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State and local byways
STATE AND LOCAL BYWAYS David W. Parish 5 Grossett Road Geneseo, Wew York 14454
Information specialists who work with government publications and who are concerned with the free flow of public information are justifiably worried about present-day trends. Occasionally there are indications that all is not lost, especially with the category of state publications. A recent announcement by the New Jersey Government Document Taskforce, promoting a forthcoming index to state periodicals, is one example. The contents of an estimated number of 2,300 periodicals by state agencies are largely a closed door. Federal periodicals were in the same situation before the birth of the "Index to Government Periodicals" (Infordata International Incorporated, Chicago, 1970- ). A small sampling of deserving New Jersey periodicals includes "New Jersey Outdoors" the "Human Service Reporter", "New Jersey Economic Indicators", the "Historical Commission Newsletter", and "Arts, New Jersey." These types of readable, informational periodicals are available from most states. Perhaps the time is ripe for a national index to state government periodicals and newsletters. ONE FOR THE 'tUP"SIDE May 31, 1984 was a red-letter day for Tennessee state document depositories. Governor Lamar Alexander signed into law Public Chapter 903 sponsored by State Senator Steve Cohen and State Representative Michael Kernell. The text of this important law follows: "Be It Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee" Upon request of a designated depository of state documents, such depository is entitled to receive without charge (1) copy of the bills, resolutions, committee actions and the status of pieces of legislation, daily calendars, published committee reports, and any other official or unofficial published index. This progressive depository law took effect on July 1, 1984 with depository request for each category of publication required. To the columnist's knowledge, Tennessee is the first state to offer such an excellent range of legislative materials, with the category of "legislative status' alone, an example for the other 49 states. A DOWNER In contrast, ttDocumentsto the People of New York State" (Fall, 1984) reported that Assembly Bill 6696 was introduced, amending the New York State printing and public documents law so that the current requirements of sending 200 copies of each state document to the State Library would be eliminated. This disturbing proposal has already been passed by the Assembly and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Government Operations. The present Depository law is not effective and scarcely offers twenty-five percent of the total Empire State titles to Depository libraries. 617
618
Information Update
NEW ARRIVALS The appearance of two 1984 reference books relating to state publications offer more good news. The "Congressional Guide to Citing Government Publications, A Manual For Writers and Librarians" was authored by Diane L. Ganer and Diane H. Smith, both of the Pennsylvania State Libraries. (Congressional Information Service, Bethesda, Maryland, 1984) The Manual is designed to fill a void in the literature of citation and style manuals and librarianship. Included is a complete section on correct citations for state, local, and regional documents. Even examples for city and village councils, county governments, and economic or planning commissions are included. The authors correctly note that these documents are not uniformly or widely distributed. Geographic, political, single and multiple agencies, and legislatures as issuing bodies are explained with many useful examples. Added congratulations to these authors as all sales proceeds go to help support activities of the Government Documents Roundtable, American Library Association. A second reference work should help ease the pain of tracking legislative documents from state government. Legislative analyses and special reports from state legislatures continue to provide an important category of documents. The quality and quantity of these titles vary greatly between individual states. "State Legislative Leadership, Committees, and Staff, 1983-1984" provides an excellent source of information about workings of legislatures. The second of three supplements to the "Rook of the States, 1982-1983” (Lexington, Kentucky, Council of State Governments, 1983) this reference lists names, addresses, and telephone numbers of legislative leaders, committees, and staff members. For searching individual state reports, there are directories of public information officers, research and policy divisions, and Legislative Councils as most useful categories. Two examples of services; An excellent publication list can be obtained from the Oregon Legislative Research while the New York State Assembly maintains a toll-free telephone number to determine current bill status. MORE DOCUMENTS Oi'T DOCUMENTS The user's guides for the Documents on Documents collection are ready acThis collection is a State and local cording to Louisiana's Margaret Lane. Document's Taskforce project that includes publications originating in the administration of state document distribution programs. The 1973-1979 guide is for documents that are to be reproduced by ERIC. It will include all documents in the fiche collection. The "1980-1983" guide indexes those titles that can be circulated through interlibrary loan. The price is three dollars for the two guides. ?!s. Lane asks that checks be made payable to GODORT with requests mailed to Margaret T-Lane, P.O. Box 3335, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70821. The GODORT State and Local Documents Taskforce also plans to survey the relationships between state depository libraries and distribution centers. All depositories that receive state publications will receive a questionnaire with The Work Group the exception of states with more than thirty depositories. feels that this survey is an important follow-up to a 1980-1981 survey of distribution published by the Texas State Library, which reflected the positive effectiveness of state depositories from the viewpoint of their distributional centers. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS Longhorn lawyers and librarians investigating issues decided by the Supreme Court of Texas have a new tool, ready access to records of each case decided by the Court since September 1963.
