LEGISLATIVE BRANCH - Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) (1972-1995)

There are three primary websites that archive OTA documents. The Federation of American Scientists and University of North Texas are continually scanning new material into their archives. The Princeton site was the first OTA electronic archive website.

1. Federation of American Scientists - WWW.FAS.org

   At bottom of left sidebar, click on OTA Archive:

   • The OTA Archive Home Page is a blog aimed at promoting the work of OTA in order to build support for refunding the OTA Act. Posts include "the document of the day."
   • Click on "OTA Publications" and you will find OTA Documents (PDF) (1) Alpha by title (2) Alpha by topic. (3) OTA Library - a selection of vertical file material (4) Press Advisories (5) Report Briefs (not all), (6) OTA Newsletters (7) Quarterly Reports, and (8) Annual Reports.. The site "includes a search engine that allows users to quickly and easily find specific content." The OTA reports are derived from the Princeton website (below) that in turn flows from the OTA CD-ROM set created by OTA in 1995 just as the doors closed.
   • Click "Videos" for:
     • June 2008 - FAS interview with Cong. Rush Holt (D-NJ)(also on Google video)
     • July 2006 - Cong. Holt testifies before the House Committee on Science on " Scientific and Technical Advise for the U.S Congress.
     • 1995 - "To Meet the Needs of Congress - OTA" (also on Google video)
     • 1983 - "OTA on OTA" - What is OTA, How Does OTA Work (also on Google video)
   • Click "Technology Assessment and Congress" to link to the OTA Act of 1972 and other historical material, as well as a variety of articles about OTA.

2. Princeton University - Princeton.edu/~ota/

   "The OTA Legacy. The Congressional Office of Technology Assessment closed on September 29, 1995. During its 23-year history, OTA provided Congressional members and committees with objective and authoritative analysis of the complex scientific and technical issues of the late 20th century. It was a leader in practicing and encouraging delivery of public services in innovative and inexpensive ways, including distribution of government documents through electronic publishing. This site honors that legacy by making available in electronic form the complete collection of OTA publications along with additional materials that illuminate the history and impact of the agency."Two main sections on the site: (1) Technology Assessment and the Work of Congress (historical notes about OTA) and (2) OTA Publications. A third Section includes "information about the files and tips on their use."

3. University of North Texas Digital Library - govinfo.library.unt.edu

   UNT hosts Federal Depository Library that archives documents of defunct federal agencies. - UNT.edu - Browse the "CyberCemetery" for OTA Documents by title, by year and on the CD-ROM set. Search engine. As with the FAS site, the CyberCemetery is a work in progress. The OTA reports section also derives from the Princeton site.

   "The University of North Texas Libraries and the U.S. Government Printing Office, as part of the Federal Depository Library Program, created a partnership to provide permanent public access to the Web sites and publications of defunct U.S. government agencies and commissions. This collection was named the "CyberCemetery" by early users of the site.

   The CyberCemetery is an archive of government websites that have ceased operation (usually websites of defunct government agencies and commissions that have issued a final report). This collection features a variety of topics indicative of the broad nature of government information. In particular, this collection features websites that cover topics supporting the university's curriculum and particular program strengths. This collection supports the mission of the UNT Libraries by acquiring, preserving, and providing access to recorded knowledge in the form of government websites."

Updated Oct 2011

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John H. Gibbons
 
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