“Data, data everywhere,” a special report from The Economist on managing information is worth a look here.  “The open society” segment of the special report makes a persuasive argument for the role open records and transparency play in accomplishing public policy goals.  One example:  the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).  According to the piece, four years after the TRI became available, emissions of the chemicals catalogued in the TRI database decreased by 40%.  Learn more about the TRI here.

The report covers a number of public records-related topics similar to those we have discussed recently:

• Google Constantly Refining Search Algorithms to Provide Best Generalized Search Results
• Hyperlocal Web Sites Use Public Records to Provide Targeted Information
• Legislative Data Becoming More Widely Available Online
• Inventor of World Wide Web Launches Web Site for British Government Offering Unprecedented Public Access to Government Data