Information Update
619
To improve access to these important judicial documents, the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse is publishing the first indexes to microfilmed court records. Indexes to all cases decided during the term from September 1983 to July 1984 will initially be indexed. These indexes have proven to be a useful tool in their experimental form. They are useful, even for researchers who do not own the microfiche according to "Public Documents Highlights for Texas." They allow a user who has only one Indexes are arranged by docket numpiece of information to identify a case. ber, petitioner's name, respondent's name, and by court of appeals citation. Further information can be obtained from the Texas State Publication's Clearinghouse, Texas State Library, Box 12927, Austin, Texas, 78711. The "Texas State Document's Classification Scheme", also will be distributed to Texas state depository libraries. Paper copies of this scheme can also be obtained by those out-of-state from the Clearinghouse free-of-charge while microfiche copies are available at a nominal charge. That microfiche can open doors to state document bibliography is no longer news in itself. However, a microfiche subscription service to all publications and documents listed in the "Checklist of Official Publications of the State of New York" is real news. Beginning with the September 1974 "Checklist" the microform edition of titles appearing in that list provides "researchers with titles which are unobtainable from other sources, as well as periodicals accessioned by the State Library each month but not included in the "Checklist:' Film type is 16mm. silver halide with positive and negiative choice for polarity. The collection is available on 16mrn. microfilm from 1974-1982 with 105mm. microfiche thereafter. Possibly individual reported can be offered for sale. LOCALLY SPEAKING:
THE CHICAGO CHECKLIST
As pointed out previously by Ganer and Smith, local documents are not produced in large quantities. This fact adds to the value of a long-term bibliographic record as the"Checklist of Publications Issued by the City of Chicago': Begun in 1957, the "Checklist" stiil is effective with 218 citations in Volume 27, No. 1 of January/March 1984. Arrangement is alphabetical by corporate author with a range of titles from "Redevelopment Plans for the North Loop" to "Foo~-SC~~~" by the Commission on Animal Care and Control. Some items are available from the issuing agencies while all have been received by the Municipal Reference Library. NCTABLE DOCUMENTS:
IOWA
As has become customary in 'Byways" notable documents from various states are reviewed. The following 1984 titles were contributed by members of the Iowa Government Document Committee. Contributions from other states are invited for future coluulns. %ducational Excellence For Iowa: Final Report of the Joint Committee on Instructional Development and Academic Pxticulation in Iowa." Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa State Board of Regents and the Department of Public Instruction, 1984. 30 p.
This report includes 17 recommendations for improving Iowa education, particularly at the secondary and postsecondary level. Concentrating on the tran-. sition from high school to colleges, it describes the necessary competencies high school graduates should attain for a successful college career. Pecommendations cover such topics as "Educational Planning for the Individual Student:' "Role of College and University Faculties in Academic Articulation" and "Development of Computer Competency". rtAnInventory of Significant Natural Areas in Iowa: Two Year Progress Report of the Iowa Natural Areas Inventory". Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Conservation Commission, 1984. 135 p.
620
Information Update
Describes a comprehensive Iowa program to classify, inventory, and store data on natural plant communities, special plants, special animals, and other natural features. This progress report describes the various elements of the program, as well as summarizing the data already collected. Des Hoines, UReport of the Governor's Committee on the Iowa Records Law". Iowa: Governor's Committee on the Public Records Law, lo@+. 24 p. Review and analysis of the existing Public Records Law, along with recomThe report discusses such problems mendations for changes and improvements. as confidential records, applications for government jobs, information on government licensees, and government information on individuals.
