ALAWON v2n08 (March 16, 1993) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/alawon/alawon-v2n08 ****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 2, Number 8 March 16, 1993 In this issue: (240 lines) GPO ACCESS BILLS INTRODUCED COME TO THE DCLA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE PROGRAM! ONLINE LIBRARY ACCESS GRANT AVAILABLE UPCOMING HEARINGS *************************************************************************** GPO ACCESS BILLS INTRODUCED On March 11, identical bills--with bipartisan sponsorship--were introduced in the House and Senate that will greatly enhance free public access to federal electronic information. Both bills are titled the "Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act of 1993." The House version, HR 1328, is sponsored by Representatives Charlie Rose (D-NC), Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), Gerald Kleczka (D-WI), Bill Thomas (R-CA), Pat Roberts (R-KS), and Newt Gingrich (R-GA) [see March 11 _Congressional Record_, p. H1231]. The Senate bill, S. 564, was introduced by Senators Wendell Ford (D-KY) and Ted Stevens (R-AK) [see March 11 _Congressional Record_, pp. S2781-2]. As he introduced S. 564, Senator Ford said: I believe this bill goes a long way toward ensuring that taxpayers have affordable and timely access to the Federal information which they have paid to generate. The bill requires the Superintendent of Documents to provide an online _Congressional Record_ and _Federal Register_ free to depository libraries and at the incremental costs of distribution to other users. The bill allows other documents distributed by the Superintendent of Documents to be added online as practicable and permits agencies to voluntarily disseminate their electronic publications through the same system. ACTION NEEDED: Please thank the legislators who have cosponsored HR 1328 and S. 564. Ask your Senators and Representatives to cosponsor the bills, and to support them when they come to the floors of the House and Senate. The text of S. 564 follows: S. 564 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act of 1993", SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 44, UNITED STATES CODE. (a) IN GENERAL.--Title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter: "CHAPTER 41--ACCESS TO FEDERAL ELECTRONIC INFORMATION "Sec. "4101. Electronic directory; online access to publications; electronic storage facility. "4102. Fees. "4103. Biennial report. "4104. Definition. 4101. Electronic directory; online access to publications; electronic storage facility "(a) IN GENERAL.--The Superintendent of Documents, under the direction of the Public Printer, shall-- "(1) maintain an electronic directory of Federal electronic information; "(2) provide a system of online access to the Congressional Record, the Federal Register, and, as determined by the Superintendent of Documents, other appropriate publications distributed by the Superintendent of Documents; and "(3) operate an electronic storage facility for Federal electronic information to which online access is made available under paragraph (2). "(b) DEPARTMENTAL REQUESTS.--To the extent practicable, the Superintendent of Documents shall accommodate any request by the head of a department or agency to include in the system of access referred to in subsection (a)(2)information that is under the control of the department or agency involved. "(c) CONSULTATION.--In carrying out this section, the Superintendent of Documents shall consult-- "(1) users of the directory and the system of access provided for under subsection (a); and "(2) other providers of similar information services. The purpose of such consultation shall be to assess the quality and value of the directory and the system, in light of user needs. 4102. Fees "(a) IN GENERAL.--The Superintendent of Documents, under the direction of the Public Printer, may charge reasonable fees for use of the directory and the system of access provided for under section 4101, except that use of the directory and the system shall be made available to depository libraries without charge. The fees received shall be treated in the same manner as moneys received from sale of documents under section 1702 of this title. "(b) COST RECOVERY.--The fees charged under this section shall be set so as to recover the incremental cost of dissemination of the information involved, with the cost to be computed without regard to section 1708 of this title. 4103. Biennial report "Not later than December 31 of each odd-numbered year, the Public Printer shall submit to the Congress, with respect to the two preceding fiscal years, a report on the directory, the system of access, and the electronic storage facility referred to in section 4101(a). The report shall include a description of the functions involved, including a statement of cost savings in comparison with traditional forms of information distribution. 4104. Definition "As used in this chapter, the term 'Federal electronic information' means Federal public information stored electronically." (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.--The table of chapters for title 44, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item: "41. Access to Federal Electronic Information.................4101". Sec. 3. STATUS REPORT. Not later than June 30, 1994, the Public Printer shall submit to the Congress a report on the status of the directory, the system of access, and the electronic storage facility referred to in section 4101 of title 44, United States Code, as added by section 2(a). SEC. 4. SPECIAL RULES. (a) OPERATIONAL DEADLINE.