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Weekly News Digest
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December 18, 2014 — 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.
CLICK HERE to view more Weekly News Digest items.
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GPO Changes Its Name
The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) is now the U.S. Government Publishing Office. President Barack Obama signed the H.R. 83 bill into law, providing for the name change (Section 1301) as well as for continuing appropriations for the organization in fiscal year 2015. The term “publishing” encompasses all of the ways (e.g., apps and ebooks) the GPO makes government information (in both print and digital) accessible.“This is a historic day for GPO. Publishing defines a broad range of services that includes print, digital, and future technological advancements. The name Government Publishing Office better reflects the services that GPO currently provides and will provide in the future,” says Davita Vance-Cooks, whose title is now director (aka CEO) of the GPO. Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
GPO Unveils Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Report
The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) published the official digital and print versions of the “Report of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency’s [CIA] Detention and Interrogation Program.” According to Dianne Feinstein, the committee’s chairman, the CIA and the executive branch should use the report to ensure that the system of detention and interrogation described in it is no longer used.The print book is available for preorder from the GPO’s bookstore, and the Federal Digital System (FDsys) houses the digital version, which is available to download. Source: U.S. Government Printing Office
Zignal Labs Introduces LexisNexis Content
Zignal Labs formed a strategic alliance with LexisNexis to add its news content to Zignal Labs’ real-time insights and analytics platform. Zignal Labs’ customers now have access to more than 21,000 media sources—including magazines, journals, and newspapers—from 150-plus countries, which helps brands and communications teams find opportunities to engage with the media, influencers, and fans.Additionally, LexisNexis SmartIndexing Technology adds contextual intelligence to articles by indexing company names, subjects, and ticker symbols and providing summaries so users have a high-level, detailed view of the news. Print and online data sources are located on a single, comprehensive analysis dashboard. Zignal Labs’ customers can access LexisNexis as a standard (truncated format) or premium (full-text) edition. Source: Zignal Labs
E-Rate Program Increases Broadband Budget
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved an E-rate program modernization order that will expand public libraries’ broadband access. It will add an additional $1.5 billion to the yearly program for libraries and schools. Through its E-Rate Task Force, the American Library Association (ALA) recommended that the FCC remove restrictions that prevent libraries from getting broadband.“Today marks the culmination of more than 18 months of ALA’s extensive and unwavering advocacy on behalf of libraries across the country in connection with the FCC’s E-rate proceeding. In this proceeding, ALA advocated, among other things, that the FCC must address both the lack of affordable high-capacity broadband for the majority of libraries and the long-term funding shortage of the E-rate program,” says Courtney Young, ALA’s president. Source: American Library Association
IBM Releases Freemium Version of Watson Analytics
IBM rolled out a public beta version of its IBM Watson Analytics service. It is available as a cloud-based freemium model through Apple’s iOS, Google’s Android services, and the web for desktop and mobile devices.Now business professionals have access to Watson Analytics’ automated data preparation, predictive analysis, and visual storytelling features. Users can also connect through the beta to the Watson Analytics Community, where they can share best practices and news, as well as seek out technical support and training. Source: IBM
Department of Defense Overhauls Authentication System
The U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) tapped Precise Biometrics to provide it with 1,100 Tactivo smart card readers for a mobility solution that enables secure email communication and browsing on iOS devices. The agency ordered Tactivo for iPhone and Tactivo for iPad, as well as Guardian cases.“Tactivo enables US government programs to move forward in implementing secure mobility solutions that utilize the existing PIV/CAC card systems. The solution increases [employees’] flexibility, allowing them to access data everywhere, while still maintaining secure authentication to critical data,” says Håkan Persson, CEO of Precise Biometrics. Source: Precise Biometrics
Thomson Reuters and Ringgold Streamline Peer Review
The Intellectual Property & Science business of Thomson Reuters integrated Ringgold’s Identify Database into its ScholarOne Manuscripts peer review tool to simplify the task of accurately identifying the institutional affiliation of authors and reviewers. The integrated services connect more than 400,000 institutional records for use by authors, reviewers, and publishers.“We are committed to advancing scholarly publishing by speeding up the peer review process and providing best-in-class data with the highest amount of accuracy, clarity and transparency,” says Jasper Simons, VP of product and market strategy for the publishing and associations markets at Thomson Reuters. “Our collaboration with Ringgold’s Identify will provide data standards that will allow authors, publishers and institutions to exchange information more effectively.” Source: Thomson Reuters
Send correspondence concerning the Weekly News Digest to NewsBreaks Editor
Brandi Scardilli
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