From: duncan@equinox.unr.edu ((Duncan Aldrich))
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.govdoc-l
Subject: National Economic, Social, and Environmental Data Bank
Date: 13 Oct 92 09:51:29 GMT
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.2 PL16]
Approved-By:  "(Duncan Aldrich)" <duncan@EQUINOX.UNR.EDU>

Forwarded message:

From LISTSERV@PSUVM.PSU.EDU  Tue Oct 13 08:56:22 1992
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 10:21:47 EDT
From: K=Rogers%OBA%EA@crow.nist.gov
Subject: National Economic, Social, and Environmental Data Bank
To: GOVDOC-L@PSUVM.PSU.EDU
Message-Id: <01GPWDLV2TPS0011F6@ENH.NIST.GOV>
X-Envelope-To: GOVDOC-L@PSUVM.BITNET

Our announcement about the content of the first issue of NESE appeared to
spark much interest in the content.  Several messages posted on GOVDOC-L have
taken us to task for missing the obvious of not placing BLS information on the
disc.  I would like to clarify this issue.

1. NESE is a completely voluntary effort to bring together and organize
government information about the United States in a manner similar to how we
have assembled information for the National Trade Data Bank and the Economic
Bulletin Board.  Unlike the NTDB, there is no legislation (or budget) that
compells agencies to participate.  Be that as it may, the agencies that have
chosen to contribute have been VERY cooperative and we hope you appreciate
their efforts.

2. There are several pieces of information from BLS that we feel would be a
natural for inclusion in this product.  For example, having the U.S.
Industrial Outlook and the Occupational Outlook handbook on the same disc
would, in my opinion, be a great combination and would probably be a required
product in every high school and career counseling office.

3. We have made many attempts to elicit BLS participation ranging from the
Acting Commissioner down to the staff level.  While there has been moderate
interest, the answer has always been the same, NO.  One high ranking BLS
employee even wondered why anyone would even want the Occupational Outlook
Handbook in electronic form.  This is personally frustrating for me since I
came from BLS and know many of the staff very well.

4. Another writer was "amazed that the SIC codes weren't there!!"  I'm not
sure what is meant by that reference.  As you well know, there is a lot of
information that is based upon the SIC and some is on the disc.  Is this a
request that the SIC manual be included?

5. We have always kept the depositories in mind when designing this product
and appreciate your support.  However, we are a very small staff and we need
your help for future editions.  Please send us letters (or E-MAIL) if there
are items you want included but please, be as specific as possible.  We are
not as familiar with the universe of government information as you are.  We,
of course, cannot promise your requests will make it to the disc.  All we
promise is to ask and explain why it makes sense for agencies to contribute.
Also, we reserve the right not to include every item offered.  The product
must still have a focus and intended audience.


Finally, on another subject, we regret we must cancel plans for the ESA
regional conference in Boulder, Colorado originally scheduled for Nov. 18  The
budget of the Economics and Statistics Administration for fiscal year 93 is
very tight and does not allow us to schedule this conference.  We will make ever
   y effort to
conduct library training classes in conjunction with other committments such
as the National Export Initiative Conferences to be held tomorrow in Orange
County, CA and in December in Salt Lake City.

If the budget situation improves, we will reconsider Boulder or other sites
for future ESA conferences.

Ken Rogers
Director, Information
   Product Development
Office of Business Analysis