Abstract: Federal, state and local governments produce the law by which all citizens are bound. Governments are beginning to publish their law on open websites, making it easily accessible to citizens. However, governments must address issues relating to the trustworthiness of the law and its permanent availability when it is published in electronic formats. The Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act, UELMA, drafted and approved by the Uniform Law Commission in 2011 and available for adoption by every state, provides guidance to states on ensuring that the text of their laws, as electronically published, can be relied on as trustworthy, or authentic. This program chronicles the movement, spearheaded by librarians, to develop and promote the adoption of UELMA, and explains how UELMA enhances and supports open access to the law.
