Information Institute Hosts Meeting On Open Government

On April 3, 2008 the Information Institute and OMB Watch (http://www.ombwatch.org/), a public advocacy organization in Washington D.C, co-hosted the 21st Century Right to Know Project conference in Tallahassee, Florida. The purpose of the conference was to create meaningful dialogue amongst conference attendees on relevant issues pertaining to Open Government as a basis for developing an agenda to improve Open Government at the Federal and state level.

Attendees of the event discussed how individuals access government information, difficulties individuals incur while attempting access, the types of government information most difficult to obtain, and strategies and policies that might improve Open Government. Attendees included:

• Officials from the State of Florida’s Office for Open Government and other state government officials;
• Florida Attorney General Director of Opinions Division;
• FSU academics from the Colleges of Information, Communication, and the Law School;
• Representatives of private organizations such as Florida’s First Amendment Foundation, League of Women Voters, ACLU, and Common Cause; and
• Government document librarians and other librarians.

Information Institute Director, Charles R. McClure noted that Florida Open Government laws and policies are some of the strongest in the nation and that "a number of policies and strategies in place in Florida to enhance Open Government could be models at the Federal level – especially in terms off improving the U.S. Freedom of Information Act."

Results of the conference will produce policy recommendations that can improve access to government information by individuals, the provision of information by government agencies, and information policy development at state and national levels. Additional information about the conference along with a list of documents related to E-Government and open government is available through the OMB Watch web site at (http://www.ombwatch.org/21stProject/index.html).

The Information Institute’s work with OMB Watch on the 21st Century Right to Know Project supports the Information Institute’s E-Government initiative, E-Government for Public Librarians (available at http://www.libraryegov.org/). This initiative has included policy research relative to types of government services and resources available via the Internet, responsibilities of and challenges for librarians who aide in the provision of access to Florida citizens, and the E-Government needs of citizens. As the Information Institute continues its research on E-Government services, it will be able to provide various E-Government stakeholders with ways to improve access to these vital services.