of the Iowa Library Association
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Government Documents Roundtable
of the Iowa Library Association |
DOCUMENTS ROUNDTABLE NEWS
Number 76, December 2006
I have enjoyed my year as Chair of GODORT and recommend it to others who work in libraries. I would like to share some of the memorable moments so that future leaders and members might get a sense of what the year was like and gain a sense of the professional development that can occur through involvement in this group (through my example).
Last fall, as incoming Chair I was invited to participate in the ILA Strategic Planning session. While there, I was able to sit down with members of the ILA Executive Board, its Executive Director and President, and leaders from other subdivisions, to discuss the priorities of the organization and enable it to better assist libraries, ILA members, and citizens. The new Strategic Plan was unveiled this fall and it felt exciting to read a document I had played a part in creating. If I had not been involved with GODORT, I likely would not have been invited to attend.
Planning the GODORT Summer Workshop and all of its details from programming to food is a learning exercise. During the first part of 2006, I was able to think about how I would put these pieces together, and had a helpful board to assist me when I had questions or moments of uncertainty. Finally, the day in July arrived and people from around Iowa came to Iowa City to attend the GODORT Summer Workshop. Participants were able to hear from experts in their fields about government information sources of all kinds and types, and ask questions about how this information might be used in their libraries. After a long day, it was exciting to think that I put this together and created an environment where sharing and learning had taken place.
A similar feeling took me once the ILA Annual Conference had finished. The GODORT sponsored session on the Iowa Code was well attended. While the technology wasn’t working well that day, Mandy Easter from the State Law Library talked about her work and explained how she works with librarians from across the state on a regular basis. Sometimes working in our libraries can feel like an isolating experience, but Mandy made it clear that she is available to Iowans to answer their legal resources questions. Being in a place where colleagues are willing to help out certainly makes for a better work environment – and better service for users of libraries. Later in the Conference, the GODORT breakfast and business meeting reminded us that a lot of issues are in flux as the great migration toward digital technology is changing how information is created, managed, and used. There is a lot to talk about, but librarians are playing a role in how these things unfold, and I expect we will add value to the discussions.
Sometimes the hardest part of working in organizations like GODORT is recruitment of new members and leaders. I am glad that several people stepped up to join the GODORT board this year. I believe they will do a good job in creating programming and a learning environment for members to enjoy. GODORT also saw a slight increase in membership in 2006 and I hope this will continue. If there is one thing I have learned in my years working with GODORT, it is this: government information is a valuable resource. It can be useful to researchers across an academic curriculum and in communities across the geographic, social, and economic boundaries. I hope GODORT can play a part in continuing to stress this point so that libraries and citizens might make better use of this information. A knowledgeable community makes for a better place to live.
- Brett Cloyd, Iowa GODORT Chair
University of Iowa Libraries
brett-cloyd@uiowa.edu
A GODORT business meeting was held at ILA Annual Conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa on October 13, 2006. Minutes of this and other business meetings can be accessed at the GODORT website at this page: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/govpubs/ilagodort/minutes/index.html
The GODORT Annual Report for 2006, as well as reports from previous years, can be accessed at the GODORT website at this page: http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/govpubs/ilagodort/annual/index.html
If you’ve been looking for a way to become more involved in ALA and are interested in government information here’s your chance. The ALA, Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) is looking for new and not-so-new faces to volunteer or serve as candidates for GODORT offices.
There are volunteer opportunities available even if you’re not able to attend the ALA Midwinter or Annual Conferences regularly. Here’s the link to the Volunteer Form:
http://www.ala.org/ala/godort/godortcommittees/godortnominating/volunteerform.htm
If you’re regular attendee of both the Midwinter and Annual Conferences there are plenty of candidate slots available. Here is the link to the self-nominating form:
http://www.ala.org/ala/godort/godortcommittees/godortnominating/godortofficeform.htm
It’s really easy to get involved. It would be great for Iowa librarians to be represented!
