GODORT (Government Documents Round Table)

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The mission of the Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) is to (1) To provide a forum for discussion of problems, concerns, and for exchange of ideas by librarians working with government documents; (2) to provide a force for initiating and supporting programs to increase availability, use, and bibliographic control of documents; (3) to increase communication between documents librarians and other librarians; (4) to contribute to the extension and improvement of education and training of documents librarians.

Learn more about GODORT on the ALA website.

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GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

  • 1.  GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 03, 2020 08:08 AM
    The Government Documents Round Table stands against the historical injustice of systemic racism reflected in the violence perpetrated against black men and women in the US and condemns the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers within the Minneapolis Police Department. We endorse the recent statement issued by BCALA (https://www.bcala.org/) and call on members to use our skills and resources to advance the fight against injustice. 


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    Susanne Caro
    Government Information Librarian
    North Dakota State University
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  • 2.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 08, 2020 03:07 PM
    An idea. 
    I think it would be good if the Historian of GODORT could hold their noses and bring up the systemic stink of Racism.
    Normally I don't like trigger warnings, but that might have to be used.
    The crimes and policies and rhetoric of hatred.
    I don't know where to even start: by time, by agencies, by geography, by type, etc.

    Black History is American History. 

    Jennifer
    --

    Jennifer C. Boettcher

    MLS and MBA

    Business Information Consultant

    Georgetown University


    To protect the health and safety of the Georgetown community, the University Libraries buildings will be closed. We will still be providing reference services online including chat, email, and text through our website at https://www.library.georgetown.edu/ask-us. Of course, you can always contact me 


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    Research:

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    OpenData

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    ORCID: 0000-0003-4058-244X


    Co-Author of "Industry Research Using the Economic Census," (Greenwood, 2004)


    Honored with Vicennial Medal and 2010 BRASS Award for Excellence in Business Librarianship





    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 08, 2020 04:39 PM
    I agree. The challenge would be in limiting the examples.  This could easily be a week-long series of programs or semester-long class .

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    Susanne Caro
    Government Information Librarian
    North Dakota State University
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 09, 2020 07:56 AM
    The small issue is that we don't have a Historian of GODORT. We have an archivist, who is focused on GODORT's history (which I am sure has its own issues). I would say that this is a suggestion for the Education Committee to pursue if there is member interest.  I would like to see a balance between historical examinations and focuses on current projects/issues, such as our Voting Toolkit and our ongoing discussions about Voter disenfranchisement starting with the Civic Duty panel (https://www.eventscribe.com/2020/ALA-Annual/fsPopup.asp?Mode=presInfo&PresentationID=689111).

    LK

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    Lynda Kellam
    Cornell University - CISER
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 10, 2020 09:10 PM
    This may also be a joint effort with SRRT and with the potential merger with MAGIRT, we could explore mapping racism this would be especially dramatic in demonstrating the impact the Supreme Court decision had on the numbers of/distance between  polling locations in predominantly minority areas in places like Texas

    Documents to explore include the Moynihan Report and the Kerner Commission as well as the Voting Rights Act and Supreme Court Decisions

    It may be good to narrow the focus into portions. There is a complicated history of documents just on voting

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    Kenya Flash
    Librarian for Political Science, Global Affairs and Government Information
    Yale University
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 09, 2020 07:19 PM
    I like the idea of putting something together. Could it be a lib guide and possibly a joint effort with FDLP libraries? Possible webinars or other programs throughout the year, including a program at the FDLP conference in October which is likely to be virtual.
    I could see divisions like Racism, police attitudes related to racism, cultural and community attitudes toward police, groups which support racism and groups which are against racism,
    educational materials on racism, with possible divisions by time period, geography, etc.
    I am happy to get involved in this one in whatever way Godort may see as useful. It's personal for me-I grew up in Louisiana during the late 1950's and 1960's and my husband and I adopted a child from the Dominican Republic who is now a grown adult and I have lots of Hispanic friends who have personally experienced racism.

