especially as regards state-based information, there is a wide variance in the awareness and initiatives to archive electronic titles and web pages. In many states, document librarians are seeing even shorter print runs. The result is an inability to secure a permanent copy in any format, with no assurance that the electronic version will be preserved. The Washington State Library, however, hopes to provide an excellent model for others by funding the capture and preservation of Washington state electronic publications with the goal to make them permanently accessible.

The closing of government libraries is a relatively new phenomenon, one that presents a major access issue. Such closings don't necessarily accompany funding to fulfill the expectation that the materials will be digitized and made remotely available to libraries, scientists, researchers, and members of the public. The most controversial initiative in 2006 was the closure of five of the 26 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) libraries. What started as discussion among information professionals gained national momentum with Senate hearings at which American Library Association president Leslie Burger testified to the importance of these tangible collections and the professional expertise of their staffs. Recently, this issue emerged in Canada as well. The permanent fate of the British Columbia Legislative Library was cause for much speculation as the library moved to a temporary location during seismic updating of the existing building.

These threats collide with the growth of e-government. The availability of electronic government information has led to the increased likelihood that federal and state agencies will refer users to public libraries not only for help in obtaining government forms but also for assistance in filling them out. What can be both an opportunity and a challenge for mostly public libraries is now seen as an unfunded mandate (see “Drafted: I Want You To Deliver E-government,” LJ 8/06, p. 34). Nevertheless, it is not lost on the library community that, with appropriate support, responding to this need could make libraries even more essential to their users.

The government documents highlighted below fall readily into the topics and issues governments have historically addressed, including the environment, disaster preparedness and response, terrorism, health concerns, and the condition and treatment of vulnerable populations. Self-help materials devoted to achieving financial security and recognizing and avoiding insect hazards made the grade this year as well. Finally, there are those publications that document or celebrate a historic event or feature a particular artist. Many more of the 2006 documents are available electronically or can be obtained from the individual authoring agency rather than the centralized GPO. The following documents illustrate government publishing at its very best.