Information specialists who work with government publications and who are concerned with the free flow of public information are justifiably worried about present-day trends. Occasionally there are indications that all is not lost, especially with the category of state publications. A recent announcement by the New Jersey Government Document Taskforce, promoting a forthcoming index to state periodicals, is one example. The contents of an estimated number of 2,300 periodicals by state agencies are largely a closed door. Federal periodicals were in the same situation before the birth of the "Index to Government Periodicals" (Infordata International Incorporated, Chicago, 1970- ). A small sampling of deserving New Jersey periodicals includes "New Jersey Outdoors" the "Human Service Reporter", "New Jersey Economic Indicators", the "Historical Commission Newsletter", and "Arts, New Jersey." These types of readable, informational periodicals are available from most states. Perhaps the time is ripe for a national index to state government periodicals and newsletters. ONE FOR THE 'tUP"SIDE May 31, 1984 was a red-letter day for Tennessee state document depositories. Governor Lamar Alexander signed into law Public Chapter 903 sponsored by State Senator Steve Cohen and State Representative Michael Kernell. The text of this important law follows: "Be It Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee" Upon request of a designated depository of state documents, such depository is entitled to receive without charge (1) copy of the bills, resolutions, committee actions and the status of pieces of legislation, daily calendars, published committee reports, and any other official or unofficial published index. This progressive depository law took effect on July 1, 1984 with depository request for each category of publication required. To the columnist's knowledge, Tennessee is the first state to offer such an excellent range of legislative materials, with the category of "legislative status' alone, an example for the other 49 states. A DOWNER In contrast, ttDocumentsto the People of New York State" (Fall, 1984) reported that Assembly Bill 6696 was introduced, amending the New York State printing and public documents law so that the current requirements of sending 200 copies of each state document to the State Library would be eliminated. This disturbing proposal has already been passed by the Assembly and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Government Operations. The present Depository law is not effective and scarcely offers twenty-five percent of the total Empire State titles to Depository libraries. 617
618
Information Update
NEW ARRIVALS The appearance of two 1984 reference books relating to state publications offer more good news. The "Congressional Guide to Citing Government Publications, A Manual For Writers and Librarians" was authored by Diane L. Ganer and Diane H. Smith, both of the Pennsylvania State Libraries. (Congressional Information Service, Bethesda, Maryland, 1984) The Manual is designed to fill a void in the literature of citation and style manuals and librarianship. Included is a complete section on correct citations for state, local, and regional documents. Even examples for city and village councils, county governments, and economic or planning commissions are included. The authors correctly note that these documents are not uniformly or widely distributed. Geographic, political, single and multiple agencies, and legislatures as issuing bodies are explained with many useful examples. Added congratulations to these authors as all sales proceeds go to help support activities of the Government Documents Roundtable, American Library Association. A second reference work should help ease the pain of tracking legislative documents from state government. Legislative analyses and special reports from state legislatures continue to provide an important category of documents. The quality and quantity of these titles vary greatly between individual states. "State Legislative Leadership, Committees, and Staff, 1983-1984" provides an excellent source of information about workings of legislatures. The second of three supplements to the "Rook of the States, 1982-1983” (Lexington, Kentucky, Council of State Governments, 1983) this reference lists names, addresses, and telephone numbers of legislative leaders, committees, and staff members. For searching individual state reports, there are directories of public information officers, research and policy divisions, and Legislative Councils as most useful categories. Two examples of services; An excellent publication list can be obtained from the Oregon Legislative Research while the New York State Assembly maintains a toll-free telephone number to determine current bill status. MORE DOCUMENTS Oi'T DOCUMENTS The user's guides for the Documents on Documents collection are ready acThis collection is a State and local cording to Louisiana's Margaret Lane. Document's Taskforce project that includes publications originating in the administration of state document distribution programs. The 1973-1979 guide is for documents that are to be reproduced by ERIC. It will include all documents in the fiche collection. The "1980-1983" guide indexes those titles that can be circulated through interlibrary loan. The price is three dollars for the two guides. ?!s. Lane asks that checks be made payable to GODORT with requests mailed to Margaret T-Lane, P.O. Box 3335, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70821. The GODORT State and Local Documents Taskforce also plans to survey the relationships between state depository libraries and distribution centers. All depositories that receive state publications will receive a questionnaire with The Work Group the exception of states with more than thirty depositories. feels that this survey is an important follow-up to a 1980-1981 survey of distribution published by the Texas State Library, which reflected the positive effectiveness of state depositories from the viewpoint of their distributional centers. DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS Longhorn lawyers and librarians investigating issues decided by the Supreme Court of Texas have a new tool, ready access to records of each case decided by the Court since September 1963.
