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June 14, 2010 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITI’s Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks. CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items.

Support for Public Access to Oil Leak Monitoring Data

Almost 40 organizations led by OpenTheGovernment.org and including a number of library associations, joined in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to give the public access to all monitoring data related to the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Assured public access to the data is of great national interest and concern to the public. The data sets are crucial for scientists and the public to understand the extent of the problem and its future implications, and to plan for how to help the area recover and thrive. Library groups include the Special Libraries Association (SLA), American Library Association (ALA), American Association of Law Libraries (AALL), and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL).

The letter stresses that the Administration should affirmatively disclose all monitoring data of the leak, in the interest of meeting the President's commitment on his first full day in office to "disclose information rapidly in forms that the public can readily find and use," and his Administration's subsequent statements, policies, and directives encouraging the executive branch to give the public prompt access to information that is not required to be withheld, even if there are permissive exemptions, the Administration should affirmatively disclose all monitoring data of the leak.

Source: SLA