Updating Congress
For 150 years congressional documents like house committee reports have been printed with small, dense typefaces designed to economize printing space and paper consumption, but at the cost of readability and accessibility. The GPO recently advanced an initiative to modernize the formatting of these and other documents to make them not only more readable on paper but more accessible on online formats and through a variety of electronic devices.
This initiative is led by Hugh Halpern, the GPO’s new director. Halpern was nominated in October 2018, after the nomination of Robert Tapella failed to advance through the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Halpern was confirmed by the Senate on December 4 and sworn in on December 11. Prior to joining the GPO Halpern held various roles in government in the last 30 years, including Director of Floor Operations for the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives under Paul Ryan. Halpern’s appointment ends the two-year vacancy in the GPO director’s office since Davita Vance-Cooks left the position in October 2017.
As Director of Floor Operations, Halpern acquired an extensive knowledge of official congressional documents and was in frequent collaboration with the GPO to facilitate document production. In his testimony before the Committee on House Administration on March 3, 2020 Halpern noted that committees often produce documents in unofficial media like web pages and white papers because the formatting requirements are time intensive and occasionally non-intuitive. Halpern illustrated this with three house committee reports from 1861, 1936 and 2019 that were all identical in design layout. Halpern noted further that informal dissemination of government documents obscures access to these resources by the public and confounds the understanding of legislative processes and priorities. By adopting more flexible design and composition, committees and other government agencies can shift their efforts toward content production and away from laborious formatting requirements.
This reinvention of document production is made possible with Xpub- a software platform that facilitates simultaneous production of documents in a variety of formats for access on mobile apps and websites, and in eBooks, pdfs and print. The first document produced with this new system is the 2018 U. S. Code, and was completed in less than one year and would have taken 1.5 years using the 30-year-old MicroComp system that Xpub is replacing.
The GPO recently partnered with the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) to make government documents available through eBook platforms. The DPLA provides access to both commercial and open resources through partnerships with hosting organizations. The National Archives and the Smithsonian, for instance, provide access to several million items in their collections through the DLPA and now government documents will be available on the DPLA’s Open Bookshelf a platform. This partnership will fill a void in the GPO’s service model by supplying a platform for e-readers and will make government produced books more accessible.
(73 words)
THE ALA/GODORT PANEL
(2548 words)
Artificial Intelligence, China, Russia, and the Global Order: Technological, Political, Global, and Creative Perspectives. By Nicholas D. Wright, (ed.). Air University Press. 2019. ISBN# 9781585662951. OCLC# 1126347523. Online. xxvi, 264p. illus. maps. SuDoc# D 301.26/6-13:AR 7. https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo127365
Artificial intelligence and data collection are fundamentally changing the way governments set global policies and priorities. In this work, experts from both Britain and the United States examine how countries are adapting to the new digital landscape. The essays give significant attention to Chinese and Russian models, examining how these countries deploy new technologies and strategies to reshape the global order. Based upon their findings, the authors offer three recommendations: First, the U.S. must adapt to new technologies; Second, the U.S. must maintain influence across the globe through diplomatic, economic, informal, and commercial means; Finally, the U.S. must confront “digital authoritarianism” whenever possible. The work, while sobering, is timely in its content and will be of interest to those who study the global policy impact of mass data collection.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Family Separation Policy: Perspectives from the Border. Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives. 2019. OCLC# 1122790887. Online. iii, 73p. SuDoc# Y 4.H 75:116-8. https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo126899
As part of a series of meetings to discuss the growing crisis at the U.S. southern border, the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations met on March 26, 2019, to hear expert testimony. Those who spoke before the subcommittee described the impact that current border policies had upon children, women, families, and others fleeing violence and trafficking. The testimony accounts provide both personal and detailed statistical information, with some witnesses speaking of individual struggles and experiences while others provide comprehensive summaries of larger issues and policies. The hearing, with its frank discussion of human trafficking, forced prostitution, and violence, is an important document in framing future discussions of current border policy.
