[Publib] Fwd: [District Dispatch] ALA Signs On to Testimony in Support of GPO Funding

[Diedre Conkling]

http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=481



Friday, May 9th, 2008...8:02 am 

ALA Signs On to Testimony in Support of GPO
Funding

On May 7, Mary Alice Baish of the American Association of Law
Libraries<http://www.aallnet.org/>(AALL) gave testimony before the
U.S. House Appropriations
Committee, Legislative Branch Subcommittee, in support of the fiscal year
(FY) 2009 budget request of the U.S. Government Printing Office. She
testified on behalf of AALL, the American Library Association, and the
Special Libraries Association.

Our communities have a very strong interest in Federal information policy
and a fervent commitment to public access to government information and a
robust FDLP for the 21st Century. The mission of the Government Printing
Office (GPO) is uniquely important. GPO provides the three branches of the
Federal government with expert publishing and printing services and
electronic access to government information through GPO Access. In addition,
GPO ensures perpetual, no-fee, ready public access to the printed and
electronic information published by the Federal government, in partnership
with federal depository libraries.

The public's ability to access e-government information, either at their
local depository library, neighborhood library or directly from their
desktop, has grown exponentially since the enactment of the GPO Access
Enhancement Act in 1993 and the move towards greater e-government by
agencies, Congress and the courts. While e-government brings us many
opportunities for enhanced public access, many difficult challenges remain
unresolved as government moves away from producing its information in print
and relies increasingly on "born digital" government information. We believe
that GPO has a critical leadership role in helping the Federal government
meet these unique challenges.

Ms. Baish's full testimony is available for download here:

   - Statement on behalf of GPO
funding<http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/houselegbrstatement_may2008.pdf>(PDF)


--
Diedre Conkling

 Lincoln County Library District
 P.O. Box 2027, Newport, OR  97365
 Phone & Fax:  541-265-3066
 http://lcld.library-blogs.net/
 Work:  diedre at beachbooks.org
 Home:  diedrec at charter.net
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