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Federal Depository Library Program
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Date: Fri, 12 Jan 1996 08:13:10 -0500
Reply-To: Vigdor Schreibman - FINS
----------------Original Message Posted in Multiple Lists----------------- -------Republication is Authorized Only When Message is Kept Intact-------
FINS: Communicating the Emerging Philosophy of The Information Age FEDERAL INFORMATION NEWS SYNDICATE Vol IV, Issue No. 1 January 15, 1996
CLOSING THE "VALUES-GAP": Public Information Technocracy By Vigdor Schreibman
The Superintendent of Documents (SOD) has initiated a dramatic new program based on a set of assumptions to (among other matters) assure that "nearly all of the information provided through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) will be electronic by the end of the fiscal year 1998." The program is included in The Electronic Federal Depository Library Program: Transition Plan, FY 1996 - FY 1998," released Dec 29, 1995 [Fins-PI3-06]. Centralized electronic information systems will dominate the federal depository program for the future, under that plan, although the historical collections will remain. The cost of the transition to an electronic FDLP, "will be funded by reducing the distribution of paper and microfiche."
The plan falls right in line with the transformation of the Information Age. The new age promises to enlarge the use of machines to do the work of human beings, with benefits going mainly to those American families and corporate centers of power who already hold an inequitable share of the nation's wealth and power. A limited set of core documents will continue to be published in print, under the SOD plan, but individuals who prefer printed publications about the conduct of the Government (e.g., the daily edition of the Congressional record), will have to change their reading values cold turkey. In addition, the large mass of Americans who do not have either the technical ability or computer equipment necessary to gain access to electronic information, will be left out or greatly disadvantaged by the proposed FDLP.
The assumptions on which this program is predicated, are seriously flawed with regard to what Congress intends and the best way to secure public access to Government information as a basic right of every American citizen recognized by the Senate in its report on the Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY 1996 [S.Rept. 104-114, pp. 48]. Disregarding this fundamental value, the US House of Representatives announced its intention during the 1st Session of the 104th Congress, to seek aggressive conversion of agency publications to electronic format. The House proposed cutting fifty percent of funds for the depository library program to compel that technological outcome [H.Rept. 104-212], without concern for the impact of the plan on citizens, but the Senate rejected that approach in its report.
FINS informally surveyed a small group of well informed citizens, for this column. A large majority were of the opinion that public information in both paper and electronic formats, was "absolutely essential to the function of our democratic system of governance." The American Library Association has consistently supported this view, as the testimony of ALA President Betty Turock made clear before the Committee on House Oversight last August. ALA will likely oppose the SOD proposal at its Midwinter Meeting, at San Antonio, Jan 19-25, 1996, one library authority told FINS. Attorney Fred Anton, representing the Contractors Group of the Printing Industries of America, expressed the same concern in a phone interview from his home in Pennsylvania.
Rather than rushing into such a transition, the Senate reported that the changes contemplated by the shift to a more electronic dissemination system, "requires careful analysis, planning, and probable restructuring of the current program." [Id., at 48-49]. On that basis, the joint Senate-House Conference Committee settled the conflict, and Congress made the decision to retain control over "redefining a new and strengthened Federal Information dissemination policy and program." The Public Printer was directed to assist Congress by initiating a study, including a strategic plan for that purpose, as provided in sec. 210 of the Conference Report on Appropriations for the Legislative Branch for FY 1996 [Rep. 104-212]. There is no legitimate basis for the SOD to make the "assumptions" contained in the transition plan.
Several sources close to the situation in Congress and at the Government Printing Office told FINS, the SOD is following orders from the Republican House leaders. Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA), chairman of the Joint Committee on Printing, and Linda Kemp, staff director of the JCP (who were unavailable for comment do to the blizzard), were identified by sources as the actual officials who gave the SOD his marching orders.
After a long delay in coming to grips with this issue, enactment of the GPO Access system in June 1993 [P.L 10-40, 107 Stat 112], opened a floodgate of opportunities for electronic dissemination of Government information. As a result, the wisdom of the transition to electronic information systems and the vital role of the GPO in that function were clearly validated. No longer in question, Anton told FINS, a "steam roller" was forcing the transition. This is being driven by very favorable cost benefits, new political leadership, and manufacturers of "printing machines, printing paper, computers, and software." But a rush to judgment should be avoided.
Bernadine Abbott Hoduski, former professional staff of the JCP and founder of ALA Government Documents Roundtable, told FINS in a phone interview from her home in Montana, "Librarians must refuse to be intimidated by representatives of our government who want us to accept changes that we know are wrong. We elect member of Congress and the President to represent the interests of the people not to force us into accepting changes that will harm the public."
John A. Shuler, a librarian and author at the University of Illinois at Chicago, offered a crucial insight into shaping the forces of change. Shuler told FINS, "Unless the depository libraries 'reinvent' ... themselves to take advantage of their 'locality,' then there will be little reason to make distinctions along geographic lines. We will only have to make sure there are enough 'terminals' or 'access points' per capita so that everyone has 'universal service' on the net." In acting to resolve this need, the Senate has it right, and the SOD's narrowly framed assumptions that disregard crucial public concerns, following secret directives by Gingrich Republicans that are contrary to the intent of Congress, must be rejected.
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Federal Information News Syndicate, Vigdor Schreibman, Editor & Publisher, 18 - 9th Street NE #206, Washington, DC 20002-6042. Copyright 1995 FINS. Internet: fins@access.digex.net. Browse Fins Information Age Library at the inforM system of the University of Maryland. HTTP: //www.inform.umd.edu: 8080/EdRes/Topic/CompResource/CompSoc/FINS/; Gopher to inform.umd.edu: EdRes/Topic/CompResource/CompSoc/FINS/.
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