--The directory, the system of access, and the electronic storage facility referred to in section 4101 of title 44, United States Code, as added by section 2(a), shall be operational not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. (b) FIRST BIENNIAL REPORT.--The first report referred to in section 4103 of title 44, United States Code, as added by section 2(a), shall be submitted not later than December 31, 1995. *************************************************************************** COME TO THE DCLA LEGISLATIVE UPDATE PROGRAM! The District of Columbia Library Association Government Documents Interest Group will present a legislative update program on Monday, April 19, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at the Department of Labor Auditorium, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. The program coincides with the 1993 Federal Depository Conference being held April 19-23, and the 19th Annual Library Legislative Day on April 20. The Update will be moderated by Hardy R. Franklin, President of DCLA and President-elect of ALA. Panelists will include Robert Harris, Director of Information Systems and Technology, Senate Rules Committee; Anne Heanue, ALA Washington Office; Joan Lippincott, Assistant Executive Director, Coalition for Networked Information; plus a representative from the Committee on House Administration and a representative from the Senate Commerce Committee. Issues to be covered include the National Research and Education Network and implications for depository libraries; the new GPO WINDO/Gateway/Access bill; the Government Printing Office and budget concerns; and the American Technology Preeminence Act of 1991 and its effects on depository libraries. The program is free, though registration is required. Refreshments will be provided. To register, or for further information, contact Mary Alice Baish, The American University Library, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016-8046; phone 202-885-3841; fax 202-885-3226; Internet mbaish@american.edu. Please do not contact the ALA Washington Office for information about this program. *************************************************************************** ONLINE LIBRARY ACCESS GRANT AVAILABLE The Department of Education is inviting applications for a new award for a library research and demonstration project. The application must provide demonstration of online and dial-in access to a statewide, multitype library bibliographic database through a statewide fiber optic network housing a point of presence in every county, connecting library services in every municipality. One award of $2.48 million is available. The project was originally intended for a single institution, but has been amended to become a more competitive award. If you wish to apply to the Department of Education for a determination of institutional eligibility, contact Ms. Lois Moore, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, Debt Collection and Management Assistance Service, Division of Eligibility and Certification, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 3511, Washington, DC 20202-5323. Applications will be available March 17, 1993; the deadline for submitting applications is May 28, 1993. For applications or further information, contact Neal Kaske or Louise V. Sutherland, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20208-5571; phone 202-219-1315. Hearing impaired individuals can call the Federal Dual Party Relay Service at 800-877-8339 (202-708-9300 in the Washington, DC area) between 8:00 am and 7:00 pm Eastern time. *************************************************************************** UPCOMING HEARINGS The following hearings were announced in the _Congressional Record_ of March 11, 1993. Locations, dates, and times are subject to change. SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION. Subcommittee on Communications. Hearing on S. 335, to require the Secretary of Commerce to make additional frequencies available for commercial assignment in order to promote the development and use of new telecommunications technologies. Wednesday, March 17, 10:00 am, SR-253. SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES. Hearing on S. 473, to promote the industrial competitiveness and economic growth of the United States by strengthening the linkages between the laboratories of the Department of Energy and the private sector and by supporting the development and application of technologies critical to the economic, scientific and technological competitiveness of the United States. Thursday, March 18, 9:30 am, SD-366. COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION. Subcommittee on Libraries and Memorials and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service. Joint oversight hearing to review personnel policies and procedures of the Library of Congress. Thursday, March 18, 9:30 am, 311 Cannon. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Editor and List Owner: Fred King. Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363; Bitnet: NU_ALAWASH@CUA; Internet: NU_ALAWASH@CUA.EDU All or part of ALAWON may be redistributed, with appropriate credits. ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your name]" to listserv@uicvm (Bitnet) or listserv@uicvm.uic.edu (internet). 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