Legislative Research Librarians

Notable Document Awards

2009 Recipients

Philadelphia - Twelve outstanding documents will be honored by a staff section of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) for their excellence in exploring topics of contemporary interest to legislators and staff. NCSL’s Legislative Research Librarian (LRL) staff section will present its Notable Document Awards at NCSL’s 35^th annual Legislative Summit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sixteen documents from four states were submitted for the award.

CITIZEN'S GUIDE

• Special Education Primer for Charter Schools
  Minnesota Department of Education

INNOVATIVE ADVOCACY

• Montana Legislator READ poster series
  Montana Legislative Services Division

LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED

• Idaho Transportation Department Performance Audit
  Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

LEGISLATOR'S GUIDE

• A Minnesota Lawmaker's Guide to the Agri-Environmental Policy Landscape
  Minnesota House Research Department

POLICY GUIDE

• Visioning Kentucky's Future: Measures and Milestones 2008
  Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center

PUBLIC POLICY - EDUCATION

• Feasibility of School District Services Consolidation
  Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Public Education Funding in Idaho
  Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations
• Emerging Global Workforce Raising Education Stakes: Children at the Economic Margins Key to  Sustaining Progress
  Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center

 
PUBLIC POLICY - ENVIRONMENTAL

• Technical Evaluation of the Emissions and Control Costs of High Global Warming Potential Gases
  Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Analysis and Outcomes Division, etc.
• Biofuel Policies and Programs
  Office of the Minnesota Legislative Auditor
• Carbon Sequestration Study
  Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office
• The Price of Flame
  Montana Legislative Services Division

A "document" for purposes of this award were defined as one produced by a federal, state, or local government agency, by a foundation, consulting firm, or quasi-public or private sector non-profit organization. Format includes print, microfilm, CD-ROM, periodical/serial, or URL.

The Legislative Research Librarians staff section, one of NCSL's eleven professional staff organizations, was established to promote effective information retrieval techniques for legislative libraries; to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas relating to legislative information, operations, and procedures in the states; and to enhance the professionalism of the members.

Composed primarily of librarians and information specialists in legislative agencies, the section sponsors an extensive schedule of programs at the NCSL Legislative Summit and the annual Professional Development Seminar. Each of these meetings focuses on current developments in information management, information technology and legislative research.

Special thanks to this year's judges:

• Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson, Montana Legislative Branch
  Chair of the Notable Documents Committee
• Sabah Eltareb, California State Library
• Kristin Ford, Idaho Legislative Library
• Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey Legislative Services Library
• Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota Legislative Reference Librar

2008 Recipients

New Orleans  - Nine research reports were honored by a staff section of the National Conference of State Legislatures for their excellence in exploring topics of contemporary interest to legislators and staff. NCSL's Legislative Research Librarian (LRL) staff section presented its Notable Document Awards at NCSL's 34^th Legislative Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana. Nine reports from eight states were selected.

They are: 

CITIZEN’S GUIDE

• North Dakota Blue Book 2007-2008
  Alvin A. Jaeger, North Dakota Secretary of State

FISCAL MATTERS

• 2008 General Session Appropriation and Budget Highlights
  Utah State Legislature – Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst

INNOVATIVE STUDY

• Voices from the Street:  A Survey of Homeless Youth by Their Peers
  California Research Bureau, California State Library

LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED     

• Criminal Records and Employment in Minnesota:  Report and Recommendations of the 2007 Collateral Sanctions Committee
  Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission
• Indicators of Efficiency and Effectiveness
  Kentucky Office of Education Accountability
• Virtual School Operations
  Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations

LEGISLATOR’S GUIDE      

• Quick Guide to Committee Procedures in the House of Representatives & Quick Guide to Floor Procedure
  Louisiana House Legislative Services

 PUBLIC POLICY     

• Compensating Victims of Bridge Collapses Outside Minnesota
  Minnesota Legislature, Senate Counsel

STATE COMPARISON

• Waste Tire Recycling and Reuse in Pennsylvania
  Pennsylvania General Assembly – Joint State Government Commission

A "document" for purposes of this award were defined as one produced by a federal, state, or local government agency, by a foundation, consulting firm, or quasi-public or private sector non-profit organization. Format includes print, microfilm, CD-ROM, periodical/serial, or URL.

The Legislative Research Librarians staff section, one of NCSL's eleven professional staff organizations, was established to promote effective information retrieval techniques for legislative libraries; to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas relating to legislative information, operations, and procedures in the states; and to enhance the professionalism of the members.

Composed primarily of librarians and information specialists in legislative agencies, the section sponsors an extensive schedule of programs at the NCSL Legislative Summit and the Annual Professional Development Seminar. Each of these meetings focuses on current developments in information management, information technology and legislative research.

