Govt Info Slides 2

Librarians:

Librarians Roles and implications for libraries from government and law information seeking.

Government Reference :

Government Reference The Divelko study in 2000 suggested the following problems with Depository Library reference in Canada: Lack of collaboration with other staff and/or referrals Lack of subject knowledge Lack of multiple resources Poor interpersonal skills – inapproachability Unmonitored referral “Getting rid” of the patron

Government Reference :

Government Reference The Divelko study suggests the following improvements to government information reference: Staff the reference desk with subject specialists Provide training in government resources to staff – including available programs and basic government information Intra-library cooperation between full and selective depository libraries – interlibrary loan Regional catalog of materials for the surrounding libraries Government agencies must make information accessible Reference interviews and better interpersonal skills

Government Reference :

Government Reference The implications of that study are still relevant today, and suggest the continued need for quality reference services for the dissemination of government information.

Government Information Reference:

Government Information Reference The following is an instructional video on providing legal information reference. While specific to California, this video contains many useful tips and desirable behaviors for reference librarians: If you are unable to watch this video, it can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMs0FMUPXJg

Reference – Law Librarians:

Reference – Law Librarians Expense of legal resources has encouraged many individuals to act as amateur lawyers and pro se litigants . For legal information, they turn to their local libraries and law librarians. Libraries must have not only the basic legal information, but the resources to interpret “legalese”.

Reference – Law Librarians:

Reference – Law Librarians Legal reference is different from regular reference because… Criticality – the use the information will be put to could mean the difference in child custody cases or prison time Knowledge – Legal information is so vast and the language so specialized that the librarian must be well versed in the law Restraint – librarians cannot dispense legal advice Ethics – librarians must maintain confidentiality Volume – legal information is vast and ever growing Updating – currency of information requires consistent updating Expense – currency requires constant purchase of up to date resources

Reference – Law Librarians:

Reference – Law Librarians Librarians Boundaries of service: Cannot cross the line into the unauthorized practice of law Conform to laws and policies about the limits of service Cannot provide legal advice Provide legal research classes Demonstrate how to research then step back Refer self help books to pro se litigants

ALA Guidelines for Medical, Legal, and Business Responses:

ALA Guidelines for Medical, Legal, and Business Responses Due to the sensitive nature of law and government information (as well as medical and business reference), the ALA created a series of guidelines to help librarians meet user needs responsibly. The following links directly to the ALA Guidelines: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/resources/guidelines/guidelinesmedical.cfm

ALA Guidelines for Legal Responses: Notable entries:

ALA Guidelines for Legal Responses: Notable entries 1.0.1    A library’s information services staff must have the knowledge and preparation appropriate to meet the routine legal, medical, or business information needs of their clientele. 1.1.1    Libraries may advise users regarding the relative merits of sources, regardless of their medium, and make recommendations regarding library materials when appropriate 1.3.3    Information services staff should be impartial and nonjudgmenta l in handling users’ queries. 2.1.1    Libraries should provide the most current information possible, consistent with the needs of the library’s primary clientele and within the limitations of the library’s materials budget and collection development policy. 2.3.2    If the question cannot be answered using available sources and personnel, they should be prepared to refer questions to individuals as well as to published sources in a variety of formats. 2.3.5    Staff may not make recommendations to specific lawyers, legal firms, doctors, other medical care providers or business professionals but may provide access to other information that may help the user identify and locate those resources.

F Federal Depository Library Program :

F Federal Depository Library Program “A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power that knowledge gives.” -- James Madison The idea of public free access to government information resulted in the creation of the FDLP. But what is the FDLP…

Videos about the FDLP:

Videos about the FDLP How much is the public aware of the FDLP libraries? If you are unable to see this video, it can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot0rqkUz_9s

Videos about the FDLP:

Videos about the FDLP An official explanation of the FDLP by the Government Printing Office: If you are unable to see this video, it can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRSalwvVSnA

The future of Federal Depository Libraries:

The future of Federal Depository Libraries “As GPO grapples with shifts in its technologies – evolving from a traditional printing plant to something else in the world of the internet – FDLP's participating libraries must deal with their own local pressures that demand rapid shifts in resources (funding, space, staff), service pressures to uplift their technological capabilities to access and disseminate authenticated digital government information, and national pressures to respond to a complicated set of societal expectations from their respective communities about whether or not electronic access to federal information is a priority in access and delivery.” (Shuker, Jaeger, and Bertot,2009) “The federal government, ‘the largest single producer, consumer, collector, and disseminator of information in the United States,’ has begun to disseminate most of that information electronically.” (Staley, 2007) A switch to e-government has made many question the need for the FDLP in the digital age. Many libraries have opted out of the program, as every one with internet access has access to free online government information .

