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National information policies: Strategies for the future
293
Reviews
periods of time. Unlike some others, I have always enjoyed Morehead’s writing style. This book does not take advantage of his well-known word choices and word usage. On page 52, the authors misuse the word “measured.” This introduction to sources is an admirable attempt to cover a wide variety of historical and current sources appearing in different media. Any further editions should not contain more pages. Those of us doing textbooks must learn to portray the landscape in fewer pages and to adopt a more lively writing style. We must introduce the subject of government information resources and the need for the library community to join with other safety nets and information providers in the provision of electronic and non-electronic information resources. Significant challenges and opportunities remain for increasing the use of government information resources-publications, products, services, records, and so forth-by a broader array of information professionals and the public. * Peter Hernon is Professor, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts
02115.
National Information Policies: Strategies for the Future. No. 2. Prepared by David R. Bender, Sarah T. Kadec, and Sandy I. Morton. Washington, D.C.: Special Libraries Association, 1991. 62 pages. ISBN O-871 1 l-381-3. Reviewed by Faye L. Couture* The SLA has produced another valuable document in its Occasional Papers Series, this one dealing with the use and allocation of information as a national resource. The stated focus of this Paper is to delineate the strategies for the future in formulating and implementing information policy in sync with the national goals and objectives. The Paper is broken down into subsections to set forth these strategies within the goals and objectives. The sections, as divided, are: the “Need for a National Information Policy”; “Selected Strategic Issues”; “Selected Chronology of the Special Libraries Association’s Activities Related to Information Policy”; and “Strategies for a National Information Policy Framework.” Two appendices are included: “A Bibliography”; and “Attendees at SLA’s National Information Policy Series.” What emerges from a reading of the Paper is a sense that the focus is not a delineation of the strategies, but, instead, a position paper. As a position paper, it is in excellent form. It gives an historical view of how the Association has been involved in attempts to have a national information policy actually established. It provides a chronological listing of the activities and political alignments which have been made. It lists the participants at the policy strategy meetings-which, even to a novice in the area, reads like a who is who across government, private, and public sectors. As a position paper, it hits all of the hot spots: the proposed NREN, the Circular A-130, and the privatization of NTIS. In addition, it speaks to the growing concern of providing gross amounts of information with costs attached to the citizens of the democracy. It demands action from others in the information industry in terms of involvement and commitment to open access. The Paper attempts to discuss the legal tension between the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the privacy rights of individuals. The format of the Paper is troublesome for various reasons. One of the critical problems is that virtually nothing is cited. The reader must match the author and title, when given, to the Bibliography list. It is not acceptable to provide paragraphs of Federal agency intentions or perceived political agendas without giving a citation. However, if one reads it as a position paper and accepts it as the statement of the SLA, it is a valuable resource. * Faye L. Couture Houston,
is the Reference/Government Texas 77002.
Documents
Librarian,
South
Texas
College
of Law,
Reviews
periods of time. Unlike some others, I have always enjoyed Morehead’s writing style. This book does not take advantage of his well-known word choices and word usage. On page 52, the authors misuse the word “measured.” This introduction to sources is an admirable attempt to cover a wide variety of historical and current sources appearing in different media. Any further editions should not contain more pages. Those of us doing textbooks must learn to portray the landscape in fewer pages and to adopt a more lively writing style. We must introduce the subject of government information resources and the need for the library community to join with other safety nets and information providers in the provision of electronic and non-electronic information resources. Significant challenges and opportunities remain for increasing the use of government information resources-publications, products, services, records, and so forth-by a broader array of information professionals and the public. * Peter Hernon is Professor, Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts
02115.
National Information Policies: Strategies for the Future. No. 2. Prepared by David R. Bender, Sarah T. Kadec, and Sandy I. Morton. Washington, D.C.: Special Libraries Association, 1991. 62 pages. ISBN O-871 1 l-381-3. Reviewed by Faye L. Couture* The SLA has produced another valuable document in its Occasional Papers Series, this one dealing with the use and allocation of information as a national resource. The stated focus of this Paper is to delineate the strategies for the future in formulating and implementing information policy in sync with the national goals and objectives. The Paper is broken down into subsections to set forth these strategies within the goals and objectives. The sections, as divided, are: the “Need for a National Information Policy”; “Selected Strategic Issues”; “Selected Chronology of the Special Libraries Association’s Activities Related to Information Policy”; and “Strategies for a National Information Policy Framework.” Two appendices are included: “A Bibliography”; and “Attendees at SLA’s National Information Policy Series.” What emerges from a reading of the Paper is a sense that the focus is not a delineation of the strategies, but, instead, a position paper. As a position paper, it is in excellent form. It gives an historical view of how the Association has been involved in attempts to have a national information policy actually established. It provides a chronological listing of the activities and political alignments which have been made. It lists the participants at the policy strategy meetings-which, even to a novice in the area, reads like a who is who across government, private, and public sectors. As a position paper, it hits all of the hot spots: the proposed NREN, the Circular A-130, and the privatization of NTIS. In addition, it speaks to the growing concern of providing gross amounts of information with costs attached to the citizens of the democracy. It demands action from others in the information industry in terms of involvement and commitment to open access. The Paper attempts to discuss the legal tension between the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the privacy rights of individuals. The format of the Paper is troublesome for various reasons. One of the critical problems is that virtually nothing is cited. The reader must match the author and title, when given, to the Bibliography list. It is not acceptable to provide paragraphs of Federal agency intentions or perceived political agendas without giving a citation. However, if one reads it as a position paper and accepts it as the statement of the SLA, it is a valuable resource. * Faye L. Couture Houston,
is the Reference/Government Texas 77002.
Documents
Librarian,
South
Texas
College
of Law,