What’s New at the GSU Zach S. Henderson Library

Regardless of your political ideology, you will undoubtedly be interested in the issues at hand for the upcoming Administration, and what better place to get reliable information than the General Accountability Office? The General Accountability Office (GAO) has launched a new transition website intended to help make the transition an informed and smooth one. The website gives information on what needs to be done and key reports, along with summaries, highlights, and recommendations for pressing issues currently facing the United States. This useful information can be found with convenient, one-stop-shopping at:  http://www.gao.gov/transition_2009/

The 13 urgent issues they identified are as follows and are in alphabetic order not priority order:

* Caring for Service Members
* Defense Readiness
* Defense Spending
* Food Safety
* Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
* Oversight of Financial Institutions and Markets
* Preparing for Large-Scale Health Emergencies
* Protecting the Homeland
* Public Diplomacy and International Broadcasting
* Retirement of the Space Shuttle
* Surface Transportation
* The 2010 Census
* Transition to Digital TV

The website also includes sections on:
* Agency-by-Agency Issues
* Major Cost-Saving Opportunities
* Management Challenges Across the Government
* Long-Term Fiscal Outlook
* Examples of Upcoming GAO reports on Major National Issues

Brought to you by Lori Lester, your very own Government Documents Librarian!

2 recent government documents of interest:

CACI International Inc (CACI) and the National Defense University (NDU) have released a report entitled “Dealing With Today’s Asymmetric Threat to U.S. and Global Security: The Need for an Integrated National
Asymmetric Threat Strategy.” The report is an executive summary of a May 2008 symposium. It is hoped
the report will stimulate conversation about the need to develop a new national defense and homeland security strategy which will address the threats related to everything from Islamic extremism to natural
disaster.

It is interesting to note the disclaimeron this one: “This document is intended only as a summary of the personal remarks made by participants at the May 2008 symposium, ‘Dealing with Today’s Asymmetric Threat to U.S. and Global Security’, co-sponsored by CACI International Inc (CACI) and the National Defense University (NDU). It does not necessarily reflect the views of CACI, NDU, or their officers and employees.” Doesn’t it make you want to read it and see why the compilers included it?

The report can be found at http://www.caci.com/announcement/CACI_Asymmetric_Threat_paper.pdf

The latest Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Quarterly Report to the United States Congress (October 30, 2008) has been released and is available at
http://www.sigir.mil/reports/quarterlyreports/Oct08/pdf/Report_-_October_2008.pdf

Their website blurb says “This penultimate quarter of the Year of Transfer witnessed the emergence of nascent normalcy in Iraq. As U.S. reconstruction assistance continued to target civil and military capacity building, Iraq achieved progress on the security, political, and economic fronts. Violent incidents dropped to their lowest levels since 2004; the long-awaited Provincial Election Law finally passed; and commercial activity, spurred by Iraq’s oil-revenue windfall, continued to increase. But, as General Ray Odierno, the new Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I), recently noted, Iraq “was a failed state [in 2006]. In 2008, it’s a fragile state. We’ve got to move it to a stable state.” To sustain progress in this direction, Iraq must improve its provision of security and essential services, such as electricity, potable water, sewage systems, and health care services.”

Previous reports can be found at http://www.sigir.mil/reports/quarterlyreports/default.aspx

These electronic government documents were brought to our attention by:
Greta E. Marlatt, Information Services Manager &
Homeland Security Digital Library Content Manager
Dudley Knox Library, Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA  93943

and will be available from our library catalog soon.

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Brought to you by Lori Lester, your very own Government Documents Librarian, and winner of the 2008 McJenkin-Rheay Award, which is given each year to a young librarian who has made outstanding contributions to the Georgia Library Association.  Congratulations, Lori!

The 2008-2009 edition of the United States Government Manual is now available on GPO Access at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/index.html or from our library catalog. As the official handbook of the Federal Government, the United States Government Manual provides comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies; international organizations in which the United States participates; and boards, commissions, and committees. The Manual begins with reprints of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The Manual is published as a special edition of the Federal Register (see 1 CFR 9.1).

A typical agency description includes:

* A list of officials heading major operating units.
* A summary statement of the agency’s purpose and role in the Federal
Government.
* A brief history of the agency, including its legislative or executive
authority.
* A description of its programs and activities.
* Information, addresses, and phone numbers to help users locate
detailed information on consumer activities, contracts and grants,
employment, publications, and other matters of public interest.

