Government Information
The Issue
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Libraries collect, organize, and preserve and help the public find, use, and understand a wealth of information from their local, state, and federal governments. For as long as libraries have been delivering government information of all types to the public, ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ has been advocating to protect and improve public access to government information. From the to a variety of e-government services, including the and , libraries have continued to play to role of advocate for the public.
What is government information?
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Government information and government information products are published, compiled, or created by the government, at government expense or as required by law. This applies to all government publications, regardless of format, including:
- Census data
- Scientific research
- Laws and regulations
- Information about how to interact with government (apply for programs and comply with rules)
- Educational information
- Information about how government is operating
How does ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ advocate for public access to government information?
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The library community has a long-standing commitment to public access to information created by or for the federal, state, and local government. This of the public’s "Right to Know” is the cornerstone of government accountability and informed public participation. This is why ¹Ü¼ÒÆŲÊͼ advocates for public policies that promote public access to government information, open government, and E-Government services.
Recent Advocacy
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- Letter to the Government Publishing Office with comments on proposed Digital Federal Depository Library Program (October 14, 2022)
- Letter to the Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee supporting the confirmation of Dr. Colleen Shogan as Archivist of the United States (September 23, 2022)
- Testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee on the fiscal year 2023 requests for the Library of Congress and the Government Publishing Office (May 24, 2022)
- Correspondence & Filing Archive