-Marianne Mason
Federal Documents Coordinator
The University of Iowa Libraries
-Marianne Mason
Federal Documents Coordinator
The University of Iowa Libraries
The following is an excerpt from a longer message received from of the Chair of the Federal Depository Library Council:
“Knowledge Will Forever Govern: A Vision Statement for Federal Depository Libraries in the 21st Century is now available at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/council/dlcvision092906.pdf
It is the Council's hope that this vision statement will act as a catalyst to move the program into a 21st century information service that links the people of this country with the information resources available from and produced by its federal government. The public's need to access government information in an open, free, and easily accessible form must continue to be guaranteed. In addition, information from our government must also remain accurate, unmodified, official and authentic.”
“This document should not be read alone but in conjunction with Public Printer Bruce James statement on the future of GPO issued in December 2004:
http://www.gpo.gov/congressional/pdfs/04strategicplan.pdf
The Council would like to thank Mr. James for challenging both the Council and the community to step-up and face the issues of an FDLP in the electronic environment. The Council also wants to thank Judy Russell, Superintendent of Documents, for time and staff support not only during Council meetings but throughout the process of producing this document.”
-Marianne Mason
Federal Documents Coordinator
The University of Iowa Libraries
GPO is investigating using OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries), or a similar tool, as a way to meet Depository library requests for documents-related training. If successful, the Educational and Outreach section of GPO's Library Services and Content
Management could provide live, interactive online training and communications on a variety of topics related to depository operations and government information resources.
An online training session using OPAL http://www.opal-online.org/ was conducted on September 20th by a focus group of documents librarians. The overall assessment was very positive! Below are links to the temporarily archived presentation, which you are welcome to access.
For full playback (streaming audio, text chat, presentation slides) go to this URL:
http://www.opal-online.org/GPO20060920.htm (may not work in some browsers)
-Marianne Mason
Federal Documents Coordinator
The University of Iowa Libraries
marianne-mason@uiowa.edu
In response to patron demand the State Library of Iowa has scanned in the Governor's Executive Orders and made them available in an online repository. Currently we offer all of the Executive Orders from the 1963 Hughes administration to the present. You can check out the archive by clicking on the link below.
http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/services/law-library/govexecorders
-Cory Quist, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect
State Law Library
cory.quist@lib.state.ia.us
Recently posted government data and information at the State Data Center of Iowa (SDC) website can be accessed here:
http://www.iowadatacenter.org/indexlinks/New
To subscribe to the SDC mailing list, visit this page:
http://lists.silo.lib.ia.us/mailman/listinfo/iowasdc
-Michael May, Secretary/Treasurer
Carnegie-Stout Public Library, Dubuque
mmay@stout.dubuque.lib.ia.us
ALA Midwinter Meeting 2007
http://www.ala.org/ala/eventsandconferencesb/midwinter/2007/home.htm
January 19-24, 2007
Seattle, WA
ILA/ACRL Spring Conference 2007
http://www.iren.net/acrl/conference/index.html
March 23, 2007
Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA
ACRL 13th National Conference
http://www.ala.org/baltimore
March 29-April 1, 2007
Baltimore, MD
Federal Depository Library Council Meeting Spring 2007
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/events/spring_council.html
April 15-18, 2007
Denver, CO
Brett Cloyd, Chair
University of Iowa Libraries
brett-cloyd@uiowa.edu
Cory Quist, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect
State Law Library
cory.quist@lib.state.ia.us
Michael May, Secretary/Treasurer
Carnegie-Stout Public Library, Dubuque
mmay@stout.dubuque.lib.ia.us
Cory Quist, Chair
State Law Library
cory.quist@lib.state.ia.us
Tom Keyser, Vice-Chair/Chair-Elect
State Library of Iowa
tom.keyser@lib.state.ia.us
Steve Ostrem, Secretary/Treasurer
University of Iowa Libraries
steve-ostrem@uiowa.edu
Please send comments about this website to: brett-cloyd@uiowa.edu
This Page Last Updated:
Sunday, Dec 10, 2006