The wonderful Web 2.0 is a famously slippery concept to define. The very ambiguity of the term is Escheresque, self-referential to its ever-changing meaning. As Tim O'Reilly, CEO of O'Reilly Media, described it, "Like many important concepts, Web 2.0 doesn't have a hard boundary, but rather, a gravitational core." As Illinois State Library's…

Explores issues of privatization, distinctions between public and private sectors in the delivery of services, and possible effects of privatization on the future federal role in the library/information arena. Contracting out of agency libraries and the proposed sale of the National Technical Information Service are examined to raise questions…

Examines development of archives institutions in Australia and the relationship between archivists and librarians. (RAO)

The creation of an International Center for Government Information is proposed, including the overall plan for such a program. Ways of organizing a hypothetical planning conference for ascertaining attitudes toward the projected center are detailed. (FM)

This report of a conference convened by the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) Subcommittee on Education provides brief summaries of four panel discussions conducted by 15 federal librarians who had assembled automation systems for their agencies' libraries and information centers. The first panel, consisting of Dean Hough,…

This paper examines the characteristics and functions of governmental libraries and information systems which contribute to the decision making activities of governmental institutions. It explores the governmental planning process to outline sources of information, subject specialities, information formats, classes of users, and information…

Describes the benefits to researchers of the microfiche publication of the "National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United States," which consists of finding aids for U.S. manuscript and archival collections. Arranged in four parts based on origin, each is described in detail as to scope and arrangement. (EM)

Maher advocates analysis of archival use, outlines methodologies for such analyses, and provides examples of results of two kinds of user studies. Turnbaugh advocates broadening the context of user studies in government archives to include all areas of activity so that the institution is embedded in the processes of government. (EM)

Includes five articles that discuss presidential libraries. Highlights include an overview of the development of the federal presidential library system; the Ronald Reagan library; the Richard Nixon library archives; access at the Gerald Ford library; and computerizing the Jimmy Carter library. (LRW)

Discusses the basic philosophy underlying the provision of service by state libraries and how these libraries can adjust this philosophy and their lines of authority to get involved in the forthcoming dissemination of government information. References are provided. (CHC)

The current interaction among federal libraries and information centers was examined and assessed to determine ways to improve the coordination of resources and services among federal libraries and to increase cooperation between federal and non-federal libraries in order to meet national, state, and local information needs. The more than 400…

Chronicles the development of the legislative reference services of the Library of Congress and briefly describes the current Congressional Research Service, which resulted from legislative acts passed in 1946 and 1970. (CLB)

In the late 1980s, when few Canadian citizens had Internet access, federal departments and agencies in Canada were already preparing for the future by putting information and documentation online. This paper outlines several government-sponsored programs--SchoolNet, the Canadian Investment Fund, Community Access Program, Canada Foundation for…

Reviews recent legislative changes regarding U.S. information policy. An analysis of recommended changes is presented for the following federal agencies: General Services Administration, Office of Management and Budget, Joint Committee on Printing, and the Government Printing Office. (JLB)

Discusses the responsibility of local libraries to provide information services to local government and act as a contact point between the government and its community. The distinction between internal and external information sources is examined, and problems of information delivery resulting from a lack of inter-council cooperation are…