GPO Access contains the U.S. Government Manual from 1995-96 to the present. The new edition of the Manual is available to the public each year in the late summer. Files are available as ASCII text and
Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

Class: AE 2.108/2:2008-2009

Brought to you by Lori Lester, your very own Government Documents Librarian!

Chris Booth, Constitution crossword contest winner, and Lori Lester, Government Documents Librarian, sponsor of the contest

The winner of the Henderson Library Constitution Day crossword puzzle is Mr. Chris Booth, a junior history major at Georgia Southern. As a Constitution buff and crossword fan, Chris successfully answered all questions on the crossword sponsored by the Government Documents Department of the Library as part of the festivities sponsored by Henderson Library, Financial Aid, Student Media, Student Government Association and Dean of Students on Wednesday, September 17th. His prize is a $30 gas card. Congratulations, Chris!!!

The Cost of Government Financial Interventions, Past and Present, and Proposal to Allow Treasury to Buy Mortgage-Related Assets to Address Financial Instability have been written in response to the financial turmoil occurring in the United States financial markets.

Although the documents are short – each is six pages long – they contain important information that will help readers understand the severe stress under which the United States financial markets have been operating. They should be standard reading for anyone interested in the subprime mortgage debacle and the ongoing financial crisis.

The Cost of Financial Interventions, Past and Present attempts to answer questions about the recent financial interventions by the government in the business of private corporations. Sources of funding and the costs to the taxpayer are discussed. The AIG, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, and Bear Stearns cases are used as examples. A table of a Summary of Current and Historical Financial Interventions by the Federal Government is also supplied. http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/crsreports/crsdocuments/RS22965_09232008.pdf

Proposal to Allow Treasury to Buy Mortgage-Related Assets to Address Financial Instability explains Treasury Secretary Paulsen’s [draft of 9/21/2008] plan for legislative authorization to allow direct intervention in the economy. This report analyzes the proposals by answering frequently asked questions. http://www.law.umaryland.edu/marshall/crsreports/crsdocuments/RS22957_09222008.pdf

Brought to you by Lori Lester, your very own Government Documents Librarian!

Here’s a handy guide for you!  This is the information from the signs we’ve posted around the building.  When in doubt, please ask!  The main places to get help are on the 2nd floor, at the Learning Commons desk (near the computers; ask here for help with research or computing, or chat with a librarian here) or the Circulation/Reserves desk (near the Learning Commons Desk; come here to check out books and reserve items, and to pick up items from the ARC or interlibrary loan).

ZACH S. HENDERSON LIBRARY DIRECTORY

Public computers are available on all floors except fourth, and wireless connectivity is available on all floors.

FIRST FLOOR

Center for Excellence in Teaching

Classrooms 1300, 1302, 1308

Group Study Rooms

Government Documents Collection – Assistance available 2^nd floor

Microform Reader/Printers

Magazines, Journals & Periodicals from 2000 to the present

Photocopiers

Presentation Practice Room

SECOND FLOOR

ADA Adaptive Technology

Microform Reader/Printers

New Books and Leisure Reading Collection

Newspapers

Photocopiers

Zach’s Brews Coffee Shop

Circulation and Reserve Desk: Check out or return books, laptop computers,

reserve readings

Information Technology Services Help Desk

Reference and Learning Commons Desk: Computers; multimedia production

Equipment; reference materials; Government Documents, research and production assistance; scanners and Scantron readers

Department Offices:

Access Services – Circulation, Reserves, Interlibrary Loan, Shelving

Collection and Resources Services – Ordering, Cataloging, Materials

Processing

Information Services – Reference, Government Documents

Information Technology Services Help Desk Personnel

Systems – Computer Maintenance

THIRD FLOOR

Quiet Study Only: No group studying or cell phone use except in group study rooms

Circulating Books: K-Z call numbers

Group Study Rooms

Library Administration

FOURTH FLOOR

Quiet Study Only: No group studying or cell phone use except in group study rooms

Circulating Books: A-J call numbers

George Burford Lorimer Reading Room

Group Study Rooms

Special Collections

In the interest of your safety, security cameras survey public areas and emergency intercoms are located near the public elevators.

Henderson Library, Financial Aid, Student Media,

the Student Government Association and the Dean of Students

have teamed up this year for an exciting and informative celebration of Constitution Day

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

2:00-4:00 p.m.