Fortune's Distant Shores: A History of the Kotzebue Sound Gold Stampede in Alaska's Arctic. By Chris Allen. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. 2019. ISBN# 9780578476636. OCLC# 1109396244. Print. xvii, 169p. illus. maps. SuDoc# I 29.2:G 22/8. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1109396244
In the Winter of 1898, over 1,500 traveled to northwestern Alaska in search of gold. Mislead by speculation and rumor, prospectors found harsh conditions rather than wealth, with roughly 5% dying and the rest facing boredom, scurvy, and hardship. National Parks Service historian Chris Allen provides insights into the experiences of the prospectors who traveled to the Kotzebue Sound in search of riches, only to find brutal conditions. Of particular note is the work’s treatment of interactions between prospectors and the Inupiaq and Inupiat during the winter. Like any good examination of a gold rush, the book is filled with the entertaining anecdotes, illustrations, and photographs.
Grand Canyon: 100 Years, One Million Lives, 1 Grand Canyon. By Roger Naylor and Johanna Lombard. National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. 2019. OCLC# 1101997636. Print. 56p. illus. maps. SuDoc# I 29.2:G 76/38. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1101997636
The Grand Canyon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic features of the American landscape, drawing roughly six million visitors each year. Founded in 1919, the Grand Canyon National Park includes over 1.2 million acres in Coconino and Mohave counties, Arizona. This illustrated volume provides a history of the park, while highlighting the people - visitors, stewards, researchers - who have played an important role in its growth and development. The work also examines the relationship between people and nature, arguing that our stewardship of, and interaction with, the Grand Canyon reflects America’s history and values. As is often the case with NPS publications, the images in the work are an excellent addition. This short magazine, with its emphasis on how people have engaged with the Grand Canyon, provides an interesting and human history of the park.
The Great War: U.S. Army Art. By Sarah G. Forgey. U.S. Army, Center of Military History. 2019. OCLC# 1032288707. Online. xiii, 160. Illus. SuDoc# D 114.2:AR 7/5. https://history.army.mil/html/books/070/70-127/cmhPub_70-127.pdf
During World War 1, the United States drew upon all of its economic, industrial, political, and social institutions in support of the considerable military effort. When soldiers, scholars, scientists, and other skilled professionals were called to service, artists were no exception. Artists of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) were given officers’ commissions and sent to document the activities and lives of those at the front. This document highlights the work of eight notable artist: William James Aylward (1875–1956), Walter Jack Duncan (1881–1941), Harvey Thomas Dunn (1884–1952), George Matthews Harding (1882–1959), Wallace Morgan (1873–1948), Ernest Clifford Peixotto (1869– 1940), Jules André Smith (1880–1959), and Harry Everett Townsend (1879–1941). Through their pieces, which range from oil paintings to pencil sketches, readers gain a window into the experiences of those who served. Despite being commissioned pieces, the works are largely dark and ominous, reflecting the terrors of conflict. As a counterpoint, the work also includes 35 iconic recruitment posters in its final chapter. The work is beautifully illustrated and a welcome addition to the body of literature recently published about World War 1.
The Great War: U.S. Army Artifacts. By Sarah G. Forgey. U.S. Army, Center of Military History. 2018. OCLC# 1043982404. Online xiii, 146p. illus. SuDoc# D 114.2:AR 7/6. https://history.army.mil/html/books/070/70-128/cmhPub_70-128.pdf
Containing high-quality color images of artifacts from over fifty museums across the United States, this work provides an invaluable and interesting window into the human experience of World War 1. The publication offers a wide range of images. Alongside armored cars, trench coats, and aviation goggles are wool neck warmers, dental tools, pencil drawings, teacups, and other items from daily life. By including the mundane along with the obligatory and exciting machines war, the work offers a balanced view of soldiers’ experience; the image of a bacon shipping crate (pg. 65) was as much a defining part of life in the trench as was the iconic gas mask (pg. 8). Accompanying each image is a brief but thorough description, along with extremely useful citations to encourage further study. The work will be of great value to readers interested in the Great War, especially those looking for high-quality images that convey the realities and experiences of life in the trenches.
Grow It, Try It, Like It!: Fun with Fruits and Vegetables at Family Child Care. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. 2019. OCLC# 1105989582. Website. Illus. SuDoc# A 98.9:642. https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/grow-it-homes
Printed as part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) this colorful guide is designed to provide garden-based nutrition education for children aged 3 to 5. Each section of the website, which includes 348 pages of content in total, provides planting activities that help children learn how fruit and vegetables grow, while also showing how food originates at the farm, orchard, or garden. Fruit and vegetables covered in the work include Strawberries, Spinach, Cantaloupe, Crookneck Squash, Peaches, and Sweet Potatoes. Each section included background information about the plant, as well as activities to keep children engaged. This includes tasting activities, growing activities, craft activities, movement activities, and reading activities.
