GODORT (Government Documents Round Table) RoundTable

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Discussion Contact your representatives to save NTIS

by James Jacobs on Fri, Jul 11, 2014 at 10:56 am

At the last ALA conference held 2 weeks ago, the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) passed a resolution in support of the NTIS. The text of the resolution is below. While the resolution passed GODORT, it has been sent back to ALA’s Committee on Legislation (COL) to work on some wording before being sent to ALA Council.

At the last ALA conference held 2 weeks ago, the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) passed a resolution in support of the NTIS. The text of the resolution is below. While the resolution passed GODORT, it has been sent back to ALA’s Committee on Legislation (COL) to work on some wording before being sent to ALA Council.

Though it hasn't passed big ALA yet, we’re sharing the text of the resolution now in the hopes that readers — especially those in OK, MO, NE, AZ, MT and WI — will contact their representatives to tell them to SAVE THE NTIS!

RESOLUTION ON PRESERVING PUBLIC ACCESS TO SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL REPORTS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE

Whereas some three million scientific and technical reports are held by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), thereby promoting research, innovation, and business;

Whereas since 1940, NTIS has been co-operating with federal agencies to collect, preserve, catalog, and provide their reports in paper, microform, and digital formats;

Whereas many federal agencies choose not to maintain collections of their own reports and to depend upon NTIS to provide these reports;

Whereas many federal agencies do not have statutory responsibility or the resources to provide permanent access to these reports and depend upon NTIS to provide them to other government agencies and the public;

Whereas the process of federal agencies entrusting their reports to NTIS ensures permanent access to the public, eliminates duplication of effort, and saves tax dollars;

Whereas since many of the federal agencies that published these reports no longer exist, many of their reports are only available through NTIS;

Whereas over two million of these reports are held only in paper or microform by NTIS and are not available in digital form from any source;

Whereas NTIS has the statutory authority to provide information management services to other federal agencies, including such programs as the Social Security Administration Death Master File used by insurance and annuity companies and the Drug Enforcement Agency Controlled Substances Registrants Data Base, which enables members of the medical community to prescribe and handle controlled substances, and the Federal Science Repository Service which supports the preservation and long-term access of participating agencies content;

Whereas the “Let Me Google That For You Act” ( S. 2206 and H. R. 4382) would abolish NTIS, and the “Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science, and Technology (FIRST) Act” (H. R. 4186), as amended in the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, would repeal the law that authorizes NTIS;

Whereas these bills make no provision for the preservation of the reports and their cataloging data;

Whereas these bills do not provide libraries such as the Library of Congress, the national libraries, and libraries in the Federal Depository Library Program an opportunity to help “determine if any functions of NTIS are critical to the economy of the United States”;

Whereas the American Library Association has long supported the provision of all federal government reports and publications, at no charge, to the public through libraries and other services;

now, therefore be it

Resolved, that the American Library Association (ALA)

1. urges the United States Congress to appropriate funds to ensure that the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) continues to act as a central repository for scientific and technical reports;

2. urges United States Congress to fund the provision of these reports to the federal agencies and the public at no charge;

3. urges the United States Congress to consult with librarians at the Library of Congress, the national libraries, corporate libraries, and the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) in determining “if any functions of NTIS are critical to the economy of the United States”;

4. urges the United States Congress to put NTIS under the umbrella of the Office of Science Technology Policy (OSTP) directive, “Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research” (February 22, 2013); and

5. urges the United States Congress to fund a digital preservation plan for scientific and technical reports, which would be developed by NTIS, CENDI (formerly Commerce, Energy, NASA, Defense Information Managers Group), the Government Printing Office, the National Archives, federal publishing agencies, and the library community.

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Discussion FGI analysis of COL FDLP Task Force final report

by James Jacobs on Fri, Jun 27, 2014 at 01:59 am

Jim Jacobs and I have analyzed and have some comments on the FDLP Task Force's final report. You can find the comments at http://freegovinfo.info/node/8840 or below. We hope our comments are taken as constructive criticism. We appreciate the committee's work, but were left wanting so much more. Hopefully our comments will spur the committee, ALA, and the documents community forward to a better FDLP.

