The power of information: The example of the u.s. toxics release inventory

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) was the first legislatively mandated database in the history of the United States government. It provides access to information on releases of toxic chemicals. Following a brief history of the database, this article describes how access to public data in the TRI has contributed to significant reductions in overall pollution and helped change the role of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from a strictly command-and-control regulatory body to one encouraging information-sharing and voluntary reductions. The article also discusses how the TRI has served as a model for integration of multiple sets of data to promote use and understanding of complex information. The article also describes how the database has served as a model for similar databases internationally.     

发展我国信息产业的技术环境和策略

一、外部技术环境这里所说的外部技术环境是指国外发达国家信息技术发展水平和已取得的成果。我国作为发展中国家，只有了解国外信息技术发展动态，才能更加客观地找准自己的位置，从而认清差距，制定符合我国国情的政策措施来发展自己。１．微电子技术１９９８年美国科技政策研究所就关键技术问题采访了３９家公司的总经理，采访中总经理们提及最多的技术是：软件、微电子和电信技术。他们认为，微电子、软件和电信技术是支撑信息数字化及由此而来的商业转变的三条腿。因此，美国和其它发达国家都十分重视对微电子技术的发展，并且其微电子…     

Search for tomorrow: The electronic records research program of the u.s. national historical publications and records commission

The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) is a small grant-making agency affiliated with the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. The Commission is charged with promoting the preservation and dissemination of documentary source materials to ensure an understanding of U.S. history. Recognizing that the increasing use of computers created challenges for preserving the documentary record, the Commission adopted a research agenda in 1991 to promote research and development on the preservation and continued accessibility of documentary materials in electronic form. From 1991 to the present the Commission awarded 31 grants totaling $2,276,665 for electronic records research. Most of this research has focused on two issues of central concern to archivists: (1) electronic record keeping (tools and techniques to manage electronic records produced in an office environment, such as word processing documents and electronic mail), and (2) best practices for storing, describing, and providing access to all electronic records of long-term value. NHPRC grants have raised the visibility of electronic records issues among archivists. The grants have enabled numerous archives to begin to address electronic records problems, and, perhaps most importantly, they have stimulated discussion about electronic records among archivists and records managers.     

Applied science publishing in the u.s. government: failure of congressional policy

This article focuses on the period beginning in 1950–1960s, the pre–National Technical Information Service (NTIS) period, during which two key and powerful U.S. congressmen sought to establish a national clearinghouse for federally produced and sponsored applied science literature. The article examines their activities as well as the forces impeding their efforts.     

A period of transition: Foundation publications of the u.s. national military establishment

Through an examination of the scope and arrangement pattern of the federal government’s publications issued by the Army, Navy, and Air Force during the period of the so-called National Military Establishment, 1947–1949, one can gain an understanding of the workings of the Superintendent of Documents classification scheme. U.S. government depository libraries hold copies of many of the publications identified in the article. However, the article’s focus is on the record copies held by the National Archives within Record Group 287, Publications of the U.S. Government. An integral feature of the article is an appendix that lists more than 100 series with their respective SuDocs identification numbers. The author discusses the most significant of these series and introduces the lay reader to search methodologies for locating specific publications.     

The virtual desktop: the remote access solution

The increasing expectation for easy, yet full remote access to library materials necessitates innovative thinking on the part of libraries. Other traditional methods of providing access don't always meet the needs of the library or the patrons. This paper describes the project of one library to develop a Virtual Desktop, making access easy to grant or withhold, and also making available a wider array of resources.     

Principles for information technology investment in u.s. federal electronic records management

Changing business and legal conditions force federal agencies to acquire information technology (IT) systems today that may be subject to future mandatory electronic records management (ERM) requirements. Agencies must devise IT investment strategies that optimize operating efficiencies and customer service improvements in the present and also comply with the likely future direction of ERM regulations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency undertook a business process reengineering (BPR) exercise with respect to future co-location of previously separate regulatory docket facilities. Their experience suggests that future mandatory ERM will cause federal agencies to take a more thorough account of the full information life cycle when planning an IT system’s life cycle; and that BPR is a practical necessity when implementing ERM.     

美国的科学技术信息系统

本文论述了美国科技信息系统的管理体制、政策法规、功能以及运行保障,并得出了几点启示.     

The National Technical Information Service - Working to Strengthen U.S. Information Sources

The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) is a self-supporting agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that actively collects, organizes, and distributes technical information generated by United States and foreign governments in all areas of science and technology. There are two million titles in the NTIS permanent archives, some of which date as far back as 1945, and last year NTIS added 63,000 new titles to its collection. The entire collection is available at any time - whether a report dates from 20 years ago or last month. In addition, NTIS provides government generated computer software and computerized data files on both tape and diskette through its Federal Computer Products Center. To keep pace with technology transfer activities, the NTIS Center for the Utilization of Federal Technology licenses Federal inventions and makes them available to private industry and prepares and issues a number of publications, catalogs, and directories announcing Federal technologies and resources. In the area of foreign technology, NTIS has recently increased its holdings - up to a third of the reports entering the collection are now from foreign sources.     