House Resolution 755 - Articles of Impeachment Against Donald John Trump. House of Representatives. 2019. Online. 3p. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-resolution/755/text
On December 18, 2019, Donald John Trump became the third American president to be impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. The charges, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, were respectively passed in the House in 230-197 and 229-198 votes, with one member voting “present” in each. In support of the first charge, the document states “President Trump abused the powers of the Presidency by ignoring and injuring national security and other vital national interests to obtain an improper personal political benefit.” In support of the second charge, the document finds “President Trump has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.” On February 5, 2020, the U.S. Senate acquitted the president of these charges in a 53-47 vote. The historical significance of the document is undeniable, as the mechanisms of impeachment have been so rarely called upon in American history.
Iran Military Power: Ensuring Regime Survival and Securing Regional Dominance. Defense Intelligence Agency. 2019. ISBN# 9780160951572. OCLC# 1128281469. Online. viii, 117p. illus. maps. SuDoc# D 5.202:IR 1. https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo128931
The content of this report is reflected by the cover imagine, which features an Iranian Shahab 3 ballistic missile on parade in Tehran. The work, which contains a rich collection of illustrations, maps, graphs, and tables, provides a concise and thorough overview of Iranian militarization from 1921 to the present. The introduction provides a historical summary, followed by chapters discussing the current military force, its doctrine and strategy, and its projected capabilities. The appendices of this work provide additional details about various topics, including Iran’s missile, naval, air, and ground forces. The detailed references included also make this report an excellent starting point for further research on this topic.
Naval Documents of The American Revolution Vol. 13. By Michael J. Crawford, Dennis M. Conrad (ed.), Peter C. Luebke (ed.), with forward by Rear Admiral Samuel J. Cox. Department of Defense. 2019. OCLC# 1091270291. Online. xv, 1306p. illus. maps. SuDoc# D 207.12:13. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/publications/publications-by-subject/naval-documents-of-the-american-revolution.html
The most recent volume in the Naval Documents of the American Revolution series, this work is a rich collection of accounts taken from letters, logs, muster rolls, petitions, maps, charts, woodcut engravings, and newspapers. Covering the period June 1, 1778 through August 15, 1778, the work gives voice to those seaman, civilians, women, and enslaved individuals who took part in, or were affected by, both the American and European theaters of the Revolution. In addition to these primary documents, the work includes invaluable annotations and footnotes, which provide historical context and citations for further reading. As a document source book, this is an outstanding resource for historians, students, and general readers interested in first-hand accounts of the American Revolution.
Pausing at the River Styx: An Administrative History of Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. By Stephen R. Mark. Department of Interior. 2019. ISBN# 9781733444002. OCLC# 1128186844. Online. xi, 328p. illus. maps. SuDoc# I 29.2:OR 3/6. https://digital.osl.state.or.us/islandora/object/osl:939172
Printed by the National Park Service and digitized by the State Library of Oregon, this illustrated report provides a history of the NPS Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve, which is located in southwest Oregon. Only 480 acres when established by President Taft in 1909, the park has grown to 4,070 acres, offering natural preservation and interpretative services. In examining the growth of this site, the work provides an important administrative history of the National Park Service, illustrating how proposals and expansion projects develop, wane, and are ultimately executed over the span of a century. As is often the case in NPS publication, this work includes an excellent collection of images, maps, and other visual material. Images included from historic NPS brochures are particularly interesting, and it is fortunate that this work has been made electrically accessible by the State Library of Oregon and Oregon Documents Depository Program.
