Government Info Pro

New Year's Resolutions

Need some inspiration for your New Year's resolutions? Visit USA.gov's list of Popular New Year's Resolutions. The list won't just inspire you, it will give you resources to get you started and help you make those resolutions a reality.

Popular resolutions include health, fitness, finance, stress management, travel, and continuing your education.

If you want to ponder the topic of resolutions some more, then you will find this press release from mygoals.com interesting: 2009 New Year's Resolutions Reflect Tough Economy: Health & Travel Are Out, Nesting & Relationships Are In. It includes a breakdown and comparison of 2008 and 2009 resolutions.

And if you need some tips on how to follow through on the resolutions that you make,take a look at this article from the University of Maryland Health Center: Where to Begin: Expert Advice on Maintaining Resolutions.

Happy New Year!

Elvis Meets the President

NARA provides a daily dose of intriguing historical documents on Today's Document from the National Archives. If you haven't taken a look at this site then go visit. Each day, a different historic document is highlighted. Along with the document and background about it, there are some nice resources on the sidebar like research links and teaching resources. Links to additional materials are supplied as well, to give the opportunity for a deeper look at the topic of the document.

The document for December 21st was particularly interesting, It is a letter written by Elvis Presley to President Nixon from the White House Central Files. Elvis Presley personally delivered the letter to the White House on December 21, 1970.

You'll see a the digital image of the document that can be enlarged, downloaded, or printed from PDF. You can also follow the link to the When Nixon Met Elvis Virtual Exhibit.

Click here to find out how to subscribe to the Today's Document from the National Archives feed.

SLA DGI Membership

Fellow SLA Members:

As SLA DGI Membership Chair, I am extending this invitation for you to get involved with SLA's Division of Government Information.

Do you know that membership in one SLA Division is included in your SLA membership benefits? We’d like you to consider joining us in the Government Information Division (DGI).

We are a young, innovative SLA Division (founded in 2004), and we welcome your involvement in DGI’s activities, and in our exchanges about ways to effectively manage and utilize government information.

While you may or may not work in government, you probably utilize government information at work or home. DGI will enhance your opportunities to network with information professionals who share similar interests, and will expand your knowledge of government information sources and issues.

DGI provides multiple channels in which to maximize your Division membership benefits:

At DGI’s website -- http://www.sla.org/dgi -- you can access:

• DGI’s exclusive news feed of full-text articles (powered by LexisNexis), chronicling global information developments;
• DGI’s blog, delivering professional insights on a broad range of government information topics;
• DGI’s e-newsletter, “What’s New,” keeping you up-to-date on our activities and programs

DGI discussion list and Facebook page

Via these tools, you’ll hear the latest DGI-related news, and can quickly send your own questions, comments, and news to government-information colleagues.

DGI Annual Conference Programs

Each year DGI produces a variety of engaging sessions on cutting-edge topics, and sponsors professional networking events. Watch for our announcements about DGI’s programs in Washington, DC at SLA’s 2009 Centennial Conference!

DGI opportunities to develop your leadership skills

DGI members have exceptional opportunities to run for Executive Board positions, chair Advisory Committees, manage key Committee projects, and volunteer for special shorter-term tasks.

Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have about DGI membership. If you are ready to join DGI now just click on the "Join Now" link on the upper right side of the DGI website -- http://www.sla.org/dgi -- then click on the "Add Units" link to sign up.

I urge you to see the difference participating in DGI makes in your professional career!

Holiday Tips

USA.gov provides a bounty of tips and resources from government sites.

Their Happy Holidays Page covers everything from air travel to White House Christmas trees.

Here's just a few of the categories they cover:

• Buy Holiday Ornaments and Gifts from Your Government
• Charities – Tips on Charitable Giving
• Decorating Safely
• Food for the Holidays
• Holiday Mailing Tips
• Holiday Shopping Tips
• News Year's Resolutions – Most Popular
• Support U.S. Troops
• Track Santa Claus
• Travel Safely
• Volunteer in Your Community
• White House Christmas Trees

Have a happy holiday!

Recent SLA DGI Blog Posts Covers Web 2.0 and Government

Make sure to stop by the SLA's Division of Government Information (DGI) Blog. The SLA/DGI Blog has had some interesting posts recently covering different aspects of government use of Web 2.0:

• Congress Reports on Flickr Project
• OSTI Launches a Facebook Page
• Government Employees and Web 2.0

Want more?

Join the SLA/DGI Discussion List.

Not an SLA DGI member? Join here.

And don't forget about the SLA Government Information Division News Feed sponsored by LexisNexis on the right sidebar of the SLA/DGI Website. The feed provides current full text articles anyone interested in government information will find of value.

