Access to Government Information Interest Group

2009-2010 Annual Report to CLA Executive

Submitted by Caron Rollins, Convener, 2009-2011

AGIIG Membership: 75 members as of October 31, 2009.

AGIIG Budget

  • Balance forward: $5486.00, Allotment: $1013.00.
  • Budget submissions were made in October and revised as requested. No funds were expended AGIIG.
  • AGIIG had hoped to help sponsor regional/provincial gatherings of government librarians (such as after BCLA’s Annual Gathering of Government Information Librarians) but did not.
  • New CLA Teleconference Service: AGIIG did not use this service since it was set up in November, but appreciates that it is available.

AGIIG Activities

CLA 2009 Conference - Interest Groups Breakfast Meeting.

Meeting attended by about 12 people. Discussion at the meeting concerned CLA's memberson the DSP Advisory Committee, and how to set up liaison by AGIIC with the CLA representatives. Weasked that the Executive provide us with CLA's representatives on the DSP Advisory Committee, as we would like to contact these reps. Elizabeth Sandersand Barry Wood from the Depository Services Program attendedto answer questions about the new DSP agreement.

Communication with AGIIC members. Currently there are over 70 CLA members who also AGIIC members. Some, but not all, subscribe to the AGIIC. Others are members of GOVINF-L and / or INFODEP (the DSP listserve) and APLIC (Legislative libraries). Volunteers stepped forward to post to GOVINFO-L notices from INFODEP and APLIC.

New convener and co-convener for 2009-2011: Caron Rollins and Doug Kariel.

CLA 2010Conference

Thursday June 3, 7:00 am to 8:00 am – AGIIG Interest Group Meeting – roundtable discussion moderated by the Co-conveners to identify issues and actions to carry forward to the Interest Group Breakfast meeting.

Friday June 4, 7:30- 8:30, Interest Group Breakfast Meeting

Saturday June 5, 8:30 am to 9:30 am, Session H55 “What Users Want: Assessing Government Information Preferences to Drive Information Services.” Presenters: Jennie M. Burroughs, University of Montana, and Caron Rollins, University of Victoria.

Olga B. Bishop Award

This award has not been awarded for a number of years. The committee assigned to this task is not active. The award is intended to be annual and awarded to a library school student submitting the best paper on government information . Recommendation: locate new members for the award committee for 2011, OR, turn the administration of the award over to CLA.

Blogs and Listserves

Listserv: Moderator is Amanda Wakaruk, hosted

Blog:

Other:GOVINFOlistserv.INFODEP for members of the Depository Services Program (DSP).

AGIIG and the State of the Association – Message from the Executive Council

C. Rollins raised some points with C. Stenson, CLA Councilor, regarding the isolation of AGIIG from CLA committees, particularly the Intellectual Property and Public Accesscommittee. Also, the selection by CLA of members for the Canadian Federal Depository Services Advisory Committee without participation of the AGIIG .The depository services program is a vital connection for Canadian government librarians, and decisions made by the program or forced onto the program by other federal departments and agencies have a great impact on access to government information in Canada.