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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Summary of GODORT Steering Committee Discussion on Documents to the People (DttP)

  • 1.  Summary of GODORT Steering Committee Discussion on Documents to the People (DttP)

    Posted 2 hours ago
    Edited by Julia Ezzo 2 hours ago

    **Posting on behalf of Jennifer Castle, Publications Committee Chair**

    Dear GODORT Members,

    At our April 22, 2026, Steering Committee meeting, we held an important discussion about the future of Documents to the People (DttP). Below is a summary of the key issues and questions we're addressing.

    The Challenge:
    DttP will not be publishing its next issue due to financial constraints. We currently have a budget through August 2026 and face an additional $6,000 cost concern. The Steering Committee must decide which remaining 2026 issues will be published and determine DttP's long-term sustainability.

    What is DttP?
    DttP serves two important roles:

    • Official Record of GODORT: Required by ALA and mandated in our PPM, DttP documents meeting minutes, award winners, and summaries of GODORT activities.
    • Scholarly Journal: Over ~50 years, DttP has evolved into a peer-reviewed scholarly journal-the only journal in our field-focused on government information as a topic of scholarship.

    Key Discussion Points

    1. The Vision Question: The Steering Committee is grappling with a fundamental question: What should DttP be to our members? Should it primarily serve as GODORT's official record, a scholarly journal, or both?
    2. Open Access: Members strongly desire open access options for DttP, which has been identified as both highly desired by our membership and a valuable selling point for GODORT.
    3. Publication Frequency: We're considering whether to move from quarterly (4 issues/year) to twice-yearly (bi-annual) publication, though this would require updating our PPM.
    4. Format & Cost Savings: We're exploring whether a simpler journal format could reduce costs without sacrificing quality, as many professional journals use streamlined designs.
    5. Record-Keeping Alternatives: If DttP's role changes, we must identify alternative mechanisms for maintaining our official record. Other ALA units typically use newsletters or electronic bulletins for this purpose.
    6. Meeting Minutes Summaries: If we continue including GODORT activities in DttP, meeting summaries are typically 1-2 pages (approximately 1.5 pages), handled by the chair or past chair-a manageable addition.


    What We're Doing Next
    We've submitted questions to Lauren Ehle, our ALA journals contact, regarding financial details and operational options. We're also exploring how other ALA units maintain their official records.

    Questions We're Working To Answer

    • What should DttP's primary purpose be going forward?
    • Should we move to twice-yearly publication?
    • How do we make DttP financially sustainable?
    • How can we increase open access while maintaining viability?
    • If DttP ceases to be our official record, what alternative mechanism should we use?

    We value your input and perspective on these important questions about the future of our publication. The Steering Committee will continue working on these issues in the coming months. Please send any feedback to jennifer.castle@vanderbilt.edu

    With gratitude,
    Jennifer Castle
    On behalf of the GODORT Publications Committee



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    Julia Ezzo
    Government Information Librarian
    Michigan State University
    julia@msu.edu
    She/Her/Hers
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