Report on the Investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential Election: Submitted Pursuant to 28 C.F.R. §600.8(c). By Robert S. Muller. Department of Justice. Special Counsel's Office. 2019. OCLC# 1097602496. Online. 448p. illus. SuDoc# J 1.128:R 92/OFFICIAL. https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo119314
Speaking at a campaign rally on July 27, 2016, candidate Donald Trump responded to concerns of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election by flippantly remarking “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 [Hillary Clinton] emails that are missing” (p.49). In May 2017, a Special Counsel investigation was established to examine these allegations. In this report, the Department of Justice concludes “the Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion,” notably by hacking Democratic National Committee emails (p.1). The report further finds “a Russian entity carried out a social media campaign that favored presidential candidate Donald J. Trump” and “a Russian intelligence service conducted computer-intrusion operations against entities, employees, and volunteers working on the Clinton Campaign.” The investigation concludes that “the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome,” and that the Trump campaign “would benefit electorally from the information stolen and released through Russian efforts.” The report further states that the “investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities” (pp.1-2).
A Timeline of Census History. U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Census Bureau. 2019. OCLC# 1125947715. Online. 1p. illus. SuDoc# C 3.2:T 48/2019. https://www.census.gov/history/pdf/timeline_census_history.pdf
Mandated by Article 1, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the decennial Census is a vital and foundation part of American democracy. The importance of the Census is reflected by the prominence of its earliest supervisors: Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Robert Smith, John Quincy Adams, and Martin Van Buren. That such notable figures within the Early Republic were entrusted to oversee the census reflects the complexity and importance of the process. This timeline provides an interesting and brief summary of the Census from 1790 to 2010. In addition to the total populations for each year, it provides facts about the census process itself, highlights notable historic events that took place between each, and it identifies each Census Supervisor. While not an exhaustive summary, this poster provides an excellent and interesting timeline that demonstrates the growth of the Census and its place in American history.
Trauma at the Border: The Human Cost of Inhumane Immigration Policies. U. S. Commission on Civil Rights. 2019. Online. v, 197p. illus. https://www.usccr.gov/pubs/2019/10-24-Trauma-at-the-Border.pdf
This work examines the condition of immigration detention centers, finding “the current Administration’s changes to asylum, the tension of children, and certain other immigration policies, practices, and procedures have created an unnecessary human and civil rights crisis at the southern border” (p. [1]). The report proposes several recommendations, including greater oversight and inspection of detention centers, legislation to set minimum safety and sanitation conditions, and increased funding for hiring trained experts to process asylum requests. With 789 footnotes and three appendices, this 197 page report is both well-documented and sobering.
The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War I, The Russian Expeditions 1917-1920. Department of Defense, Department of the Army Center of Military History. 2019. ISBN# 9780160953309. OCLC# 1129406943. Print. 83p. illus. maps. SuDoc# D114.7/6:R92 https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/us-army-campaigns-world-war-i-russian-expeditions-1917-1920
This concise and illustrated volume provides a narrative history of American Expeditionary Forces’ interventions in Russia during World War 1. Often overshadowed by the Russian-American alliance in World War 2 and the subsequent Cold War, this period in US-Russian relations would shape international affairs the rest of the century. In response to the Russian Civil War, Allied forces sought to assist the “White” anti-communist forces against the Bolshevik “Red” faction that eventually seized power. The work provides summary information on a variety of topics relating to the expedition, including the Usuri and Amuri campaigns, the factors resulting in the 1920 withdrawal, and the personal impact of President Wilson. It also addresses the long-lasting impact of this ultimately unsuccessful effort to prevent Bolshevik’s from gaining power. The work provides an interesting and readable account of this important, but often overlooked, episode in US-Russian interactions.
COLORADO
Colorado Water Plan: Analysis and Technical Update. Colorado Water Conservation Board. 2019. Illus. maps. OCLC# 1122862605. website with pdf. bit.ly/2xt9SNk
Colorado's water resources are facing new and intensifying challenges including drought, wildfire, flooding and more. Acknowledging these challenges, the Colorado Water Conservation Board has produced this very expansive, multi-media resource detailing their plan of action for conserving and protecting Colorado's water resources. This resource includes a data repository with population, agricultural and water supply databases and analytic tools; extensive text commentaries on all aspects of water conversation and management. Webinars and other online learning resources and more.
Western Slope Wildlife Prioritization Study. Julia Kintsch, Pat Basting, Meredith McClure and Jim O. Clarke, Colorado Department of Transportation; Colorado Department of Natural Resources. 2019. 403p. illus. maps. OCLC# 1117339233. pdf and other online resources.
