Government Information Quarterly
Volume 3, Number 3, 1986
Discussion Forum:
OMB's Circular No. A-130
Peter Hernon ..................................................... 231
Support for Information Technology in Science:
The Federal Role
Jane Bortnick ..................................................... 233
The Impact of Overclassification on Personnel and Information Security
Frederick M. Kaiser ................................................ 251
Freedom of Information Concerns
Harold C. Relyea .................................................. 271
Information under Siege:
The Reagan Administration's Federal information Policy
Major R. Owens .................................................. 275
The Management of United States Government Information Resources:
An Assessment of OMB Circular A-130
Peter Hernon ..................................................... 279
State Data Centers: Improving Access to Census Information
Mary Redmond ................................................... 291
Contributors............................................................ 305
Communications.............................................................. 307
Forthcoming .....................................................................313
Reviews
David C. Heisser, Editor
Congressional Committees, 1789-1982: A Checklist
Compiled by Walter Stubbs
Reviewed by Paul W. Thurston ...................................... 315
Directory of U.S. Federal Depository Collections
in the METRO Region (lst Edition)
METRO Government Documents Interest Group
Reviewed by Claire T. Loranz ........................................ 316
Government Economic Agencies of the World:
An International Directory of Governmental Organizations
Concerned with Economic Development and Planning
Edited by Alan J. Day
Reviewed by Juri Stratford .......................................... 318
GPO's Depository Library Program: A Descriptive Analysis
By Peter Hernon, Charles R. McClure, and Gary R. Purcell
Reviewed by John Richardson, Jr ..................................... 319
Information Technology R&D: Critical Trends and Issues
U.S. Office of Technology Assessment
Reviewed by Timothy I. Adams ...................................... 320
Ireland: A Directory, 1985
Institute of Public Administration, Dublin
Reviewed by John Goodwillie ........................................ 321
Population Information in
Twentieth Century Census Volumes: 1900-1940
By Suzanne Schulze
Reviewed by William R. Thompson ................................... 322
Presidential Leadership: Politics and Policy Making
By George C. Edwards, III and Stephen J. Wayne
Reviewed by Thomas A. Karel ....................................... 323
A Reference Guide to United States Department of State Special Files
By Gerald K. Haines
Reviewed by Dan 0. Clemmer ....................................... 325
Using Government Publications: Volume 1:
Searching by Subjects and Agencies
By Jean L. Sears and Marilyn K. Moody
Reviewed by Christina J. Woo ....................................... 326
List of Titles Received .................................................. 327
Guidelines for Reviews ................................................. 327
The Federal government has supported information technology in science through
mechanisms such as funding R&D in information technology, funding for purchase
of information technology equipment, tax credits for purchase and donation of
equipment, and funding of database development. Today government is faced with
increased budget constraints at the same time that investments in information
technology are more critical for scientif ic research. For example, potential difficulties
in extending the limits of existing technology may require increased support so that
scientists can have access to state-of-the-art computer and telecommunications
technologies. Policymakers are faced with a need to examine various alternatives for
supplying scientists with the access to data and information technology necessary for
their research. In addition to problems arising from budget austerity, a number of
other issues exist. These include the policy of increased reliance on the private sector,
the impact of international competition in information technology, the need for
access to and dissemination of domestic and foreign scientific and technical
information, and the need for coordinated national policies for both scientific and
technical information and information technology development.
This article outlines some of the issues that could arise in a debate on the
appropriate role of government in the area of information technology in science.
Unnecessary and unwarranted classification adversely affects both information and personnel security systems in a variety of ways. This study explores the range of possible repercussions and identifies the findings and recommendations of major examinations of these systems over the past thirty years. Although consensus exists that overclassification poses problems for information and personnel security, wide disagreement is evident over the perceived centrality and seriousness of overclassification, its principal causes, and its remedies. Nowhere are these differences more manifest than in the assumptions, conclusions, and recommendations emerging from the Reagan Administration and Congress in 1985.
With varying degrees of perception and awareness, members of Congress have long had concerns about freedom of information values and the FOI Act. Indeed, congressional diligence and independence has sustained the FOIA and supported its extension and refinement. Among the challenges of late to both these values and the statute are new electronic collection and dissemination of information practices within the Federal agencies and a new OMB circular on information resources management. In both of these developments, practice will have to assure con- gressional overseers that there is no resulting significant limitation of agency information holdings.
In this article, Congressman Owens assesses OMBs Circular No. A-130 on the management of Federal information resources. He finds the Circular highly deficient and a potential threat to the public's access to information that the government collects, produces, and maintains.
In late 1985, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget issued its controversial circular on the "Management of Federal lnformation Resources."This article assesses that circular in four areas relating to public access to government information: information resources management, economy and efficiency in that management, the adequacy of selected definitions, and implications for the depository library program. The conclusion emphasizes that the circular is severely deficient and requires public scrutiny and modification, as well as congressional review.
The U.S. Bureau of the Census created the State Data Center program in 1978 to improve public access to census information. This article discusses the background, structure, and services of that program; the role of libraries in the program; and future directions in State Data Center/library relationships. The appendix lists contact person names, as well as addresses and telephone numbers for State Data Center lead agencies.