From the desk of Rand Simmons

In the year 2017 “Fake News” is on everyone’s lips and lately the news has been dominated by speculation that Russia intervened in the US election.  As librarians we know to look for a reputable source and to verify information. Federal publications help keep the public informed. The Washington State Library is a federal depository library (Federal Depository Library Program, Government Publishing Office) and serves as the Regional Depository Library for the states of Washington and Alaska.

The latest from National Public Radio: “CIA Concludes Russian Interference Aimed To Elect Trump. The CIA has concluded that Russia intervened in the 2016 election specifically to help Donald Trump win the presidency, a U.S. official has confirmed to NPR. … Now they [the CIA] have come to the conclusion that Russia was trying to tip the election to Trump.” (Kelly, Mary Louise. “CIA Concludes Russian Interference Aimed to Elect Trump.” NPR – the two-way, 10 Dec. 2016, http://n.pr/2j20Ygk. Accessed 10 Jan. 2017.)  

The media — television, radio, newspapers and social media — have been rife with stories like these. As the calendar rolls toward the Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States on January 20th the focus on Russian interference with the 2016 Presidential Election remains hot.

President Obama directed the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency to prepare a report on their findings regarding Russian cyber attacks during the 2016 election cycle. A highly redacted version was made public on January 6, 2017. If you would like to read the report you will find it at https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/ICA_2017_01.pdf.

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