--- Begin Forwarded Message ---
Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 18:37:01 -0700
From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Aim=E9e_Quinn?= <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Hoduski's msg to ALA-Council
Sender: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Aim=E9e_Quinn?= <[log in to unmask]>



Hi Folks,

I thought y'all might find this message interesting.  I have Bernadine's
permission to forward.  Aimee Quinn

-----Original Message-----
>-------------------------------------------------------------------
>From: Bernadine Abbott Hoduski [mailto: [log in to unmask]]
>
>The full House Appropriations Committee voted today, May 9, 2000, to
>drastically cut the funding for the depository program.
>They argued that the program could function as a totally
>electronic program.  This in spite of the fact
>the thousands of publications in the program are not in
>electronic form and will not be since many of them are maps,
>reports and other publicatins not suitable for electronic format.
>This will mean that depository libraries will not
>receive paper editions of the US Code, Federal Register,
>Congressional Record, CFR, hearings, reports, documents and
>many other publications.  This will be the end of a permanent
>record of government activities and publications in depository
>libraries unless libraries buy the publications or receive one
>of the few copies that the publishing agencies may have in
>paper. Most of these publications are not sold.
>
>If we learned nothing else from the recent virus attacks it is the
>fragility of our data bases and our access to them.  The
>future of research and knowledge about our government is at stake.
>Please email, fax, call or write your Member of the House asp.
>Send info on to other list serves, library directors,
>trustees, friends of libraries, newspaper reporters and editors, public
>interest groups and anyone else who needs long term access to
government
>information. The press and the public do not understand the meaning
>of this action.  It is a good guess that many of those who will be
>voting on this bill do not understand it either.
>
>Bernadine, GODORT, ALA Councilor
>
>Bernadine Abbott Hoduski
>Government Information Advisor
>100 N. Lamborn,
>Helena, Montana
>406-449-9974
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