Wildlife-Vehicle conflicts (WVCs) have negative impacts on wildlife populations and wider ecosystem and on human economies in terms of damage and accident related traumas. This resource details the collaborative effort of the Colorado Departments of Transportation and Parks and Wildlife to understand areas with high rates of WVC. This project includes identifying high-volume wildlife crossing points on highways, and recommendations for accident mitigation and more. Ultimately this project will inform the development of infrastructure to decrease accidents involving large wildlife like elk especially.
OREGON
Final Report of Ginger McCall Oregon Public Records Advocate. By Ginger McCall. Oregon Office of the Public Records Advocate. 2019. 12p. illus. OCLC#1122857755. pdf. bit.ly/2PS23ae
Access to public records is an essential utility for citizens to fully participate in and make informed decisions about their government. Oregon has made increasing access to public records a priority and established the Public Records Advocate to review policies and gain insight from people around the state about issues surrounding access to public records. This report details the results of the review and identified some critical issues like fees required to process requests, a lack of record request tracking, a legal gray-area surrounding records relating to elected officials and the future independence of the Public Records Advocate.
Prickly Problem with Sea Urchins. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. 2019. video (2 min., 56 sec.): sound, color. OCLC# 1124936590. bit.ly/3cCSi9q
Kelp forests provide habitats for many ocean-dwelling creatures like star fish, abalones and urchins. The kelp forests off of Oregon’s coast have been severely stressed over the last few years by an ocean heatwave and El Nino cycle together with a 10,000% increase in urchin populations after an epidemic greatly reduced the number of urchin-eating starfish. This video synopsizes the current situation and efforts by Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife to monitor these events and distinguish between seasonal variation in the ecosystem and longer-term trends aggravated by climate change.
Assessing Oregon's retail environment: shining light on tobacco industry facts. Oregon Department of Health and Human Services. 2019. 10p. illus. OCLC# 1110580036. pdf. bit.ly/32YzVYq
This document details some strategies used by the Tobacco industry to promote their products and recruit new customers among youth, and minorities especially. Rich diagrams and succinct statistics illustrate how vulnerable populations are targeted with brazen advertisements outside of convenience stores and other venues, and how flavored tobacco product promotions commingle with snacks, and frequent product discounts. This documents also details some initiatives by the Oregon state government to mitigate tobacco consumption and addiction like raising the smoking age, increasing the price of tobacco and expanding licensure of tobacco sales.
Strategic plan : a strategic plan for keeping Oregon's bee pollinators healthy. Oregon Bee Project. 2018. 34p. illus. maps. OCLC# 1041857229. pdf.
Oregon is home to over 500 species of bees that play an essential role in not only the natural ecology of plants, but also in Oregon’s agricultural industries. Bee populations around the world are threatened by stressors like colony collapse disorder, excessive application of pesticides and more. This document outlines a two-year plan to mitigate these challenges by offering training in how to apply pesticides, increasing bee habitats, reduce the impact of bee diseases and increase the overall understanding of bees through observation and data collection.
Oregon ocean acidification and hypoxia action plan, 2019-2025. Oregon Coordinating Council on Ocean Acidification and Hypoxia. 2019. 11 vol. illus. OCLC# 1120941301. Pdf. bit.ly/2vGI47B
This resources outlines a broad approach to understanding and mitigating changes to ocean acidity. Part of a wider west coast initiative that includes Washington, California and British Columbia, this plan identifies five components: advancing scientific understanding, developing strategies to reduce CO2 and other causes of OAH, support resilience to OAH in Oregon’s ecosystems, disseminate knowledge about OAH and building sustainable support between state agencies. These components are explored in eleven reports and appendices which focus on special topics like carbon, building sustained support; and species spotlights like Dungeness crabs, oysters and salmon.
Climate change and public health in Oregon. Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division. 2018. 33p. illus. OCLC# 1079421307. bit.ly/2J7LW4n
The effects of Climate change on Public health are anticipated to be far reaching. Rising temperature will lead to more heat-related illness while forest fires will exacerbate respiratory problems. Many of the negative effects on public health will be social determined, with poor and minority populations suffering higher proportions of health challenges. This resource explores the effects of climate change and particulate matter on the welfare of vulnerable populations together with effective interventions for these populations, climate change mitigation strategies and related issues most relevant to Oregon.