Federal Bill Tracking Reports on LexisNexis

The LexisNexis Monthly Tip from Customer Support for December 2008 is all about federal bill tracking.

Here's an excerpt from the Using Federal Bill Tracking tip:

From introduction through signature by the President, the path that a bill follows can be complicated. LexisNexis® legislative analysts assemble Federal Bill Tracking reports by extracting important activity information from the Congressional Record. These chronological reports are easy to comprehend and include:

• Sponsor and co-sponsor
• Synopsis
• List of legislative activities
• Congressional Record cites above each legislative activity

When you use Bill Tracking Reports, you can find out the latest status on a bill, who has added their name to a bill by becoming a co-sponsor, or link to the full text of the bill, floor votes, committee reports, Congressional Record pages, and the public law (if appropriate). Any bill’s new activity should be reflected on its Bill Tracking Report by noon of the next (business) day following the Congressional activity.

TO READ THE FULL TIP CLICK HERE.

SLA's 23 Things Deadline for Completion is Tonight

As a last reminder: the closing date for completing SLA’s 23 Things is December 15th at 12 midnight PST. Don't forget to complete the online survey (linked at the end of Week 9) in order to officially complete the program.

Maybe you still have a thing or two left to do on your SLA's 23 Things journey. Make sure you head straight over to SLA’s 23 Things site and finish up before the clock chimes midnight. And if you never got a chance to get started... well, the good news up that SLA’s 23 Things will still be there for you as an outstanding learning resources after the 15th.

Here are my SLA’s 23 Things posts:

• SLA's 23 Things: Week 1 Introduction
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 2 Blogging
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 3 Tagging, Folksonomies & Technorati
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 4 Photos & Images
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 5 RSS & Newsreaders
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 6: Play Week
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 7 Wikis - Collaborative Portals
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 8 Online Applications & Tools
• SLA/s 23 Things: Week 9 Podcasts, Video & Downloadable Audio

I really enjoyed working through the modules of this program. Thanks to SLA for providing a learning resource that allowed so much flexibility and depth of coverage and focused on such an important topic for information professionals.

Monitoring the Credit Crisis

In a recent post, I shared information on the LexisNexis SmartIndexing term: CREDIT CRISIS, as provided from the Weekly Tips from Librarian Relations Consultants on the LexisNexis Info Pro site. Here is another tip from the Weekly Tips from Librarian Relations Consultants that provides even more LexisNexis SmartIndexing terms from the LexisNexis SmartIndexing Technology team to help you identify on-target articles on the credit crisis.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE TIP.

Upcoming DOI Library Events: Federal Legislative Research Session and Park Ranger Series

For those in the Washington D.C. area, here are two invitations from George Franchois, Coordinator of Library Services, Department of the Interior Library, for upcoming events:  a DOI Library Training Session - Federal Legislative History Research Using Print and Electronic Resources, and a DOI Library Park Ranger Speaker Series - Glen Echo National Park. 

Here's the information on the Federal Legislative History Research Session from George:

I just wanted to send an e-mail to invite you and your staffs to the Department of the Interior Library on Wednesday, December 17th from 10:00 am to noon for a free DOI Library Training Session, "Federal Legislative History Research Using Print and Electronic Resources."

In order to find the legislative intent of a bill or public law, researchers need to compile reports, testimony, debate, and other materials related to that piece of legislation to find keys as to what Congress hoped to accomplish by passing this bill.  The final compilation of all these materials provides the researcher with a complete “legislative history” of the bill or law in question and hopefully will answer the question of what Congress intended with this legislation.

Those interested in learning the process involved in compiling an official federal legislative history will find this particular training program invaluable.  Attendees will learn how to use print and electronic resources available in the DOI Library to conduct legislative history research. Included will be a look at how to put together an "official" legislative history using Library resources such as the Congressional Information Service indexes, U.S. Congressional Serial Set (print and online editions), Congressional Record, HeinOnline, and the LexisNexis Congressional Hearings and Research Digital Collections. This program will be conducted by Reference Librarian Jennifer Klang.

All that are interested are invited.  The DOI Library is located in the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street, NW, Room 1151 in Washington.  Space is limited so please contact the Library by phone at (202) 208-5815 or by e-mail to let us know you will be coming.    For more information about future DOI Library Training Sessions, we encourage you to visit our Training Sessions website.

Here's the information on the Park Ranger Speaker Series Session from George:

Please join us for the next in our regular monthly series of free Department of the Interior Library Park Ranger Speaker Series lectures on "Glen Echo National Park" next Tuesday, December 16th from 1:00 - 1:45 pm in the Department of the Interior Library.