试论技术标准信息的检索

论述科技信息中的重要信息源--技术标准信息的检索,并结合竞争情报概念的引入提出技术标准信息检索的新内涵。     

图书馆在科技信息化中的作用

本文从研究科技信息化对图书馆的影响入手,分析了图书馆在科技信息化过程中的作用,认为图书馆将成为科技信息化建设的主力军;图书馆参与科技信息化建设应在信息资源开发和利用方面重点突破,并提出了一些探讨性的建议。     

Notable Literature of the 1980s for Technical Services

No abstract available for this article.     

U.s. military women in world war II: The spar,wac, waves,wasp, and women marines in u.s. government publications

During World War II, the U.S. military faced a shortage of personnel that forced the services to enlist women. All branches of the armed forces eventually created women's corps, and more than 275,000 women served in these organizations. This article offers an annotated bibliography of U.S. government publications relating to these pioneering women. It serves as a documentary history of World War II's military women as well as a resource for further study. A wide range of print and electronic materials is covered, from official and commemorative histories, to primary source materials such as congressional hearings and recruiting brochures and posters.     

Ways of change: an acquisitions department in the 1990s

The evolutionary change that has occurred in the workflow, job assignments, and organization of the acquisitions department at the University Libraries of Notre Dame during the past four years is described. Many changes have occurred not through an administrative mandate but through staff initiative. Convergence is illustrated by the merging of functions through internal reorganization and by collaboration with other departments in carrying out critical functions. The means by which change occurred and the factors most influential in bringing it about are examined. The perceptions of support staff who have been the active agents of change are reported. Finally, the authors speculate about what such methods of meeting the challenge of a changing environment can contribute to academic libraries seeking their “preferred future.”     

信息资源与信息技术、信息应用系统三者的相互关系

本文探讨了当前推进信息化建设过程中提出的一个重要问题,即如何认识和处理好信息技术、信息应用系统和信息资源三者的关系.作者认为,信息技术是信息化的基础,信息应用系统是信息化建设的主阵地,信息资源开发利用则是信息化建设的核心任务和高级阶段.三者都很重要,随着国家信息化水平的提高,工作重心应当转移到信息资源开发利用方面来.     

Testing the constitutionality of u.s. licensing of news gatherers and researchers traveling to cuba*

The Fifth Amendment right to travel freely abroad notwithstanding, the Supreme Court has upheld on national security grounds a de facto travel ban by which the U.S. government prohibits its citizens to spend money necessary for visiting the island of Cuba unless they receive prior approval from the Treasury Department. However, this article argues that the licensing regime used by Treasury to authorize some academic researchers and news gatherers to report from Cuba probably is unconstitutional. The First Amendment right to publish carries with it the antecedent freedom to gather news and information. The government may limit that freedom only for compelling reasons and only if the restrictions are not based on some constitutionally impermissible criterion or condition. The reason for this is to prevent the government from restricting the flow of information necessary for the American people to make enlightened choices in the democratic process and hold their government in account. Therefore, requiring news gatherers and academic researchers to obtain licenses undermines democratic self-government by placing the government in the position of determining the terms and conditions under which the electorate is informed about a matter of public importance. This article further argues that the criteria used in granting licenses are arbitrarily applied, not reasonably related to the stated goals of the economic embargo of Cuba, and discriminate against some information gatherers according to their employment status and content of their work. Based on this conclusion, the author decided to participate in a legal challenge, in which he and two other academic researchers traveled to Cuba without Treasury licenses in order to test the constitutionality of the regulations. The author’s personal experience is recounted, and the inconclusive outcome of his civil disobedience is reported.     

2008～2010年美国电子资源评估发展综述

电子资源已经成为高校图书馆馆藏资源的重要组成部分。基于美国研究图书馆协会电子资源评估调查,通过调查结果对美国的电子资源发展进行综述,以此来借鉴国外图书馆获取新型电子资源的方法与途径,依据ARL电子评估调查现状和存在的问题进行分析。通过电子资源的评估调查分析为高校图书馆建设电子信息资源提供参考,从不同角度借鉴联盟采购和图书馆采购方式,以期推进电子资源的共建、知识的共享。     

2008～2010年美国电子资源评估发展综述

电子资源已经成为高校图书馆馆藏资源的重要组成部分。基于美国研究图书馆协会电子资源评估调查,通过调查结果对美国的电子资源发展进行综述,以此来借鉴国外图书馆获取新型电子资源的方法与途径,依据ARL电子评估调查现状和存在的问题进行分析。通过电子资源的评估调查分析为高校图书馆建设电子信息资源提供参考,从不同角度借鉴联盟采购和图书馆采购方式,以期推进电子资源的共建、知识的共享。     

技术档案信息反馈

输出和反馈是技术档案信息流的组成部分.但是,在一般情况下,技术档案管理部门注意输出利用档案信息,忽视了档案信息的反馈.企业、科研设计管理是否成功有效,关键在于对反馈信息是否敏感、准确和有效.作为科研设计管理组成部分的技术档案工作,是以完整、准确、齐全的技术档案信息提供利用.这就要求档案工作既要输出档案信息,又要收集反馈信息.……