WASHINGTON
Open Educational Resources & The Cost of Required Course Materials in Four-Year Universities. Washington State Institute for Public Policy. 2019. 54p. illus. pdf. bit.ly/2WPC4nZ
Rising textbook cost have negative impacts on education achievement and access in higher education especially. Open Education Resources, which include free textbooks and course materials, are a promising development in mitigating these challenges. This document relates the method and results of a statewide survey on the impact of textbook and course materials costs by academic discipline, format (access codes, textbooks, etc.) purchasing behaviors, comparison costs between institutions and more.
NORTH DAKOTA
Traces : early peoples of North Dakota. Barbara Handy-Marchello; Fern E Swenson, State Historical Society of North Dakota, 2018. 128p. illus. maps. OCLC#1054627580. ISBN 9781891419225 $25.
A concise and comprehensive overview of North Dakota’s human history from circa 13,000 BC to the 1880s. This book has extensive scholarly commentary about the history of Native Americans in North Dakota accompanied by extensive illustrations and maps. Illustrations include photographs of the material culture remains of the early inhabitants of North Dakota, artistic recreations of their contemporary environments, and timelines and maps showing the when and where of important archaeological sites, and moments in native American history.
Operation Snowbound : Life Behind the Blizzards of 1949. David W. Mills. University of North Carolina Press. 2018. 250p. illus. OCLC# 1019526767 ISBN 9781946163035 $29.95.
A detailed account of one of the worst series of blizzards in the recorded history of the northern plains. This book combines a vignette of daily life in the great plains with a detailed account of the meteorological antecedents of the storm, the immediate effects of the blizzard on people and animals and the extended consequences and rescue efforts.
Seacoast Plants of the Carolinas. Paul E. Hosier. University of North Carolina Press. 2018. 492p. illus. OCLC# 1082447768 ISBN 9781469641430 $28.
A richly illustrated companion to North Carolina’s coastal fauna. Over 200 plants are featured each with a binomial, common names, range, habitat, frequency and flowering period, wetland status and a text description and ecological role of the plant. Each profile also features several photographs of a plant with various details of leaves, flowers, seeds and more. A lexicon of plant related terms together with a bibliography and directory of places where plants can be seen make this a comprehensive resource for plant enthusiasts.
Study of the Most Effective Setting for Housing and Treatment of DWI Offenders. North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission. 2019. 28p. illus. OCLC# 1091624993. pdf.
In North Carolina DWI offenders are confined in local jails instead of state prisons. Local jails, however, are not well adapted to housing DWI offenders since the sentences tend to be much longer than other offences and local jails are not always able to provide treatment programs that offenders are required to participate in. This study examines the shortcomings in the sentencing and imprisonment system and makes some recommendations for better management like dedicated state-run treatment programs in existing facilities.
Grand Illusions : Historic Decorative Interior Painting in North Carolina. Laura A. W. Phillips. University of North Carolina Press. 2019. 140p. illus. OCLC# 1124973279 ISBN 9780865264915 $40.
This well illustrated resource details the wide range of styles and techniques used in the interior decoration of North Carolina’s historic buildings. Detailed images of traditional wood grain doors and marbled baseboards, smoked ceilings, colorful scenic and trump l’oeil murals and more bring these otherwise hidden interiors to the public. Extensive text commentary that includes biographical details of the artists, historical notes about the structures and descriptions of decorative techniques complete this work
My NC from A to Z. Michelle Lanier, Dare Coulter. North Carolina Office of Archives and History. 2019. 32o. illus. OCLC# 1117315397 ISBN 9780865264991 $14.95.
This children’s block book illustrates North Carolina’s African-American people and history from A to Z. Each letter introduces a famous person, place, event, or achievement that mark the progress of African American in North Carolina. This book will inspire young people to explore more about North Carolina’s history and African American history in general.
Address by His Majesty the Emperor. Akihito. 2019. Imperial Household Agency. 2019. website. www.kunaicho.go.jp/page/okotoba/detailEn/46.
This brief statement finalizes the abdication of Akihito who served as Japan’s Emperor for 30 years. Akihito expresses his gratitude to the Japanese people and the hope for a stable and fruitful future in the reign of his son and successor Naruhito.