Federal Depository Libraries :

Federal Depository Libraries “Charles Seavey wrote recently that ‘ we are moving into an era when every library in the country has the potential to become a depository library in the sense that each one could potentially provide users with access to government information at a level previously unavailable’ . ” (from Cassel and Hiremath, 2009)

E-government::

E-government: E-Government Act of 2002 : mandated that all government agencies improve public access to their information resources online. Effort to cut costs for the federal government by having the GPO become an online publisher Effort to increase government transparency Libraries are mentioned in the Act as participants in the larger context of federal e-government services and resources

E-government::

E-government: Contact the agency directly: US Census Bureau: submit questions online – 2 business days https://ask.census.gov/app/ask USDA: search commonly asked questions or submit a question http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ASK_EXPERT2 Department of Education: https://answers.ed.gov/app/answers/list Dept of Defense: general public question submission https://kb.defense.gov/app/ask/session/L3RpbWUvMTMwMTI0ODk4MS9zaWQvbE5pU1ktcGs%3D –

E-government::

E-government: Government information sources are available free online to the public and act as excellent reference sources for librarians: http://THOMAS.gov – legislative information from the Library of Congress http://GPO.gov/FDSYS - the online depository for the Government Printing Office http://www.USA.gov - the official government web site, with links to agencies, general information, and more. http://www.epa.gov/libraries/ols.htm - EPA Online Library System https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ - CIA World Fact-book

Providing Open Access to Government Information:

Providing Open Access to Government Information Among patrons using e-government in libraries: 52.4% do not own a computer 42.4% lack access both at home and at work 40% are there because access is free 38.1% rely on the assistance of librarians “A new but extremely important social role for public libraries is ensuring that all citizens have access to and assistance using e-government information and services” (Jaeger and Bertot 2009)

E-government in Public Libraries:

E-government in Public Libraries When using e-government in libraries… 28% of patrons report needing help with e-government 24% struggle with time limits 16% have difficulty using websites 13% have difficulty with forms Librarians need to be aware of these common problems facing the general public in terms of accessing government resources. "When people struggle with, become frustrated by, or reject e-government services, they turn to public libraries" (Jaeger and Bertot 2009)

Teaching the public to use e-government resources::

Teaching the public to use e-government resources: Jaeger and Bertot (2009) suggest that Libraries need to formalize training of the public in the use of e-government resources through the following: In person training courses Web resources – reference, links, and support services Subject specialist librarians for e-government Partnerships with agencies providing e-government information – both to reach the intended audience and to create user centered e-government sites.

Problems raised by the influx of e-government in libraries::

Problems raised by the influx of e-government in libraries: Many government agencies have embraced the digital age by placing all forms and information online. This, however, often leaves a large section of the population without easy access to this information, due to lack of computer/internet access and/or training. Often these are the people who need it most. For example, all forms for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Social Security Disability, DCF, WIC, FEMA (disaster relief), Immigration, Welfare, Public Assistance, etc. are now primarily accessible only online. Furthermore, the government agencies associated with them do not offer public access terminals. These resources are associated with groups with notoriously low income and/or access to computers and internet, such as seniors, ESL, single parents, people with disabilities, and disaster survivors.

Problems raised by the influx of e-government in libraries::

Problems raised by the influx of e-government in libraries: So where is the funding? Libraries are not given additional funds from government agencies for providing… Internet access Up to date software and hardware Government Information Specialists One on one assistance Public education in e-government access Troubleshooting on e-government forms “To control their own costs, federal and .state agencies are shifting the burden of e-government to public libraries with little regard for the impact on these front-line service providers.” (Bertot, Jaeger, Langer, and McClure, 2006)