Note: This story originally appeared in an IT Times issue from 1992-1993. We reproduce it here in conjunction with our 10 year anniversary issue to give you a glimpse of the past as it relates to the technology news of today. To see how IT Times is reporting on this topic today, click here.

A one-year experimental agreement connects University of California users to an extensive Washington, D.C. online database called LEGI-SLATE. To tap into this impressive and powerful information resource, UCD, faculty, students, and staff need only issue the USE LEGI-SLATE command on the MELVYL online catalog. (Note that in using a modem from home or office, you also need a MELVYL password - as you do for other licensed MELVYL databases. Passwords are available from Library reference desks.)

LEGI-SLATE provides up-to-date indexing, status reports, text, vote tallies, and committee mark-ups for Congressional bills. Researchers can track legislation step by step through actions entered daily from the Congressional Record and from Congressional reports.

LEGI-SLATE also includes:

1. The full text of the Almanac of American Politics and the Congressional Staff Directory. These files contain representatives, and senators' biographies and related data such as attendance, voting records, interest group ratings, and voting analysis.
2. The Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations. Containing the full text of regulations, notices, and Executive Orders, these electronic documents are released the same day as the printed Register. The Code of Federal Regulations is updated with the text of new regulations as they become effective.
3. The United States Code. This file is updated immediately to incorporate new laws.
4. Texts from the Electronic Washington Post, National Journal and the States News Service, as well as HILL NEWS and TRANSCRIPTS files. These files have the widest interest, providing unprecedented access to current events and political developments.
   • The online Washington Post provides the full text of most articles appearing in the daily printed Post.
   • FULL NEWS describes the Washington political scene, especially interesting reading with the change of presidential administrations.
   • TRANSCRIPTS is a treasure trove of verbatim transcripts of committee hearings, press briefings, press conferences, news interviews, etc. For example, the transcripts of the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings were available in an unofficial version almost immediately on LEGI-SLATE.
5. The database also provides indexing for the Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report.

How Accessible Is LEGI-SLATE?
LEGI-SLATE is a sophisticated and expensive external database. UC log-on access is limited to the number of passwords provided in the contract for the initial experimental period. The UC contract provides simultaneous access for ten passwords prior to 2:00 p.m. and for only five additional passwords thereafter until 5:00 a.m. This limitation may dissuade instructors from making use of LEGI-SLATE for class as assignments but it shouldn't. Faculty may request LEGI-SLATE passwords for demonstration purposes in specific classes for specific periods when appropriate. Students with classroom assignments would compete for the limited number of LEGI-SLATE passwords. Instructors should inform students of alternative options for access to the same information. For example, students can find most of the information contained in LEGI-SLATE in the Library's Government Documents Department (and other locations). However, the printed resources may not be as current as those in the database. The UC Division of Library Automation will be recording statistics on the use and access failures in the use of this database.

How Easy Is LEGI-SLATE to Use?
Though menu-driven, LEGI-SLATE is not always simple or intuitive to use. However, a new main menu introduced in December 1992 has made LEGI-SLATE's resources more accessible, particularly through the USER AIDS menu selections. You also may want to consult the LEGI-SLATE Ready Reference Guide, available at the Reference Desks in campus libraries - since the online help for the service may not lead you to all the necessary commands for efficient use of LEGI-SLATE.

Please contact the Government Documents Department (752-1624) for assistance with LEGI-SLATE. Separate manuals for the Federal Code of Federal Regulations and the United States Code are available there and may be copied. To receive training on the LEGI- SLATE database, contact Linda Kennedy (752-1624 or lmkennedy@ucdavis.edu) in the Government Documents Department, Shields Library.

Linda Kennedy, the campus liaison for LEGI-SLATE, would appreciate hearing your comments on your experience with LEGI-SLATE. The University will be evaluating the LEGI-SLATE contract in Spring 1993 to decide on whether to provide continued access and at what level.

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