2007 Recipients

• Water Rights in Montana
  (Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council)

• Profiles of Montana State Agencies
  (Montana Legislative Fiscal Division)

• Split Estates: The Relationship Between Surface and Minerals
  (Montana Legislative Environmental Quality Council)

• Use of Average Daily Attendance in Public Education Funding
  (Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations)

• Tax Relief & Reform: What Does It Mean to Taxpayers?
  (Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel)

• Delaying Necessities, Denying Needs
  (New York State Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation)

• The Road to Privatization: Implications of Public-Private Partnerships for Transportation Projects
  (Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis)

• An Overview of California’s Low Emission Vehicle Program and Efforts to Implement It in Maryland and Other States
  (Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis)
• The Road to Electric Restructuring in Maryland
  (Maryland General Assembly, Department of Legislative Services, Office of Policy Analysis)

• Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson,  Montana Legislative Branch
  Chair of the Notable Documents Committee
• Carol Blackburn, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
• Sabah Eltareb, California State Library
• Kristin Ford, Idaho Legislative Library
• Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey Legislative Services Library
• Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

2006 Recipients

Special thanks to this year's judges:

• Lisa Mecklenberg Jackson,  Montana Legislative Branch
  Chair of the Notable Documents Committee
• Carol Blackburn, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
• Sabah Eltareb, California State Library
• Kristin Ford, Idaho Legislative Library
• Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey Legislative Services Library

2005 Recipients

Seattle - Six research reports are honored by a staff section of the National Conference of State Legislatures for their excellence in exploring topics of contemporary interest to legislators and staff. NCSL's Legislative Research Librarian (LRL) staff section present  its Notable Document Awards at NCSL's 31^th Annual Meeting in Seattle. Six reports from four states were selected.

They are:

Composed primarily of librarians and information specialists in legislative agencies, the section sponsors an extensive schedule of programs at the NCSL Annual Meeting and the Annual Professional Development Seminar. Each of these meetings focuses on current developments in information management, information technology and legislative research.

• Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
• Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey Office of Legislative Services Library
• Sabah Eltareb, California State Library

2004 Recipients

• Shirley Dallas, Washington State Library
• Penelope Dukes, Williams, Texas Legislative Reference Library
• Sabah Eltareb, California State Library
• Cathy Griffin, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
• Ingrid Hernquist, New Jersey Office of Legislative Services Library

2003 Recipients

PUBLIC POLICY:

KY: Long-Term Policy Research Center

• Planning for the Future: Findings from Research on the Commonwealth's Current and Coming Retirees
  www.kltprc.net/books/aging/aging.pdf

• Road Ahead: Uncertainty and Opportunity in a Changed World 
  www.kltprc.net/books/2002trends/2002trends.pdf

NV: Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

• Nevada Natural Resources Status Report
  http://dcnr.nv.gov

CITIZEN GUIDE:

MT: Environmental Quality Council

• Electricity Law Handbook: A Montanan's Guide to Understanding Electricity
  www.leg.state.mt.us/content/publications/lepo/2002energylaw.pdf

LEGISLATORS' GUIDE:

MT: Legislative Fiscal Division

• Understanding State Finances and the Budgeting Process: A Reference Manual for Legislators 
  www.leg.state.mt.us/content/publications/fiscal/leg_reference/legislator_training_manual.pdf

MT: Legislative Services Division

• Legislator's Handbook 
  www.leg.state.mt.us/css/publications/research/information/legislator_handbook_2003.asp

SERIAL:

UT: Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

• Briefing Paper Series: Future of Highway Funding; Medicaid Spending; Controlling Costs: No Simple Solutions to Complex Issues; Senate Confirmation of Judicial Appointments; Tax Primer 
  www.le.state.ut.us/lrgc/briefingpapers.htm

REDISTRICTING & REAPPORTIONMENT:

UT: Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

• Demographic Profile of Legislative Districts 
  www.le.utah.gov/Documents/publications.htm

2002 Recipients

MN: House of Representatives Research Dept:

1. Nuclear Waste Dry Cask Storage
2. Youth and the Law: A guide for legislators

www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/nucwaste.pdf or /youthlaw.pdf

NE: Legislative Research Division:

State of Nebraska: 2001 Redistricting
www.unicam.state.ne.us/districts/redistricting.htm

UT: Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel: 
Energy Policy Issues and Legislative Options
www.le.state.ut.us/lrgc/briefingpapers/energybrief.pdf

HONORABLE MENTION:

AZ: Morrison Institute for Public Policy, School of Public Affairs. AZ St. U.

Five Shoes Waiting to Drop on Arizona's Future
www.asu.edu/copp/morrison/apc2001.htm

PA: PA General Assembly Joint State Government Commission:

Driver Distractions and Traffic Safety
(submitted to NCSL website)

WI: Legislative Reference Bureau:

Tap the Power
Constitutional Highlights
www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/pubs/tapthepower.htm or: conhigh.htm

OUTSTANDING PROACTIVE E-UPDATE SERVICE:

CA: California Research Bureau:

Studies in the News (back issues at: www.lib.state.ca.us "Special Resources")

CT: OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE REFERENCE:

OLR Updates (back issues at: www.cga.state.ct.us/olr)

SPECIAL CITATION FOR DEPTH OF ANALYSIS AND SPEED IN PRODUCING INFORMATION VITAL TO GOVERNMENT:

