Freedom of Information
Agency Proposal Would Reduce the Public’s Right to Know about the Fish Population
Our nation’s ocean wildlife and fish are a public resource, and citizens should be able to track the impact of fishing on fish populations. But a new proposal from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will greatly reduce the public’s access to essential fisheries data, including taxpayer-funded programs.
http://www.ombwatch.org/agency-proposal-would-reduce-public-right-to-know-about-fish-population
National Archives and Government Printing Office Release Presidential Documents
“The National Archives’ Office of the Federal Register (OFR) and the Government Printing Office today released a Presidential Documents free mobile Web application (app) on the President’s daily public activities.
http://www.librarystuff.net/2012/10/10/national-archives-and-government-printing-office-release-presidential-documents-app/
What Happened to the National Zoological Park Library, or How a New Model of Librarianship Came to the Smithsonian Libraries
“The end of an era has come to the Smithsonian Libraries and a new one begins! The current model of a library, with a physical location, books and journals on the shelves and a librarian to manage it all is so 2011.
http://www.librarystuff.net/2012/10/09/what-happened-to-the-national-zoological-park-library-or-how-a-new-model-of-librarianship-came-to-the-smithsonian-libraries/
Library in transition – Harvard moves rapidly into digital future, while preserving past
“A new Web portal for the revamped Harvard Library is opening the window on a massive reorganization effort that is designed to preserve the incredibly valuable print past while embracing the increasingly important digital future.
http://www.librarystuff.net/2012/10/04/library-in-transition-harvard-moves-rapidly-into-digital-future-while-preserving-past/
Public Policy
Celebrating a Public Protections Milestone: The 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act
Oct. 18 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, a crucial law that protects the nation’s water from pollution. Congress passed the landmark legislation at a time when much of our water was so contaminated by industrial waste and other pollutants that it was unfit for public use.
http://www.ombwatch.org/clean-water-act-40th-anniversary
EFF Opposes US Government’s State Secrets Claim (Again) in Jewel v. NSA, the Warrantless Wiretapping
Yesterday, EFF filed its latest brief in the Jewel v. NSA case, aiming to stop the government from engaging in mass warrantless collection of emails, phone calls, and customer records of ordinary Americans. The matter is set for hearing on December 14, 2012 in federal court in San Francisco, on the question of whether these Americans will get their day in court.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/eff-government-state-secrets-jewel-nsa
Passing Over the “Fiscal Cliff” in Early 2013 Seems Increasingly
While the outcome of the 2012 election will still ultimately decide next steps on the federal budget, a status-quo election that leaves Democrats in control of the presidency and Republicans in control of the House of Representatives seems likely to produce a budget stalemate that will last through the rest of the year and will trigger a “fiscal cliff” of spending cuts and tax increases in the new year.
http://www.ombwatch.org/passing-over-fiscal-cliff-in-2013-increasingly-likely
Internet Access
New Senate Report: Counterterrorism “Fusion Centers” Invade Innocent Americans’ Privacy and Don’t Stop Terrorism
The Department of Homeland Security’s 70 counterterrrorism “fusion centers” produce “predominantly useless information,” “a bunch of crap,” while “running afoul of departmental guidelines meant to guard against civil liberties” and are “possibly in violation of the Privacy Act.”
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/new-senate-report-confirms-government-counterterrorism-centers-dont-stop
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The Intersect Alert is a newsletter of the Government Relations Committee, San Francisco Bay Region Chapter, Special Libraries Association.
