The House Public Information Services' Session Daily reported on HF 938, in which the Department of Administration would no longer be required to publish the Guidebook to State Agency Services. The Department has argued that the information is outdated as soon as it is published, and that members of the public rely on each agency's online information. While that's all true, librarians look at the demise of the compilation with a bit of regret. While websites have the latest and most important information, the Guidebook provided a snapshot of all of Minnesota state government at point in time, every four years from 1977-2004.
Because we are asked about state agencies that existed in the past, we'll continue to use the published editions of the Guidebook to State Agency Services. We have many print and electronic resources for historical information on agencies, including the Library's Minnesota Agencies database. This online tool tracks information about the creation and repeal of agencies, task forces, boards, and commissions, and is part of the Library's historical resources online.
When HF 938 was passed by the House, Rep. Sandra Masin argued in favor of taking out a section that would repeal the mandate to produce the Minnesota Milestones report. (Older Minnesota Milestones reports are available electronically here.)
Is the Minnesota Milestones reporting necessary and useful? The question was posed in 2007 and a working group produced an evaluation report in in 2009, Review and Analysis of Minnesota Milestones, as a tool for budgeting under Minnesota Statute 16A.10 subd. 1c. The bill has moved on to the Senate.