Jim Jacobs and I have analyzed and have some comments on the FDLP Task Force's final report. You can find the comments at http://freegovinfo.info/node/8840 or below. We hope our comments are taken as constructive criticism. We appreciate the committee's work, but were left wanting so much more. Hopefully our comments will spur the committee, ALA, and the documents community forward to a better FDLP.

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File Membership-Agenda-Annual-2014

by Suzanne Sears on Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 05:43 pm

DOCX File, 13.36 KB

File Steering-Committee-II-Agenda-Annual-2014

by Suzanne Sears on Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 05:43 pm

DOCX File, 14.16 KB

File Steering-Committee-I-Agenda-Annual-2014

by Suzanne Sears on Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 05:43 pm

DOCX File, 14.02 KB

Event GODORT Nominating Committee

by Cassandra Hartnett on Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 05:28 pm

Government Documents Round Table
Nominating Committee
ALA Annual Conference 2014
Las Vegas, NV

Agenda

Friday, June 27, 2014
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Hotel: Flamingo Las Vegas
Room: Valley of Fire 1

I. Introductions/attendance sheet
II. Announcements and updates
III. Review of incoming committee's charge for the fall/winter

Government Documents Round Table
Nominating Committee
ALA Annual Conference 2014
Las Vegas, NV

Agenda

Friday, June 27, 2014
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Hotel: Flamingo Las Vegas
Room: Valley of Fire 1

I. Introductions/attendance sheet
II. Announcements and updates
III. Review of incoming committee's charge for the fall/winter

  1. calendar of activities as listed in PPM
  2. recruitment for Depository Library Council
  3. election process and ALA ballot registration for GODORT candidates

a. essential dates, lessons learned from past cycle, use of Box for files
b. slots to be filled in 2015 election
c. brainstorm of names, strategies

IV. Discussion: too many elected positions?
V. New business/ other

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Event Reminder:TRAIL info & update session

by Sinai Wood on Mon, Jun 23, 2014 at 02:27 pm

As gov doc librarians we are passionate about our work and our collections.  Come find out how we are preserving federal technical report series.  Join the cause!! 

As gov doc librarians we are passionate about our work and our collections.  Come find out how we are preserving federal technical report series.  Join the cause!! 

TRAIL Info & Update Session - Sunday, June 29, 2014 3:00pm-4:00pm Las Vegas Conv Center - N204

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Event Tribes and Scribes: A Double Feature Highlighting Native American and WPA Historical Research

by ALAConnect Helpdesk (staff) on Fri, Jun 20, 2014 at 07:37 pm

Needles in the Haystack of History: How to use the WPA Historical Records Survey
The Work Projects Administration Historical Records Survey (WPA HRS), one of the best discovery tools for government records from the 1700s through the early 1940s, is now more easily accessed through University of Kentucky library. Hear about what it has to offer historians and genealogists. We’ll also give strategies on how to track down present-day locations of archival material described in the HRS
Historic Indian Publications by the United States Federal Government

Needles in the Haystack of History: How to use the WPA Historical Records Survey
The Work Projects Administration Historical Records Survey (WPA HRS), one of the best discovery tools for government records from the 1700s through the early 1940s, is now more easily accessed through University of Kentucky library. Hear about what it has to offer historians and genealogists. We’ll also give strategies on how to track down present-day locations of archival material described in the HRS
Historic Indian Publications by the United States Federal Government
Learn about materials from the Bureau of American Ethnology, the Census, the Annual Reports of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and other federal documents and publications pertaining to Native Americans

More information about this conference session

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Discussion Job Posting, Head of Gov Info, Rice University

by Linda Spiro on Fri, Jun 13, 2014 at 02:36 pm

(please excuse cross postings)

Head, Kelley Center for Government Information, Data and Geospatial Services

Rice University’s Fondren Library seeks creative, dynamic candidates for the Head of the Kelley Center for Government Information, Data and Geospatial Services.

(please excuse cross postings)

Head, Kelley Center for Government Information, Data and Geospatial Services

Rice University’s Fondren Library seeks creative, dynamic candidates for the Head of the Kelley Center for Government Information, Data and Geospatial Services.