    Just my thoughts on the topic,

    Jane
    Jane Canfield, Coordinadora
    Centro de Información de Gobierno Federal
    Biblioteca Encarnación Valdés
    Pontificia Universidad Católica
    2250 Blvd. Luis A. Ferre
    Suite 509
    Ponce, PR 00717
    Celular: (787)348-5151

    Bad libraries build collections, good libraries build services, great libraries build communities. 
    –R. David Lankes

    Your voice has the power to transform individuals and communities: your family, your friends, the multitude, and the one person on your doorstep. And if you will just risk starting with a whisper, oh, what could happen!

    -from Who Does He Say You Are?

     



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 09, 2020 08:16 PM
    I think there are enough of us long-timers and retirees who know enough of GODORT history to be able to put together something if there is enough interest.  I like the idea of working with the Education Committee to develop something, perhaps in concert with others.  I have spoken about the idea of looking at the depository collections through the lens of minority voices which have not been heard and this is kinda what I was envisioning.  We only see the final version of the product - think the published hearing rather than the mark-up version.  Now, because of C-SPAN and other technologies, we see Congress in all their glory although they still edit a lot out.  I really would like to know how we can envision the minority voices of government publications as well as see the inherent racism as told through government documents.  An example is Rob Lopresti's excellent book which shows how one person made a change regarding the number of women counted by the Census Bureau during one decade because women could not be blacksmiths or farmers, etc. whereas they were correctly recorded by the Labor Dept.  It was this kind of error which made Rob curious and he challenged us in WA that we might find equal or more mistakes in other minority counts if we took up the research.  In my mind, that is blatant sexism from history and I am certain we will find correlating examples in other areas.

    I will stop rambling now.
    Aimee

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    Aimée C. Quinn
    Government Publications Librarian
    Central Washington University
    aimee.quinn@cwu.edu
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 18, 2020 01:28 PM
    I love the idea of creating a guide.  After Annual I'll be moving into the past-chair position and I'll have more time to work on this. 
    I have some questions:
    1. Who is interested in working on this? 
    2. Would anyone like to lead the effort?
    3. Which GODORT committees would like to work on this?  Education committee, Federal Information , State and Local?
    4. This could be a massive project- should there be a general call for volunteers?
    5. Kenya suggested partnering with SRRT- is there anyone else we should reach out to? Maybe the American Association of Law Libraries?
    This is going to require discussion and planning to narrow down what we want to include: voting rights, civil rights, tracing legal language, different time periods- there is a lot we could cover.


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    Susanne Caro
    Government Information Librarian
    North Dakota State University
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 18, 2020 07:26 PM
    I like the idea of a guide on Racism.

    I agree with Suzanne that this will require thought and planning.
    In addition to Suzanne's ideas, should we include racism against different groups, religious, Hispanic, Black?
    I'd love to work on this.
    Perhaps an ad hoc committee with input from other appropriate committees?

    Jane Canfield
    Government Information Coordinator
    Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
    jcanfield@pucpr.edu

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    Jane Canfield
    Federal Documents Coordinator
    Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 18, 2020 07:58 PM
    Hi Susanne,

    I too like the idea of a libguide and agree with Jane.  I am wondering if it could perhaps be a special subject guide on the state agency databases libguide project although it is rather topical but something worth considering.  I am very happy to contribute content and/or serve on a small group.

    Aimee

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    Aimée C. Quinn
    Government Publications Librarian
    aimee.quinn@cwu.edu
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 22, 2020 08:57 AM
    Edited by Sarah Burchart Jun 22, 2020 08:57 AM

    Hello Susanne,

    I'm not currently on a GODORT committee but would definitely be interested in helping should a general call for volunteers be needed. My work at ICPSR could help with collecting resources and documents about government crime statistics, police use of force, etc. and how their output can be used or misused in discussions about systemic racism in the criminal justice system.

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    Sarah Burchart
    Information Resources Technical Specialist
    Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: GODORT Statement re: George Floyd

    Posted Jun 24, 2020 10:24 AM
    Thank you! You do not have to be on a committee to work on a project like this. I am going to see if any committees want to take this on an put a group together. I will be in touch.


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    Susanne Caro
    Government Information Librarian
    North Dakota State University
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    Original Message