Smallpox eradication: destruction of variola virus stocks. World Health Organization. 2019. 5p. Symbol: A72/28 .pdf. apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA72/A72_28-en.pdf
42 years after the last naturally occurring case of small pox was diagnosed in 1977, the World Health organization evaluates the possibility of destroying the remaining stocks of small pox or variola virus. Although small pox remains valuable in research of related diseases like monkey pox, the advisory council determined that with several hundred million small pox vaccines extant and that there is no further need for small pox vaccine research, however they conclude that live variola stocks are needed for anti-viral agents for those who may be infected.
Letter dated 6 September 2018 from the representatives of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General. U.N. Security Council. 2018. 4p. Symbol: A/72/109S/2018/820. pdf. digitallibrary.un.org/record/1640603?ln=en
This document contains the “Panmunjom Declaration on Peace, Prosperity and Reunification of the Korean Peninsula” signed by the heads of state of North and South Korea which marks a significant advance in ending the Korean War and developing a peaceful and mutual beneficial relationship between the two Koreas. The document outlines plans for reuniting families and promoting inter-Korean relations; diffusing military tensions on the peninsula, and building a stable and permanent peace.
United Nations Human Rights Report. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2018 illus. maps. pdf www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/OHCHRreport2018.pdf
2018 marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. This report highlights the current status of human rights by region and country and with special attention to current issues like the Syrian conflict. The report includes funding priorities and details of legislative initiatives by members states and programs of the Human Rights Commission.
75th Anniversary of D-Day. Ministry of Defense (UK), 2019. 27p. Illus. maps. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/805986/D-Day75_Brochure_FINAL_Lowres.pdf
Opening with a message from the Queen, this document describes the personnel, ships, aircraft and more that participated in the invasion. Throughout the document there are contemporary images, eyewitness accounts and contributions from regional and local observances, military officials and other dignitaries that honor the combined efforts and sacrifice of the United Kingdom and its allies in invasion.
Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. European Union Commission. 2018. 8p. pdf. ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/MEMO_18_6423
As members of the European Union both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland share an open border which is one of principle challenges in finalizing the withdraw of the United Kingdom from the European Union. This document proposes a “back-stop” solution that would allow free trade and travel between the EU and the UK with special regard to Northern Ireland in accordance with the Good Friday Agreement.
Human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 2019. 16p. Symbol: A/HRC/41/18. Text Document www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session41/Documents/A_HRC_41_18.docx
Venezuela’s deteriorating political and economic situation has generated human rights concerns. Special attention is given to economic and social rights which are endangered by inflation, the right to food which is infringed by shortages resulting in undernourishment and the right to health which is under threat from re-emerging diseases like measles and diphtheria. The situation is exacerbated by coercive and censorious practices by the government.
The 2030 Agenda: The roadmap to GlobALLizaton. Filipa Correia, Philipp Erfurth and Julie Bryhn. U.N. Department of Economic & Social Affairs. 2018. 45p. pdf. www.un.org/esa/desa/papers/2018/wp156_2018.pdf
This document outlines some strategies for overcoming obstacles toward globalization. Globalization has already and will continue to impact aspects of daily life such as employment, poverty, international corporations, and trade. The report concludes that while more integrated society and economy have improved the quality of life for many there are still challenges to more effective globalization especially public perceptions of sovereignty and citizenship.
The impact of the UK’s withdrawal on the institutional set-up and political dynamics within the EU. EU Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs. 2019. 67p. illus. OCLC# 1102394975 ISBN 9789284647910. Pdf. bit.ly/3bCJJuc
This document explains the far-ranging consequences of the UK leaving the European Union. Three components of the analysis include voting arrangements in the Council; the composition of the European Parliament; and the participation of non-member-states in EU policies. The effect of Brexit on the EU parliament include the apportionment of representatives and the balance of voting influence among smaller and larger states, and the possibility of the UK as a non-member participant in future EU initiatives.
Planning for a no-deal Brexit. Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons Library. 2019. 48p. pdf. commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8733/#fullreport
Under ideal circumstances the United Kingdom’s withdraw from the European Union would be guided by an agreement that streamlines economic and political relations and resolves some outstanding issues like the border between Northern and the Republic of Ireland, and travel between the UK and other EU members. A no-deal withdraw, however, remains the default option and is anticipated to create trade and travel bottlenecks, and require numerous trade and other diplomatic agreements between the UK and EU member states.