This position presents an opportunity for a highly motivated leader to guide a government information department with a history of innovation in digital information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and a new emphasis on data services. The successful candidate will combine expertise in government information and data with a compelling vision for the future of library services.  Candidates should possess a record of excellence in management, a history of collaboration within and beyond the library, strong technical and communication skills, and considerable experience leading successful outreach programs. The position reports to the Executive Director of Digital Scholarship Services.

Responsibilities: The head of the Kelley Center for Government Information, Data and Geospatial Services develops and implements a vision for providing cutting-edge, user-centered services focused on government information, data, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In consultation with stakeholders, the incumbent oversees planning and strategic development for the Kelley Center in support of the goals of the Fondren Library and Rice University. He or she actively conducts outreach and ensures the effective provision of research and user services, particularly in areas demanding resources and expertise in government information, data and GIS. The head of the Kelley Center plans, coordinates and manages the work of six to seven staff members. In addition, he or she contributes to day-to-day operations and services of the department, including providing consultations, research support and training in data and government information.

Required Qualifications include:

  • ALA-accredited Master's in Library and Information Science, or other closely related field; may substitute an advanced degree (master's or PhD) and an additional year of experience at a library or research data center, above and beyond the requirement, for the MLS degree;
  • four years experience providing training, consultation and outreach services for data and/or government information at a library or research data center, of which two years must be supervisory;  
  • demonstrated experience developing and delivering innovative public services focused on government information and/or data;
  • demonstrated ability to manage and lead people, processes and projects;
  • flexibility and creativity in solving problems;
  • demonstrated knowledge of issues, technologies, and best practices related to the identification, use, management and preservation of research datasets;
  • academic experience with statistical software such as R, SAS or SPSS and with numeric datasets such as Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) datasets and census data

Salary & benefits: $68,000 minimum, with hiring salary commensurate with experience and qualifications; no state or local income tax; 21 benefit days; a range of retirement options including TIAA/CREF; health and life insurance and tuition waiver.

Environment:  Rice University provides a stimulating work environment, with opportunities to participate in the delivery of innovative library services supported by leading edge technologies.  Fondren Library (http://www.rice.edu/fondren) is a research library with more than 2.8 million volumes and more than 141,000 subscriptions, including titles available through aggregators.  The Library has a state-of-the-art off-site shelving facility.  An active program of digital resource delivery and development is grounded in successful collaboration among library and University staff from Digital Scholarship Services, other library departments and University information technology staff.

Houston is a vibrant, multicultural city, with world-class visual and performing arts ranging from the traditional to the avant-garde.  The fourth largest city in the country, Houston enjoys a moderate cost of living and easy proximity to the Gulf Coast.  For more information, see:  http://www.explore.rice.edu/explore/General_Information.asp.

Applications received by July 28, 2014 will receive first consideration. Please apply with cover letter, resumé, and the names, titles, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references at: https://jobs.rice.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=54300. Inquiries:  Melinda Reagor Flannery at (713) 348-3773 or reagor@rice.edu.  Rice University is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer.

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Event TRAIL (Technical Report Archive & Image Library) Info& Update Session

by Sinai Wood on Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 01:32 pm

An information session for potential and new members of TRAIL to be held @ the Las Vegas Convention Center - N204

Add us to your conference planner.  See you there!

An information session for potential and new members of TRAIL to be held @ the Las Vegas Convention Center - N204

Add us to your conference planner.  See you there!

TRAIL is an initiative to identify, digitize, archive, and provide access to federal technical reports issued prior to 1976.

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Pages

The mission of the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) is to (1) To provide a forum for discussion of problems, concerns, and for exchange of ideas by librarians working with government documents; (2) to provide a force for initiating and supporting programs to increase availability, use, and bibliographic control of documents; (3) to increase communication between documents librarians and other librarians; (4) to contribute to the extension and improvement of education and training of documents librarians.

Learn more about GODORT on the ALA website.

Subscribe to GODORT (Government Documents Round Table)
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