A book published by the North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies, “Palaces on the Prairie,” was recognized recently as an outstanding government publication. It is one of 37 documents included in the 2011 Notable Documents List produced by the American Library Association Government Documents Round Table.
The book by Rod Evans, reveals the struggles of Midwestern communities to survive the crises of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Evans focuses on one of the ways community leaders elevated themselves: constructing palaces decorated with grains or minerals that would best promote the businesses and products in their towns.
The list includes 13 federal, 11 state and local and 13 international documents. Subject matter of the documents ranges from plant life, climate change and the environment to crime, human rights and economic development to city planning, construction, geospatial data and engineering. Two documents were selected from North Dakota.
Every year the list of notable documents is published in the May 15 issue of the Library Journal. The title of this year’s list is “Digital Diamonds & Budget Cuts.” The article is available at www.libraryjournal.com/lj/collectiondevelopmentcollectiondev/890105-291/notable_government_documents_2011_.html.csp.
To learn more about the American Library Association Government Documents Round Table, go to www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/godort/index.cfm.