Begun in 1891 as an idealistic attempt to create a National Chautauqua Assembly "to promote liberal and practical education," Glen Echo Park evolved into the Washington area’s premier amusement park. At the height of its popularity during World War II, the park would attract upwards of 30,000 per weekend. Management transitions and the emergence of new entertainment mediums helped bring about the gradual demise of the amusement park to its eventual closing in 1968. Today, the park has come full circle, offering year-round educational activities, while two amusement-era destinations (the Spanish Ballroom and Dentzel Carousel) remain major attractions.

Please join Park Ranger Sam Swersky for the behind the scenes story of Glen Echo National Park, from its colorful and sometimes controversial past, to its current status as a local educational and entertainment venue operated by the Park Service.

All that are interested are invited.  The DOI Library is located in the Main Interior Building, located at 1849 C Street, NW, Room 1151 in Washington.  Space is limited so please contact the Library by phone at (202) 208-5815 or by e-mail to let us know you will be coming. For more information about future DOI Library Park Ranger Speaker Series programs, we encourage you to visit our Park Ranger Speaker Series website.

SLA's 23 Things: Week 9 Podcasts, Video & Downloadable Audio

Week 9 of SLA’s 23 Things focuses on podcasts, video & audio downloads. This week of SLA’s 23 Things gives us a chance to consider the power of these media to help us inform and be informed.

If you haven’t started SLA’s 23 Things, there's still time. You can check out my earlier posts to get you inspired:

• SLA's 23 Things: Week 1 Introduction
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 2 Blogging
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 3 Tagging, Folksonomies & Technorati
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 4 Photos & Images
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 5 RSS & Newsreaders
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 6: Play Week
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 7 Wikis - Collaborative Portals
• SLA's 23 Things: Week 8 Online Applications & Tools

or just head straight over to SLA’s 23 Things site and begin. Now, I know you might say, it's too late to start but maybe this is the weekend you dig in and just knock out the whole thing (or what you haven't gotten to yet) and beat the December 15th deadline.

Remember, when you are done, you need to complete the online survey (linked at the end of Week 9) in order to officially complete the program.

Here are a few thoughts on Week 9 of SLA's 23 Things...

Video:

Throughout SLA's 23 Things, videos tutorials, like the Common Crafts videos on YouTube, have been used along the way as a learning tool. I like to learn this way. That's why, one site I hadn't been familiar with before working through the Week 9 Things intrigued me so much: VideoJug: Life Explained on Film, a site for how to videos. 

Podcasts:

I'm big on podcasts. Podcasts are an efficient way to keep up on topics of importance to you as an information professional as well as those of interest to you personally. One of the reasons they are such as outstanding resource is that they give you so much control over what, when, where, and how you listen. Because an individual with expertise and a deep interest in a subject area can produce a podcast series on their own and easily make these podcasts available to a broad audience, podcasts can be found of very specific subject areas that would never be covered by larger broadcasting enterprises.

My experience with listening to podcasts has shown me that I can get information from people who have a deep interest in a topic and are often sharing their knowledge straight from the front line. Podcasts can give you access to experienced voices, providing focused information. The podcasters you listen to regularly become known entities that you can begin to rely on as resources to keep you on the cutting edge. In pre-podcast days, you might never have been able to tap into their insights and knowledge.  And you'll be able to expand your areas of knowledge by expanding the range of podcasts you choose. There are solid podcasts out there related to librarianship, technology, future trends, project management, negotiation, business, management, innovation, marketing, education, and much more. There is a large list of government podcasts on USA.gov. The directories covered in Week 9 are good resources for identifying possible podcasts that will be of interest but don't forget about just cruising around iTunes and iTunes U.

You will get a lot out of listening but don't discount the value of becoming a podcaster and creating content too. My experience in producing and recording The Government Info Pro podcast has made me understand how much work and commitment a podcaster has to put into each individual podcast. There's no production staff running around to help the average podcaster as there would be in the big broadcasting world. It's often a true labor of love and takes significant time and effort to pull together. If you are thinking about podcasting, you will get a lot out of it. Podcasting on a topic, just like blogging, will force you to make sure you are staying on top of things and maintaining your level of knowledge in the area. It puts the pressure on but in a good way. Even if a regular podcast series isn't something you want to do, consider the use of podcasts for providing short bursts of information or as orientation/how-tos for library patrons.

Audio Books:

Literature for downloading is just one more way to get your reading in. A quick visit to two public library systems in my area verified that audiobooks are available and easy to search for and access from their website. One of the library systems uses OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks and the other used NetLibrary eAudiobooks. It's not exactly like downloading a podcast or watching a video on YouTube though. I noticed that one of the books I searched for was there but not available. I would need to get on the waiting list or get the hard copy of the book if my need was immediate. 

23 Things... DONE!

Don't forget to complete the online survey (linked at the end of Week 9) in order to officially complete the program.