The Gummint: Serve the Public? Serve up the Public?

When librarians start complaining, your Constitutional hackles should go BOING! (Boing). James A. Jacobs, James R. Jacobs, and Shinjoung Yeo wrote Government Information in the Digital Age: The Once and Future Federal Depository Library Program [HTML] [PDF]. It's been accepted for publication in May 2005 Journal of Academic Librarianship. Some of the naughty bits:

While GPO has taken a leading role in developing online access tools and proposing "a new model for no-fee public access", the steps it is taking and the plans it is outlining are, at best, incomplete and, at worst, badly flawed.

We believe the GPO’s proposed model will do more to endanger long-term access to government information than ensure it.

Who's on Pimp my American Idolator, Extreme Edition tonight, honey? I'm so happy we got a 2006 Chevy Handbasket SUV with the TV! It's perfect for the road we're on!