of the Iowa Library Association
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Government Documents Roundtable
of the Iowa Library Association |
DOCUMENTS ROUNDTABLE NEWS
Number 80, March 2008
GOVDOC-IOWA runs on the University of Iowa’s list software called LISTSERV. A new version (15.5 for those keeping track) was recently implemented. The University’s ITS department manages the software and an abundant supply of information is available at http://cs.its.uiowa.edu/email/listserv/. Keeping up with modern times, the new version aims to reduce spam and weed out viruses sent on the lists.
Customizing potential. Did you know that you can set your preferences for how you receive messages from GOVDOC-IOWA and other University of Iowa lists? Go to this page http://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe and check out “subscriber’s corner.” Whether or not you are affiliated with the University, you should be able to create an account and save your preferences. Find GOVDOC-IOWA, click on “settings” and you can choose digest under “Subscription type” or temporarily disable your mail delivery under “miscellaneous.”
Viewing message archives. You can also see archived messages from days gone by clicking on the list name. You can browse by month, conduct a full-text search, or post a message from this screen. For those who like RSS feeds, you can also keep track of list activity by choosing the orange RSS feed buttons at the bottom of the screen.
While the GOVDOC-IOWA list has not lately seen much activity, it is available as a resource for sharing information or asking questions with others interested in government information in Iowa.
Brett Cloyd,
University of Iowa Libraries
GOVDOC-IOWA administrator
More than twenty academic, public, and state Federal depository libraries from Hawaii to Pennsylvania (and states in-between including Iowa) have partnered to provide real-time chat and e-mail service through Government Information Online: Ask a Librarian (GIO). Information from government agencies of all levels (local, state, regional, national, international) on almost any subject are included in services of GIO. This two year pilot program is now a full partnership with the Government Printing Office which provides promotional support. To find the link to GIO on the GPOAccess Home Page look in the lower left corner of the page http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ or go directly to GIO http://govtinfo.org/ to see what it’s all about.
How it works:
Give it a try and tell GIO what you think.
Marianne Mason, GIO Task Force Member
The University of Iowa Libraries
When Joyce Lindstrom, Government Documents Specialist at Iowa State University, resigned last summer, the responsibilities for coordinating and managing government publication activities were reassigned to a team of staff members whose primary work assignments are in both Public and Technical Services. Jan Fryer and Ed Goedeken coordinate the reference and collection development aspects of the library’s participation in the FDLP and technical services responsibilities are overseen by Ed Goedeken and Dorian Stripling. Lorrie Pellack is serving as the public services Science & Technology representative, and the Technical Services representatives include Dorian Stripling, Lynne Zager, Debbie Casey and a student. Jan, Ed, and Lorrie also serve as “resource persons” for the technical services staff.
Public services members of the team are responsible for handling in-depth reference questions dealing with government information resources; training staff and library users in the use of documents resources; managing the Library’s collection development policies and activities; and monitoring the transition to a more electronic Federal Depository. Technical service members of the team manage the receipt and processing of government publications; oversee the selection and de-selection of item numbers; and coordinate the weeding of unwanted publications after they have been held the required 5 years. Jan Fryer serves as the liaison to external agencies such as the Federal Depository Library Program and the Regional Library (University of Iowa).
Jan Fryer
Social Sciences Librarian
Iowa State University
March 31–April 2 . Federal Depository Library Council Meeting and Conference (Proceedings now available)
June 26–July 2 . . . American Library Association Conference
July 18 . . . . . . . . . .ILA, GODORT Summer Workshop
July 28–August 1 . Interagency Depository Seminar
October 15-17 . . . .Iowa Library Association Conference
Please send comments about this website to: Marianne Mason
This page last updated: April 3, 2008