Urgent--Support Government Publications Reform Bill (Steven Hofmann) ERCELAA@ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu 09 Sep 1998 21:17 UTC
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 1998 15:54:41 -0500 From: Steven Hofmann <shofmann@ALA.ORG> Subject: Urgent--Support Government Publications Reform Bill American Library Association LIBRARY ADVOCACY ALERT September 9, 1998 Please share with others. SUPPORT GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS REFORM BILL S 2288, the Wendell H. Ford Government Publications Reform Act of 1998, is scheduled for Committee action on Thursday, September 10. Strong grassroots action is needed from the library community to urge Senators to support S. 2288. The bill faces serious opposition from a number of groups. The bill includes much-needed reforms to improve and enhance public access to government information. ACTION NEEDED Contact your Senators today and urge them to cosponsor S. 2288. Immediate action is especially important if your Senator is a member of the Committee on Rules and Administration. An easy way to contact Senators is through the ALA Washington Office Legislative Action Center at http://congress.nw.dc.us/ala/.REASONS TO SUPPORT S. 2288. The MESSAGE In a fax or phone call, explain to your Senator that: - S. 2288 supports good government and an informed citizenry by improving public access to government information. - S. 2288 will resolve the "fugitive documents" problem and stop the erosion of public access to government publications taking place under the current system. The bill will ensure that the public has access to government information paid for at taxpayer expense. -S. 2288 will ensure that electronic government publications are preserved and permanently available for current and future users. This will address the current loss of government information taking place on a daily basis as agencies delete files from their Web sites without first providing for ongoing access. BACKGROUND S. 2288, the Wendell H. Ford Government Publications Reform Act of 1998, was introduced on July 10, 1998, by Sens. John Warner (R-VA) and Wendell Ford (D-KY). The bill would strengthen the Federal Depository Library Program and improve and enhance public access to government publications from all three branches of government regardless of format. The library community, through the representatives of the Inter-Association Working Group on Government Information Policy (IAWG), has had a significant role in the development of S. 2288.S. 2288 is designed to close the loopholes currently in place that inhibit public access to government publications. One of the main objectives of the bill is to ensure that all appropriate material is available to the public through depository libraries. However, opposition to S. 2288 has been raised by private sector industry groups whose members include companies that sell duplicating equipment to federal agencies. Private publishers who have developed partnership arrangements with federal agencies for the sale or privatization of government information also are opposed to the bill. For more information about S. 2288, including sample letters, talking points, and additional background information, please consult the Web site of the Inter-Association Working Group on Government Information Policy (IAWG) at: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/IAWG. CONTACT Anne Heanue ALA Washington Office 800-941-8478 alawash@alawash ---------- posted by: Steven Hofmann Coordinator of Communications American Association of School Librarians a division of the American Library Association 50 E. Huron Chicago, IL 60611-2795 800-545-2433 Ext. 4389 Fax: 312-664-7459 E-mail: shofmann@ala.org WWW: http://www.ala.org/aasl The mission of AASL is to advocate excellence, facilitate change, and develop leaders in the school library media field.