Since You Asked! Episode 3: Exxon Valdez Litigation Documents Project

Librarian Julie Niederhauser speaks with archivist Larry Hibpshman about the Exxon Valdez Litigation Documents project.  Larry is an archivist with the Alaska State Archives and responsible for overseeing this important project.

Listen to Podcast (.mp3)
[ 18 minutes ]
Recorded on October 26, 2013

Contact the Alaska State Archives:

• Staff Directory
• Email: archives@alaska.gov
• Phone: 907.465.2270

Additional Resources:

• Larry's presentation slides

Since You Asked! Episode 2: SLAM Building

Librarian Julie Niederhauser speaks with Bob Banghart about the State Library, Archives and Museum building (also known as the SLAM building) currently under construction in Juneau. Bob serves as the Deputy Director for the Alaska State Library and Chief Curator for the Alaska State Museum.

Listen to Podcast (.mp3)
[ 25 minutes ]
Recorded on October 23, 2013

Since You Asked! Episode 1: Alaska Economic Trends

Librarian Julie Niederhauser speaks with Dan Robinson about the Alaska Economic Trends, a monthly publication dealing with a wide variety of economic issues in the state of Alaska. Dan is the Chief Research Analyst for the Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

Listen to Podcast (.mp3)
[ 13 minutes ]
Recorded on October 21, 2013

To contact Trends authors or request a free electronic or print subscription:

• Send an e-mail to trends@alaska.gov
• Call (907) 465-4500

Alaska Economic Trends Online Resources:
Subscribe to a hard copy in the mail or view online
Search archived copies online (1978 - present)

An Alaskan first?

Question: What was the first Alaskan community to ban plastic bags?

Answer: The earliest plastic bag ban I was able to find in Alaska was Galena, which did indeed ban them in 1998. According to their municipal code, which you can access by choosing Municipal Code at the Galena city website., Title 13.04.045 (A), “Plastic bags, used for carry out, in retail business shall be prohibited”. This refers to Ordinance 99-01, from 1998, for its authority. It seems like this might be the earliest such ban in the world. Does your Alaskan community ban their use? Do you know of an earlier one in Alaska or elsewhere? Please share in the comments.

Public Land Orders

Question: Where can I find a Public Land Order?

Answer: Public Land Orders (“PLOs”) issued by the United States Department of the Interior are published in the Federal Register. The Department of Interior publishes tables identifying where in the Federal Register each PLO is published. You will need the approximate date of the PLO or the PLO number to use these tables. If the PLO was issued in or after 1994, you can find it in the Federal Register online using the citation you found in the PLO tables. In time, earlier issues of the Federal Register may become available online. If you know the title or subject of the PLO but don’t have the Federal Register citation or could not find it in the PLO tables, you can search the Federal Register using keywords from the title or subject. If you need a PLO published in the Federal Register before 1994 or could not find it using the above methods, check with your local Federal Depository Library.