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.

  • 1.  Upcoming Changes in GODORT: Navigating ALA's Financial Challenges

    Posted 22 days ago
    Edited by Julia Ezzo 21 days ago

    Dear GODORT Members,

    Change is an inherent part of organizational dynamics, and as information professionals, we are familiar with its demands, though it remains challenging. ALA Treasurer Larry Neal reported a projected $14 million deficit for 2025 in the July 2025 operating budget, with an anticipated $7 million shortfall for 2026. This unsustainable situation has led the ALA Executive Board to conduct a thorough review of operations, aiming to reduce costs and better align with ALA's Strategic Plan. As a result, GODORT, along with all Round Tables, will undergo necessary adjustments.

    In August 2025,  ALA Council approved a recommendation requiring Round Table elected positions to mirror ALA's elected offices, thereby conserving staff resources amid financial pressures. For GODORT, starting with the 2026 election cycle, only Chair-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary, and Councilor will be elected positions [edited 11/4 to explicitly state that Councilors will still be elected-jme]. Publications Chair-Elect, Bylaws Coordinator, and Archivist will become appointed roles [edited 11/4 the position of Archivist is listed as appointed in the PPM and Bylaws, but was on the 2025 ballot as an elected position-jme]. Councilor elections remain unchanged, and I am happy to announce that our membership has surpassed the threshold for a dedicated GODORT Councilor for 2026.

    Furthermore, ALA mandated a comprehensive evaluation of Round Table offerings. By late July 2025, all Round Tables assessed their awards, grants, scholarships, committees, and products via a rubric, submitting results to ALA Staff Liaisons by September. Despite the tight timeline and emotional difficulty of evaluating cherished programs, GODORT Steering is using these insights to develop strategies for revitalizing, reimagining, and reorganizing our work. This will ensure alignment with our goals, while fostering sustainability, relevance, agility, and impact. GODORT's vital mission-to protect and preserve free access to government information-will persist, along with our resources and community, even as committee structures evolve. While GODORT has reorganized in the past on our own terms, this time we do need to work within what ever timeline the ALA Executive Board states.

    I appreciate your understanding in this matter and I cannot stress this enough: GODORT's work will not suddenly stop. It may get shifted around, but our projects will continue, just in a more sustainable manner.

    Best,

    Julia



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



  • 2.  RE: Upcoming Changes in GODORT: Navigating ALA's Financial Challenges

    Posted 18 days ago

    Greetings all,

    I'm sharing the rubric that was approved by GODORT Steering and submitted to ALA. Seeing the ratings for these items is alarming, and the rubric does not allow for any space for rationale, but I've linked to some of the Steering discussion regarding these groups. The biggest issues with the items that received a ranking of either "Sunset or Replace" or "Pause or Sunset" is money. The Financial Stability category was weighted heavily, and unless something has a formal vendor relationship or otherwise has a secured funding source, the financial situation is precarious. GODORT, particularly our wonderful Development Committee, are actively working on solutions to the financial uncertainty, especially for DttP. 

    Myself and GODORT Steering are doing our best to ensure that the great work that all of our groups do is preserved and continue, especially given this particularly difficult political climate. Names may change and project responsibility may shift to another GODORT group, but we are not just ending these things without further thought. We will thoughtfully adapt the rubric's recommendations while ensuring continuity where possible.

    GODORT operates within ALA's governance structure and we must be mindful of ALA's Executive Board's decisions.

     GODORT's next Friday Chat on December 5 will be a conversation related to this. I appreciate your understanding given these difficult times. 



    ------------------------------
    Julia Ezzo
    Government Information Librarian
    Michigan State University
    She/Her/Hers
    ------------------------------

    Original Message