SJLibrary.org, a collaboration of San Jose State University and San Jose Public Library system.

Open Government and Public Access

• News and information on SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), what to do if you are a SLAPP victim, statutes and cases on SLAPPs in California and other states, CyberSLAPPs, federal cases, etc.

• Text of California's Brown Act and Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, guides to both acts, FAQs, etc.
• Access to Meetings of Government Entities Q&A

• Note: The feature that allows one to compare multiple states on one area of open government law is very useful though somewhat difficult to use.

Freedom of Information

• FOIA's exemptions, its law enforcement record exclusions, and its most important procedural aspects
• More a legal guide than an instructional guide

• Very readable overview of the FOIA (1966), FAQ on freedom of information, legal cases, etc.
• Legal Cases and Presentations on Freedom of Information and Open Meetings

• Ratings system on the level of sunshine for different public records
• Easy-to-use comparisons of state laws on access to public records

• Articles and guides to help you obtain public records and public information from state and public agencies and court systems

• Pocket Guide to Access to Courts and Court Records (PDF, 2003)

• Info on the California Public Records Act (CPRA), its text, California Attorney General's Guide to it, etc.
• Sample CPRA Request Letter

• Federal FOI Resources: professional organizations, legal guides...
• California FOI Resources: organizations, state access laws...