Information Update
619
To improve access to these important judicial documents, the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse is publishing the first indexes to microfilmed court records. Indexes to all cases decided during the term from September 1983 to July 1984 will initially be indexed. These indexes have proven to be a useful tool in their experimental form. They are useful, even for researchers who do not own the microfiche according to "Public Documents Highlights for Texas." They allow a user who has only one Indexes are arranged by docket numpiece of information to identify a case. ber, petitioner's name, respondent's name, and by court of appeals citation. Further information can be obtained from the Texas State Publication's Clearinghouse, Texas State Library, Box 12927, Austin, Texas, 78711. The "Texas State Document's Classification Scheme", also will be distributed to Texas state depository libraries. Paper copies of this scheme can also be obtained by those out-of-state from the Clearinghouse free-of-charge while microfiche copies are available at a nominal charge. That microfiche can open doors to state document bibliography is no longer news in itself. However, a microfiche subscription service to all publications and documents listed in the "Checklist of Official Publications of the State of New York" is real news. Beginning with the September 1974 "Checklist" the microform edition of titles appearing in that list provides "researchers with titles which are unobtainable from other sources, as well as periodicals accessioned by the State Library each month but not included in the "Checklist:' Film type is 16mm. silver halide with positive and negiative choice for polarity. The collection is available on 16mrn. microfilm from 1974-1982 with 105mm. microfiche thereafter. Possibly individual reported can be offered for sale. LOCALLY SPEAKING:
THE CHICAGO CHECKLIST
As pointed out previously by Ganer and Smith, local documents are not produced in large quantities. This fact adds to the value of a long-term bibliographic record as the"Checklist of Publications Issued by the City of Chicago': Begun in 1957, the "Checklist" stiil is effective with 218 citations in Volume 27, No. 1 of January/March 1984. Arrangement is alphabetical by corporate author with a range of titles from "Redevelopment Plans for the North Loop" to "Foo~-SC~~~" by the Commission on Animal Care and Control. Some items are available from the issuing agencies while all have been received by the Municipal Reference Library. NCTABLE DOCUMENTS:
IOWA
As has become customary in 'Byways" notable documents from various states are reviewed. The following 1984 titles were contributed by members of the Iowa Government Document Committee. Contributions from other states are invited for future coluulns. %ducational Excellence For Iowa: Final Report of the Joint Committee on Instructional Development and Academic Pxticulation in Iowa." Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa State Board of Regents and the Department of Public Instruction, 1984. 30 p.
This report includes 17 recommendations for improving Iowa education, particularly at the secondary and postsecondary level. Concentrating on the tran-. sition from high school to colleges, it describes the necessary competencies high school graduates should attain for a successful college career. Pecommendations cover such topics as "Educational Planning for the Individual Student:' "Role of College and University Faculties in Academic Articulation" and "Development of Computer Competency". rtAnInventory of Significant Natural Areas in Iowa: Two Year Progress Report of the Iowa Natural Areas Inventory". Des Moines, Iowa: Iowa Conservation Commission, 1984. 135 p.
620
Information Update
Describes a comprehensive Iowa program to classify, inventory, and store data on natural plant communities, special plants, special animals, and other natural features. This progress report describes the various elements of the program, as well as summarizing the data already collected. Des Hoines, UReport of the Governor's Committee on the Iowa Records Law". Iowa: Governor's Committee on the Public Records Law, lo@+. 24 p. Review and analysis of the existing Public Records Law, along with recomThe report discusses such problems mendations for changes and improvements. as confidential records, applications for government jobs, information on government licensees, and government information on individuals.