Blogging Documents

In preparation for the remodel of the Central Library this docs librarian has begun a major weeding project, and as such has been sorting through a sundry of Government issued publications identifying materials for discard. I recently worked my way through reports from the Office of Technical Assessment (OTA), a now defunct office that advised Congress on all matters of technology.

The Federation of American Scientists offers this about the OTA – “Through eleven Congressional sessions, OTA became a key resource for Congressional members and staff confronting technological issues in crafting public policy. Its existence brought a healthy balance to the analytical resources available to the executive and legislative branches of government.”

The OTA advised Congress on how new or existing technology would impact areas such as health care, energy, trade, and education. Going through these reports, I’m constantly struck by how relevant the topics are today. Who would have guessed that email would cause a complete shake up of the U.S. Postal Service? Um, the OTA, that’s who… Implications of Electronic Mail and Messages Systems for the U.S. Postal Service. Curious how solar power might effect the U.S. economy and environment? In 1978 the OTA made a prediction. Many of these reports offer recommendations and predictions on the technologies that today we take for granted… flat screens, technology in classrooms. And then there are reports on topics that continue to be a source of debate or alarm… Electronic Surveillance and Civil Liberties, Environmental Contaminants in Food.

The hindsight of seeing the forward thought of the OTA make this collection seem gem-like and worthy of preservation. Luckily, because the 20+ years of OTA reports have been digitized and made available online by the FAS & Princeton University, I suffer only slight guilt in the decision to remove these from our collection.

I hope all U.S. citizens keep in mind that your government makes available a variety of government publications that spans the gamut from technology research to military histories, to maps and park guides and beyond. To find more gems from your government, visit your local Federal Depository Library.

I almost forgot… The Boston Elbow is a prosthetic, battery powered, articulated arm that works in tandem with nerve stimulation. The Boston Elbow case study offered Congress an example of how technology could be used to expand prosthetic mobility options for amputees.