Dr. Edwin McMillan with mousetrap cigarette lighter atom smasher apparatus (Rube Goldberg inspired). Photograph taken March 21, 1974. XBB743-1774. [Photograph by: Steve Gerber] National Archives Identifier 39146966 Plain language has long been an interest of ours as we have observed that clear, concise and well-organized correspondence smoothes the FOIA process for all. After we put … Continue reading FOIA Communication: Keep it Simple!
Your Ideas Are Welcomed. War Production Board1942 – 1943. National Archives Identifier 534167 As we begin a new year and say “hello” to 2023, we have news to share: OGIS is excited to announce our new public comments form. This new tool allows the public to submit their comments to the FOIA Advisory Committee, the Chief FOIA … Continue reading New Year, New Public Comments Form
Merry Christmas is the greeting from President Harry S. Truman as he sets forth from his home in Independence, Missouri, to deliver Christmas gifts to members of his family who live nearby, December 1945. Accession Number 2013-3621. In this season of giving and receiving, we thought we’d share our OGIS holiday wish list. We have only … Continue reading OGIS 2022 Holiday Wish List
Building Survey, Photographs ca. 1930 – ca. 1949. National Archives Identifier 32200323 The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) recently published two assessment reports examining Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) websites and FOIA’s inclusion in agency performance plans. The assessments fulfill recommendations from the 2018-2020 term of the FOIA Advisory Committee. Recommendation 2020-01 was for OGIS to "undertake … Continue reading OGIS Publishes Assessments on Agency FOIA Websites and FOIA in Agency Performance Plans
"Information" World War II Posters, 1942 - 1945. National Archives Identifier 514625 In our previous blog posts “Understanding the Office of Government Information Services,” parts 1, 2 and 3, we provided a basic overview of OGIS and highlighted our dispute resolution and compliance work. In this wrap-up post we’ll further explain the important work of … Continue reading Understanding the Office of Government Information Services (part 4/4)
https://giphy.com/gifs/usnationalarchives-archives-archivesgif-naid12065-1alh12SmIXpUoZEQar Your National Archives by US National Archives via GIPHY. National Archives Identifier 12065 In our previous two blog posts “Understanding the Office of Government Information Services” parts 1 and 2, we provided a basic overview of how OGIS is structured and highlighted aspects of our dispute resolution program. In this post we’ll touch on … Continue reading Understanding the Office of Government Information Services (part 3/4)
FLASHES OF ACTION [WORLD WAR I], 1921? via GIPHY. National Archives Identifier 35458 In our previous blog post “Understanding the Office of Government Information Services,” we provided a basic overview of OGIS’s history and structure. In this post we’ll focus on our mediation program. How are requests for OGIS assistance handled? FOIA requesters and agencies … Continue reading Understanding the Office of Government Information Services (part 2/4)
Address Your Letters Plainly. National Archives Identifier 44266146 As federal agencies approach the end of fiscal year 2022 in September, we know many are aiming to close old FOIA requests and reduce their FOIA backlogs. Some have begun to send requesters “still interested” letters to ensure that the information in a FOIA request is still … Continue reading OGIS Is Yet Again Interested in “Still Interested” Letters
U.S. Department of Justice Office of Information Policy Director Bobby Talebian. U.S. Department of Justice Office of Information Policy (OIP) Director Bobby Talebian provided an update on the Attorney General guidelines at this year’s American Society of Access Professionals National Training Conference in Arlington, Va. With regard to FOIA’s foreseeable harm standard, which Congress added … Continue reading OIP Director recaps AG Garland FOIA Memo
The International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) met in June via hybrid (online and in-person) for the 13th International Conference. Alina M. Semo, OGIS Director, serves on the Executive Committee of the ICIC. As a part of this year’s work at the conference, the Commission issued a public statement around access to information, specifically that … Continue reading International Conference of Information Commissioners Issues Statement on Access to Information
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