In the Russell Union Commons

Join patriotic Americans around the country as we celebrate our Constitutional rights. Read the Preamble to the Constitution at 2pm, as others around the country congregate to do the same thing. Get your own Pocket Guide to the Constitution, as a handy reminder of those rights. Get prepared for the November election with information about registering to vote and voting from Bulloch County’s Deputy Registrar, Shontay Jones. If you haven’t registered already, now is the time! We will have a voter registration drive and you can ask questions of the Deputy Registrar. Join us in a discussion of the issues surrounding the creation of the Presidency with Dr. Patrick Novotny. See the winners of the “What Does the Constitution Mean to You?” contest and turn in your correct and complete George Anne crossword puzzle for a chance to win a $30 gas card.

To view the pdf announcement of events taking place in The Russell Union Commons, click here.

Your recognized student organization can compete in a contest for great prizes, including $600 and a full page ad in the George Anne Daily for first place by submitting an expression of what the Constitution means to you. Submissions are due September 15^th, so enter your organization today! Winners will be announced during the festivities on September 17^th, between 2 and 4. Click here for application and full details.

One lucky individual will win a $30 gas card in a drawing of correctly answered crossword puzzles found in the George Anne Daily on Constitution Day, September 17^th. Get complete details for this contest here.

Come out and enter to win free gas, support your friends who entered the student organization contest, and get answers to those questions you’ve been wanting to ask about voting, the Presidency, or one of our oldest Government Documents, the Constitution of the United States!

This event is being held in compliance with the 2005 federal mandate regarding institutions receiving state funds. Read the text in the Federal Register here.

The Mid-Session Review, Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal
Year 2009, is now available from GPO at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy09/pdf/09msr.pdf.

For the first time, the electronic version of the Mid-Session Review for
FY 2009 on GPO Access is digitally signed and certified. The signature
not only establishes GPO as the trusted information disseminator, but
also provides users the assurance that the electronic PDF document has
not been altered since it was disseminated by GPO. For more information
on GPO’s authentication initiatives, visit
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/authentication.

The Mid-Session Review is an annual update of estimates for Federal
receipts and outlays that reflects economic, legislative, and other
changes that have occurred since the President’s Budget was released in
February.

Brought to you by Lori Lester, your very own Government Documents Librarian!

The Intelligence Community has released its new report “Vision 2015: A
Globally Networked and Integrated Intelligence Enterprise.”

According to the excerpt “Vision 2015 expands upon the notion of an
Intelligence Enterprise, first introduced in the National Intelligence
Strategy and later in the 100 and 500 Day Plans. It charts a new path
forward for a globally networked and integrated Intelligence Enterprise
for the 21st century, based on the principles of integration,
collaboration, and innovation.”

The report can be found at http://www.dni.gov/Vision_2015.pdf or from
http://www.dni.gov/index.html

The other previous reports include:

Information Sharing Strategy
http://www.dni.gov/reports/IC_Information_Sharing_Strategy.pdf

Data Mining Report –
http://www.dni.gov/reports/data_mining_report_feb08.pdf

100 Day Plan
http://www.dni.gov/100-day-plan/100_FOLLOW_UP_REPORT.pdf

100 day plan follow up –
http://www.dni.gov/100-day-plan/100_FOLLOW_UP_REPORT.pdf

500 Day Plan
http://www.dni.gov/500-day-plan.pdf
status updates – day 100 –
http://www.dni.gov/500-day-plan/500dp_100.pdf
status updates – day 200 –
http://www.dni.gov/500-day-plan/500dp_200.pdf
status updates – day 300 –
http://www.dni.gov/500-day-plan/500dp_300.pdf

Information provided by Naval Postgraduate School’s Information Services Manager & Homeland Security Digital Library Content Manager, Greta Marlatt.  Brought to you by Lori Lester, your very own Government Documents Librarian!

The National War Powers Commission, co-chaired by Secretaries of State
Baker and Christopher, released a report yesterday. This commission report
recommends that Congress repeal the 1973 War Powers Resolution and
“substitute a new statute that would provide for more meaningful
consultation between the President and Congress. In its final report,
the Commission has recommended that Congress pass a new statute, the War
Powers Consultation Act of 2009, establishing a clear process on
decisions to go to war.”

The main website is
http://millercenter.org/policy/commissions/warpowers/

The final report can be found through the link above or directly at http://tinyurl.com/5lkejj

And the appendices to the report can be found at
http://millercenter.org/policy/commissions/warpowers/appendices

*This information was provided to Lori Lester, the Government Documents Librarian, by Greta E. Marlatt,
Information Services Manager & Homeland Security Digital Library Content Manager at Dudley Knox Library
Naval Postgraduate School, via GOVDOC-L.