State publications

Abstract

One can make several observations after a review of the notable state publications submitted this year. The single largest category of publications concerns environmental issues, encompassing a variety of specific topics such as wildlife, water resources, solid waste management, etc. For a few examples of documents in this category see Managing Seagrass Systems in Western North America (AK) or Territorial Sea Plan (OR). Health-related issues, business and the economy, and general demographic studies continue to command a great deal of interest and attention from state governments, as does reform of education, criminal justice, and welfare systems. Four characteristics, however, distinguished this year's notable documents from those of recent years. First, an unprecedented number of publications on topics of historical interest were submitted. For a few examples of these outstanding publications see: The Dardanelle and Russellville Railroad (AR), Onipa 'a: Five Days in the History of the Hawaiian Nation, Ship Ashore: the U.S. Lifesavers of Coastal North Carolina, New Hampshire Covered Bridges, or The Forts of Pemaquid, Maine. A second topical area that received unprecedented attention this year is that of information technology. Publications on this topic range from statewide plans for the development and integration of educational and information technologies (DE, VT, IN) to more specific guides and analyses such as A Teacher's Guide to the Internet (GA), Instructional Communications (WI), and Cyberstate: Minnesota on the Information Superhighway. Also noteworthy this year is the concern of state governments with the issue of immigration and its cultural and economic impact (NY, RI, and NJ). Finally, several state contributors submitted publications that describe or analyze recent disasters. Publications from Missouri and Illinois describe the impact of the Great Flood of 1993; Hurricane Andrew is a topic of interest in Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms; and a New York Senate Committee studies the World Trade Center bombing. There is not sufficient space in this column to highlight all of the notable titles submitted this year. State publications specialists play a key role in bringing attention to the outstanding publications of their state governments, publications that often otherwise suffer from low visibility. I heartily thank all of those who contribute to this effort.