HELENA (AP) — Gov. Brian Schweitzer told his department directors Wednesday to do more than give lip service to his administration's open-government policy.

In commemorating Sunshine Week, a weeklong campaign for government openness spearheaded by The Associated Press and more than 50 other news organizations, journalism groups, universities and the American Library Association, the Democrat stressed the importance of the public's access to their government.

‘‘It is my request that you and your agencies make every attempt to not only comply with open meeting and records laws, but embrace them as an essential part of our great and free society,'' Schweitzer wrote in a memo to his Cabinet members.

He said that ‘‘access to government information is a key component to an informed citizenry.''

Starting shortly after he was elected in November when he began the work of transition to a new administration, Schweitzer adopted an open-door policy. All his meetings during the two months between Election Day and his inauguration were advertised in advance and held in the Capitol rotunda where anyone could attend.

He has continued that policy since taking office, allowing reporters and anyone else interested to sit in on all meetings. His predecessors have had similar practices.

‘‘We must never forget who we work for,'' he wrote Wednesday. ‘‘We work for the people of Montana. Government services, buildings and documents belong to the people of this great state. This is their government.''