Category Archives: Government Information

Learning Opportunity: Helping Patrons Find Jobs

Posted on May 10, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Public librarians now have a second opportunity to learn ways to provide job-related e-government services to patrons. Watch archived footage of the webinar “E-Government in Action: Matching People with Jobs,” which was hosted by the American Library Association in early May. View the webinar now.

As part of the webinar, participants will hear from numerous e-government grant recipients on innovative workforce development programs that have successfully connected people with jobs.

Speakers include:

  • Janice Collins, technology supervisor, Mandel Public Library (West Palm Beach, Fla.)
  • Betha Gutsche, programs manager, WebJunction OCLC
  • Tiffany McClary and Sheri Shafer, NJ Works @ your Library (New Jersey State Library Program)
  • Jeff Scott, deputy county librarian, Tulare County (Tulare, Calif.)

View the webinar: http://ala.adobeconnect.com/p7m1neieyhh/

**Note: Due to technical issues, the first few minutes of the webinar were not properly recorded.

About Jazzy Wright

Jazzy Wright is the Press Officer of the American Library Association's Washington Office. Email her at jwright@alawash.org.

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Posted in Government Information, OGR, Public Libraries, Webinars

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New Executive Order will increase government transparency

Posted on May 9, 2013 by | 2 Comments

white_houseThe White House has issued a new Executive Order, making open and machine readable the new default for government information and a memo, Open Data Policy – Managing information as an asset.  These documents provide a new set of guidelines for government agencies that will help to ensure a more open and accessible government. “This Memorandum establishes a framework to help institutionalize the principles of effective information management at each stage of the information’s life cycle to promote interoperability and openness.”

The EO specifies that within 90 days the government will “identify and initiate implementation of measures to support the integration of the Open Data Policy” and a new Cross-Agency Priority Goal will be created to track the progress of agencies as they implement the new policy.

This is another positive step in creating a more open and transparent government and will as a result help to inform the American public. As the memo states “making information resources accessible, discoverable, and usable by the public can help fuel entrepreneurship, innovation, and scientific discovery – all of which improve Americans’ lives and contribute significantly to job creation”.

About Jessica McGilvray

Jessica McGilvary is the Assistant Director of ALA Washington Office's Office of Government Relations (OGR).

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Posted in Government Information, OGR

Get Ready for Next Week’s Nat’l Library Legislative Day

Posted on April 30, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Prepare for the Event with Videos and Issue Briefs from Policy Experts

From May 7–8, 2013, hundreds of library supporters from across the country will meet in Washington, D.C., to discuss key library issues with their members of Congress. In preparation for next week’s 39th Annual National Library Legislative Day, the American Library Association today released new briefs on policies, legislation and issues impacting libraries.

For the first time, library advocates will have the option to learn about library issues through a series of  videos prepared by the ALA Washington Office.

Jeffrey Kratz gives a briefing on the Library Services & Technology Act and Innovative Approaches to Literacy for National Library Legislative Day 2013:

Jessica McGilvray gives a briefing on the Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act for National Library Legislative Day 2013:

Marijke Visser gives a briefing on the E-rate for National Library Legislative Day 2013:

Read all of the issue briefs:

While you’re at National Library Legislative Day, remember to use the hashtag #nlld13.

About Jazzy Wright

Jazzy Wright is the Press Officer of the American Library Association's Washington Office. Email her at jwright@alawash.org.

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Posted in E-Rate, Events, Funding, Government Information

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E-Government Webinar Video Now Available

Posted on April 16, 2013 by | 6 Comments

Webinar video from the ALA webinar “Libraries & E-government” is now available. The online seminar focuses on helping public libraries provide their patrons with government services.

As part of the webinar, participants will learn:

  • How to use www.libegov.org, an easy-to-use web tool that helps libraries serve the e-government needs of their communities.
  • How to use the virtual Ask A Librarian feature through Government Information Online service.
  • More about online resources available from government agencies and non-governmental organizations that deal with issues, such as immigration and taxation.

For the next few weeks, the American Library Association will provide online e-government and immigrant services seminars to library staff at no charge. The next webinar, titled “Taking Action: Legal Barriers to Library Services to Immigrants & Access to Information,” will take place May 1, 2013 (register now). Additionally, REFORMA, the ALA Washington Office and the ALA Office for Library Advocacy will host a free webinar on May 14, 2013 (more details to come later).

Learn more about how your library can support immigrants, visit libegov.org/at-your-library/immigration/programming.

About Jessica McGilvray

Jessica McGilvary is the Assistant Director of ALA Washington Office's Office of Government Relations (OGR).

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Posted in Government Information, OGR, Public Libraries, Webinars

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Supporting Immigrants, One Oath at a Time

Posted on April 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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Today, I had the opportunity to witness library immigration services in action. To celebrate National Library Week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) hosted a special naturalization ceremony for 25 U.S. citizen candidates at the Library of Congress in the nation’s capital. The event recognized the many ways that libraries help immigrants and link people to government services.

Additionally, the event announced a new partnership between USCIS and the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to provide immigration and citizenship information to public libraries across the United States. Susan Hildreth, director of IMLS, gave keynote remarks at the event.

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Hildreth speaking at the ceremony

“We are partnering with libraries to inform immigrants about citizenship,” said USCIS director Alejandro Mayorkas after administering the Oath of Allegiance to the candidates. “It’s a very important collaboration.”

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(Left to right): Hildreth, Mayorkas, and Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.

For the next few weeks, the American Library Association will provide online e-government and immigrant services seminars to library staff at no charge. The next webinar, titled “Taking Action: Legal Barriers to Library Services to Immigrants & Access to Information,” will take place May 1, 2013 (register now). Additionally, REFORMA, the ALA Washington Office and the ALA Office for Library Advocacy will host a free webinar on May 14, 2013 (more details to come later).

Learn more about how your library can support immigrants, visit libegov.org/at-your-library/immigration/programming.

About Emily Sheketoff

Emily Sheketoff is the Executive Director of the American Library Association's Washington Office.

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Posted in Government Information, OGR, Public Libraries

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