Last weekend, the Wall Street Journal published an article discussing the importance of verifying financial advisers' credentials. The WSJ identified more than 200 credentials that financial advisers append to their names, most of which appear indistinguishable to the average consumer. However, the requirements to earn these credentials varies greatly.
Read MoreFinancial Records Entered Into Public Record Via Divorce Case Filings
Personal and business financial records are generally not accessible as public records. However, financial assets are typically disclosed in divorce filings and are thus backed into the public record.
Read MoreFOIA in the United States and Introduction to Worldwide Public Records Laws
International Right to Know Day was September 28. In keeping with the right to know spirit, we are presenting a four part series on freedom of information acts passed worldwide. We start with an overview on the US Freedom of Information Act.
Read MoreFDA Recall Information
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posts regular product recalls and safety alerts. Most recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted an online tool for shell eggs and egg products that have been included in the 2010 egg recall.
Read MoreSpeech Recognition and Closed Caption Searches for Internet Video Archives
Technology has enabled digitization of both new videos and those that predate the Internet for online streaming. With more videos becoming available on the Internet, websites are developing speech recognition technology that may eventually lead to closed caption searches - a useful tool for canvassing video content.
Read MoreResource for Verifying California Professional Licenses
Before choosing a doctor, accountant, contractor, or other licensed professional, a good resource is the California Department of Consumer Affairs' list of links for license verification.
Read MoreOnline Database of Active Workers’ Compensation Cases (California)
California's Electronic Adjudication Management System (EAMS) public search tool provides access to a searchable database of active workers' compensation cases filed with the Worker's Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB). The EAMS database includes active cases that are in dispute and filed as appeals with the WCAB.
Read MoreScandal Leads to Requirement for More Detailed City Level Salary Reporting Requirements (California)
In response to the recent salary scandal in Bell, California, Controller John Chiang issued an order last week requiring that all California cities and counties report taxpayer-funded salaries in more detail.
Read MoreWhat You See In Public Records Databases Is Not Always All That You Can Get
A recent New York Times article discussed what local restaurant owners think are the shortcomings of the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's updated database of restaurant inspection scores. Amidst the back and forth between Department of Health and Mental Hygiene staff and the restaurant owners over what was being disclosed is a reminder to public records researchers to always get beyond the data that is presented for searching.
Read MoreCourt Records Often a Good Gateway to Otherwise Private Records
A contract dispute covered recently in The National Law Journal provides another example of how otherwise non-public records can back into the public space through court proceedings.
Read MoreMore on GPO-Transition to Digital Age
Interesting interview with David Walls, now of the GPO and formerly of Yale University, in today's Washington Post.
Read MoreGPO Access
GPO Access is an online collection of federal documents that is administered by the Government Printing Office and funded by the Federal Depository Library Program. The website publishes full-text documents that are produced by the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the federal government.
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