NY: NYC Comptroller:

Impact of the September 11 WTC Attack on NYC's Economy and Revenues

CONSISTENTLY OUTSTANDING CORPUS OF WORK:

KY: Legislative Research Commission:

1. CD-Roms: Acts of the General Assembly & Journal of the General Assembly
2. Kentucky General Assembly Membership 1900-2000
3. V1. 1900-1949 V2. 1950-2000
4. Executive Branch Contracting for Services: Inconsistent procedures limit accountability and efficiency
5. Impact Plus: Design of Medicaid - Funded Program for children with severe emotional disturbance results in rapidly growing expenditures and difficult policy choices

Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center:

1. Challenges for the New Century: Trends that will influence KY's future
2. Foresight
3. Education and the Common Good: Social Benefits of Higher Education in KY.
4. Financing State and Local Government: Future challenges and opportunities
5. Listening to Kentucky High Schools: Why some high schools Miss, Meet, and Exceed Predicted Post Secondary Outcomes
6. Policy Notes: on issues of importance to KY's future
7. Talking Back: Kentucky High School students and their future education plans
   
   www.lrc.state.ky.us/lrcpubs.pdf

2001 Recipients

Special thanks to Deb Priest, Director of the New York Assembly Information Center, for again this year chairing the document awards committee.  Also on the committee were Robbie LaFleur, Director of the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library; Sabah Eltareb, California Research Bureau; and Cathy Griffin, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.  LRL appreciates your dedication and diligence in reviewing documents, setting up categories and choosing the winners.

GUIDES FOR MEMBERS 
 

• Orientation Guide for Louisiana House Members, 2000-2004 Term
• Quick Guide to Floor Procedure in the Louisiana House of Representatives
• State and Local Government in Louisiana: An Overview, 2000-2004 Term

Eminent Domain in Montana and Improving the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Process
Montana Legislative Environmental Policy Office, Todd Everts, Director

Shock of the New:  Changes in the Generation, Transmission, and Distribution of Electricity in Montana
Montana Legislative Services Division, Lois Menzies, Executive Director

Too Much, Too Little, Too Late: An Assembly Investigation of CONNECTIONS -New York's Statewide Child Welfare Computer System
New York Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation, Scott M. Stringer, Chair and Committee on Children and Families, Roger L. Green, Chair

CITIZEN GUIDE

When You Are Concerned: A Guide for Families Concerned About the Safety of an Older Driver
New York State Office for the Aging, Dr. Patricia Pine, Director

2000 Recipients

Minnesota Budget: A Fiscal Policy Analysis
Minnesota State Senate
Office of Fiscal Policy Analysis

Nevada State Water Plan
Nevada Division of Water Planning
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Positioning Arizona to Achieve Maximum Benefit from the Information Economy
Arizona Legislature, Joint Legislative Study Committee on the Internet

Serial Award

Ohio LBO Policy Briefs
Ohio Legislative Budget Office

Session Weekly
Minnesota House of Representatives, Public Information Office

1999 Recipients

Arizona Blue Book
Arizona Secretary of State

Dilemma in the Millennium
Capital Needs of the World's Capital City
Comptroller of the City of New York

Insurance Discrimination
Against Victims of Domestic Violence
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and
Women's Law Project

Serial Award

Perspectives
New York State Assembly Committee on Ways and Means

URL Award

http://www.leginfo.state.sc.us/
South Carolina Legislative Information Systems

Special Award for Consistently Outstanding and Comprehensive Quality of Publications

Montana Environmental Quality Council
Texas Legislative Budget Board

1998 Recipients

In making selections for this award, legislative research librarians considered if the document:

• Clearly displayed the title, author, publisher, and date.
• Title reflected actual content.
• Appeared relevant to an identifiable readership.
• Significantly contributed to knowledge of concern to legislators.
• Was innovative in presentation of materials.
• Contained strong bibliographic/footnote entries.
• Presented information accurately and clearly in an organized fashion.
• Was published within the last two years.
• Offered graphics that were readily grasped.
• Compared state activites in an arena of contemporary legislative interest in a comprehensible manner.
• Expanded understanding of government processes, functions, or relationships.
• Attempted to provide balance and perspective from various sides in the political spectrum.

LRL presented the second annual Notable Documents Awards at Annual Meeting. The selection committee was Deb Priest (NY), Cathy Griffin (AZ), Anne Craig (IL), Beth Furbush (MT) and Nancy Hays (TX). Documents submitted by legislative librarians were evaluated on subject matter, graphics, bibliographies, presentation and balance.  The award recognizes excellence in documents that explore contemporary topics of interest to legislators and staff by presenting substantive material in an outstanding format. Look for an article about the awards in the October-November issue of State Legislatures.

The winners are:
Arizona Legislative Manual, Arizona Legislative Council
Clean and Green, Joint State Government Commission, Pennsylvania General Assembly
Minnesota Data Book for Legislators, Research Department, Minnesota House of Representatives

Notable URL awards went to:
Florida Monitor, Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us