The costs of public information

Citation

by Eileen Fitzsimons, E. (2005), "The costs of public information", The Bottom Line, Vol. 18 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/bl.2005.17018cab.001

The costs of public information

The costs of public information

Articles about the Government Printing Office (GPO) tend to be rarities in daily newspapers. But, as a recent half-page article, Chicago Tribune pointed out that, over the last ten years the sales of GPO printed publications has dropped from more than $100 million a year to a little over $20 million (Withers, 2005). Clearly, they are dealing with the same rising costs, decreasing revenues, and proliferation of information that we are all grappling with. One of the solutions has been to publish increasing numbers of documents on the internet. However, in a recent report, the printing office estimated that about half of all government documents bypass the office and are posted online by the agency that produced them. In this same report, the GPO proposes that it set as its goal the creation of one online archive, to be available in late 2007, that would provide access to all federal digital documents.

However, if government agencies continue to post their documents directly to the internet, there is no guarantee that they will be preserved, as these agencies will continue to make documents available for the long term. And frankly, the long-term preservation of electronic files is a costly undertaking. Software and computers are updated at a pace the GPO’s budget has not kept pace with. Nor is there any safeguard against fraudulent documents being posted to the database.

In addition to these potentially high costs in terms of inaccessible information, there is also concern that this information be available to the public free of charge and that they be distributed to libraries. There is the fear that if it is all kept in one place, that either the GPO or private data companies will eventually try to make a profit for providing access to public information.

In April 2005, the American Library Association, the Special Libraries Association, and the American Association of Law Libraries wrote a joint letter to the House Committee on Appropriations, supporting the request for FY2006 appropriations for the GPO and the Superintendent of Documents of $131,120,000. The letter stresses the importance of approval of the full appropriations request in order to continue a transition of electronic access that holds the promise of ensuring reliable version control, authenticity, permanent public access and preservation of electronic government information (ALA, 2005). And until such a system is in place, the associations urge the GPO to continue to distribute “tangible products” to the nations Federal Depository Libraries. The letter stresses the fact that depository libraries are already helping to bear the burden by incurring significant costs for providing access to government information.

This issue is worth watching as the failure to provide trustworthy documents that can be archived and made available to the public free of charge would be an enormous compromise to a long tradition of providing government information to the citizenry. This is a double threat both of increased costs in terms of charges as well as in terms of lost information.

The new bookshelf

The following books were either recently published or forthcoming as of May 2005. The descriptions are based on the publishers’ announcements.

Managing Change: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Change in LibrariesSusan C. CurzonNeal-Schuman2005Paper250 pp.$55ISBN: 1555705537

Budget cuts, personnel shortages, new technologies, reorganization and consolidation make the ability to guide staff and organizations through turbulent times an absolute necessity for today’s library managers. In this completely revised version of her how-to book, Curzon, one of Library Journal’s Librarian’s of the Year, outlines the step-by-step processes and detailed instructions necessary for conceptualizing the issues; planning, preparing, and decision-making; controlling resistance; and implementing changes. Also included are practical guidance for dealing with the impact of technology on libraries, the latest research in change management, and new strategies for coping with change. An all new “Teaching Tools” section features sample scenarios, questions and discussion points, coaching prompts, motivational tips that will help administrators share the knowledge with their staffs and colleagues. An excellent guide for not only coping, but actually thriving, in the constantly changing environment of libraries.

Copyright in Cyberspace 2: Questions and Answers for LibrariansGretchen McCord HoffmanNeal-Schuman2005Paper275 pp.$75ISBN: 1555705170

Hoffmann, a copyright expert, attorney, and president-elect of the Texas Library Association is the author of Copyright in Cyberspace (2001), in which she discusses the many challenges of providing information in an environment that is not only increasingly digital, but also increasingly litigious. Among the topics covered are hyperlinks and framing, browsing and caching, digital images, interlibrary loan and resource sharing, e-reserves and class-based web pages, library instruction and distance education. Copyright in Cyberspace 2 features new and expanded chapters on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, file-sharing, licensing, writing a copyright policy, and more. An invaluable section of the book compiles helpful, up-to-date online and print sources and excerpts pertinent legislation and guidelines, and will serve as a good sourcebook. The question-and-answer format is clear and straightforward, and provides the essential information without resorting to confusing technical jargon and legalese.

Disaster Planning: A How-To-Do-It Manual with Planning Templates on CD-ROMDeborah Halstead, Richard Jasper and Felicia LittleNeal-Schuman2004Paper and CD-ROM225 pp.$85ISBN: 1555704867

Written by three librarians whose expertise has been gained by recovering from disasters, this book will help you avoid the worst disaster of all – being unprepared. Disaster Planning shows you how to develop a clear, logical, and revisable plan before an emergency strikes. Step-by-step instructions will take you through the basics: creating a working disaster team, identifying the proper relief/recovery agencies for your library, and examining the vital, and sometimes ominous, issues of cutting-edge library security – everything from hacker attacks to terrorist activities. The companion CD-ROM includes a variety of tools to help you be prepared for any disaster: sample disaster plans, a downloadable and customizable template for creating your own disaster plan, links to disaster planning web sites, a comprehensive directory of electronic resources and planning aids, and a disaster planning database with links to national agencies.

Disaster Running a Small Library: A How-To-Do-It ManualJohn MoormanNeal-Schuman2005300 pp.$59.95ISBN: 1555705499

Running any type of small library – public, academic, school, or special library – usually means making do with little or no staff. All the more reason for a solo librarian or manager with a small staff to develop the skills and expertise that this challenging task requires. Budgets must be planned and justified. Policies and procedures must be developed and implemented. Facilities have to be maintained. Collections need constant attention and development. In addition there are all the programs, technical services, electronic resources, networks, and other services. This unique how-to discusses these essential topics and also includes a resource section listing furniture, automation, and book and periodical vendors; listservs and discussion groups; professional organizations; and resources for more information.

Selecting and Managing Electronic Resources: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians (2nd ed.)Vicki L. Gregory with assistance by Ardis HansonNeal-Schuman2005Paper135 pp.Price not availableISBN: 1555705480

As publishers continue to expand their electronic offerings – libraries need to deal with the opportunities and pitfalls electronic collections raise – accessibility, usability, content, and cost. Gregory’s expanded and updated classic manual covers all the specifics of collection policies and processes; budgeting and acquisitions; evaluation and assessment; and preservation issues. Totally new sections explain digital rights management, new technologies, and new models and standards for organizing and accessing content. Figures, forms, and worksheets will aid professionals as they set priorities and manage their electronic resources.

Edited by Eileen FitzsimonsFitzsimons Editorial Consultants, Chicago, Illinois, USA