August eBook of the Month tackles government secrecy
Blacked Outto be available online through more than 14,000 libraries
DUBLIN, Ohio, USA 22 June, 2006— With the recent revelations about the Bush administration's domestic spying program, the issue of what governments can and cannot do to keep secrets has been thrust directly into the spotlight. Alasdair Roberts' new book Blacked Out: Government Secrecy in the Information Age (Cambridge University Press, April 2006) directly addresses the issue of government transparency during this age of global terrorism threats. This engaging, well-written book simply could not be more timely.
In 1966 the United States Congress passed the landmark Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) giving the public the right to access government documents. This "right to know" has been used over the intervening years to challenge overreaching Presidents and secretive government agencies. This example of governmental transparency has served as an inspiring case in point to nations around the world, spawning similar statutes in fifty-nine countries. Yet despite these global efforts to foster openness in government, secrecy still persists—and in many cases—thrives.
Blacked Out: Government Secrecy in the Information Age examines the evolution of the move toward openness in government. It looks at how technology has aided the disclosure and dissemination of information. The author tackles the question of whether the drive for transparency has stemmed the desire for government secrecy and discusses how many governments ignore or frustrate the legal requirements for the release of key documents. Blacked Out is an important contribution during a time where profound changes in the structure of government are changing access to government documents.
Provided through the generous support of Cambridge University Press, Blacked Out: Government Secrecy in the Information Age will be available through more than 14,000 participating libraries August 1-31. To help libraries promote the August eBook of the Month, NetLibrary has developed a tool kit of free promotional resources that includes print-on-demand bookmarks, a sample press release, and electronic support materials. More information is available at:
http://library.netlibrary.com/eBookOfTheMonth.aspx
About the Author
Alasdair Roberts is Associate Professor in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and Director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute at Syracuse University. An eminent lawyer and public policy scholar, he is the author of over thirty journal articles and book chapters and the 2005 recipient of the Johnson Award for Best Paper in Ethics and Accountability in the Public Sector. In addition, he is a member of the Initiative for Policy Dialogue's Transparency Task Force.
About Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press was founded by a royal charter granted to the University of Cambridge by King Henry VIII in 1534. It is the oldest printer and publisher in the world, having been operating continuously since 1584. Today, Cambridge is one of the world's largest and most prestigious academic publishers and is acclaimed for its list of journals, textbooks, and monographs in subjects from medicine and law to literature and classics. Cambridge's academic publishing includes around 200 journals, around 1,200 new books each year, and its historic Bibles list.
About NetLibrary
Based in Boulder, Colorado, NetLibrary (www.netlibrary.org) is a division of Online Computer Library Center, Inc., a worldwide library cooperative. NetLibrary provides eContent and technical delivery solutions to institutional libraries, corporations and government agencies that facilitate the purchase, management and distribution of research, reference, digital learning, and general interest content via Web-based technologies. NetLibrary's eContent solution is the most broadly adopted in the market, making the content of more than 400 publishers and eContent providers available through more than 14,000 libraries worldwide.