AALL: 21st Century Right to Know Project

The 21st Century Right to Know project, a collaborative effort of OMB Watch, AALL and more than 100 groups and individuals, is calling for group and individual endorsements of its draft recommendations to improve federal government transparency. AALL and SCALL have signed on, and I encourage you to sign on as an individual.

The report covers such topics as National Security and Secrecy, Usability of Government Information, and Creating a Government Environment for Transparency. I invite you to read the draft report and sign on to endorse the report if you agree. Be sure to include “law librarian” in the Profession field so that the organizers can see the strong support from our community!

Here’s some background information about this important project, which AALL has been involved in since in inception in 2007 [see http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/4393]:

The project began in July 2007 with a two-day event involving conservatives, libertarians, and progressives representing journalism, good government groups, professional associations, academia, and others. From its beginning, the project proceeded on a "transpartisan" basis. OMB Watch interviewed more than 100 people to identify past and new ideas for reform. There was also a string of listening sessions around the country, including meetings inJacksonville, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Seattle, WA; and Minneapolis, MN. Data from these efforts were provided to three panels of experts, which were tasked with drafting initial recommendations in three main areas: security and secrecy, usability of information, and policies and mechanisms to support government transparency. In addition to the three expert panels, recommendations were developed for the first 100 days of the new president and for a long-term vision to strengthen government openness. The draft recommendations were the basis for a weekend retreat in September, involving nearly 70 people from across the country. During the retreat, each of the more than 60 recommendations was reviewed; some were revised, some added. Based on that weekend, a new report was developed and participants called for an open process to review the recommendations.


Emily Feldman
Advocacy Communications Assistant
American Association of Law Libraries
E. B. Williams Law Library
111 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 662-4058
ejf33@law.georgetown.edu