[LINK] ICT Predictions 2009 - little OT (gov't reports example)

[Anthony Hornby]

Hi Tom,

> I couldn't find anything in the Commonwealth Library Deposit and Free Issue
> Schemes (LDS) to say that the publications had to be provided on paper. It
> should be acceptable for the agencies to supply electronic copies of
> documents.

OK, I think we are talking at cross-purposes, I didn't mean they had
to be in print. I meant they had to supply "a copy" in whatever
format. We would much prefer electronic and as previously stated to
link to a known long term stable copy and have the rights to re-use
accompanying the item (creative commons) so we can archive locally
those we think have particular relevance to our clients as well.


> I assumed that NLA would keep electronic copies of government reports,
> especially if there are no paper copies.

Don't know where or if this is consistently done. I sent an email
asking about if these reports are archived via PANDORA or something
else and haven't received a reply yet. Will try again (appreciate any
leads here). The NLA definitely tracks the new government reports on
the web via catalogue records and you can subscribe to the RSS feed to
get all the new ones the NLA finds delivered direct to you (and this
as all NLA services is great & I thank them for it). My comment to NLA
was that if they were archiving them somewhere then they should
include two URLs in their catalogue record. One to the original (that
will definitely break at some point) and one to their archived version
(that should be more permanent).

> Unfortunately, providing access to information does not seem to be a
> priority for most agencies. The emphasis seems to be on having an impressive
> looking printed report, even though that is of little practical value.

I agree, this is why it should be coordinated centrally and be a "must
do" and not a "nice to do" for agencies.

Regards Anthony