Did you know that March 16th, Freedom of Information Day, is also the birthday of U.S. President James Madison? That’s no accident, as Madison was famously known for his advocacy of transparency in government.
In addition to the Federal Library Depository Program, various internet-based portals exist to promote access to government information. Federal Digital System (FDSys) provides access to official publications from all three branches of the federal government. The site will migrate soon to GovInfo, now in beta release. Great reading here – from congressional reports to presidential papers to recent bills.
Freedom of Information Day represents an idea that has always been integral to libraries – open access for all. What are you doing with your freedom?
Katie Foran-Mulcahy
Director, UC Clemront College Library
It’s that time of year again. Winter is *hopefully* leaving and making room for spring. March brings a lot to look forward to, especially for the Irish-American community. Every year since 1991, the president has declared March to be National Irish Heritage Month. But what does Irish heritage mean? One University Honors class is on a mission to find the answer to that question. It turns out that “to be Irish” means a lot more than having red hair, drinking beer, and being one with a short temper. Led by professor Kevin Grace, along with Debbie Brawn of University Honors, 20 students will travel to Ireland over spring break to get an in-depth look at the country from where so many Americans emigrated. The weeks leading up to the study tour were filled with readings of Irish-American literature, such as Angela’s Ashes and Irish America: Coming Into Clover, as well as the viewing of films and many discussions about what Irish heritage means. 
