Legal Research

GPO and the Authentication of Online Legal Resources

By Terrye Conroy

Law librarians have long been concerned that legal resources appearing on the web are not being ?authenticated? (certified as official and authentic), as brought home by the state-by-state report issued by the American Association of Law Libraries is in March, 2007.

But, perhaps the U.S. Government Printing Office?s (GPO?s) Authentication Initiative will lead the way. The Public and Private Laws for the current (110^th) on GPO Access now contain digitally signed and certified PDF files with the GPO?s Seal of Approval (?Authenticated U.S. Government Information?). Check one out!

It will require public awareness, initiative, and, of course, funding for GPO to continue its initiative and for states to follow suit; but, it?s a good start. (post-Terrye)

Full post as published by Cocky Law Blawg on March 31, 2008 (boomark / email).