FY2015 LSCM YEAR IN REVIEW
TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEDERAL DEPOSITORY LIBRARY PROGRAM 2

FDLP Forecast Study 2

National Plan for Access to U.S. Government Information/ 

Federal Information Preservation Network 2

Discarding from Regional Depository Library Collections 3

GPO Partnerships 4

GPO’s Federal Digital System 4

ISO 16363 Certification for FDsys (FDsys) 4

FDLP Academy 5

i. FDLP Coordinator Certificate Pilot Program 6

FDLP Events 6

i. December 2014 Depository Library Council

Virtual Meeting: Focusing on Service 6

ii. April 2015 Depository Library Council

Virtual Meeting: Navigating through Change – 

The Conversation Continues 6

Depository Library Council 7

Welcoming a New Library to the FDLP 7

Promoting the FDLP 7

Depository Library Spotlights 8

FDLP Guidance 8

Public Access Assessments 8

FDLP Connection 9

Library Services System 9

Needs and Offers Tool 9

Web Archiving 10

FDLP Web Services 10

i. FDLP.gov 10

ii. Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government 10

iii. Digitization Projects Registry 10

GPO Participation & Collaboration in Outside Groups 11

FDLP Outreach: In-Person & Virtual Events 11

CATALOGING & INDEXING PROGRAM 14

National Bibliographic Records Inventory Initiative 14

GPO in Top 10 of Original Catalogers in the World 14

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications 15

Resource Description and Access 15

Classification Guidelines Revision Project 

Cataloging Guidelines 15

Cataloging Record Distribution Program 16

List of Classes Update Project 16

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE SERVICE 16

BY-LAW PROGRAM 16

METRICS 17

CLOSING 17

American Association of Law Libraries: AALL

American Library Association: ALA

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications: CGP

Cataloging & Indexing Program: C&I

Cataloging Record Distribution Program: CRDP

Coalition for Networked Information: CNI

Depository Library Council Meeting & Federal Depository 

Library Conference: Meeting & Conference

Depository Library Council: DLC

Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative: FADGI

Federal Depository Library Directory: FDLD

Federal Depository Library Program Coordinator 

 Certificate Program: CCP

Federal Depository Library Program: FDLP

Federal Library and Information Network: FEDLINK

GPO’s Federal Digital System: FDsys

Integrated Library System: ILS

International Conference on Digital Preservation: iPres

Library of Congress: LC

Library Services & Content Management: LSCM

Library Services System: LSS

Maps and Geospatial Information Round Table: MAGIRT

National Archives & Records Administration: NARA

National Bibliographic Records Inventory Initiative: NBRII

North American Precis Syndicate: NAPS

Persistent Uniform Resource Locators: PURLs

Preservation and Reformatting Section: PARS

Program for Cooperative Cataloging: PCC

Public Access Assessment: PAA

Public Library Association: PLA

Reference and User Services Association: RUSA

Resource Description and Access: RDA

Society for Imaging Science and Technology: IS&T

Special Libraries Association: SLA

Trustworthy Digital Repository: TDR

U.S. Government Publishing Office: GPO

University of North Texas: UNT

ACRONYM AND ABBREVIATION GUIDE
WELCOME LETTER FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LSCM

Looking back on FY 2015 (October 2014 - September 2015), it was a year filled with milestones and change 

that demonstrate the U.S. Government Publishing Office’s (GPO’s) and the Federal Depository Library Program’s 

(FDLP’s) positive direction for the future. 

In December 2014, President Barack Obama signed into law H.R. 83, the legislation that provided 

consolidated and further continuing appropriations for FY 2015. Section 1301 of that legislation officially 

changed the name of the U.S. Government Printing Office to the U.S. Government Publishing Office. Publishing 

reflects the increasingly prominent role that GPO plays in providing access to Government information in digital 

formats through the agency’s Federal Digital System (FDsys), Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP), 

apps, eBooks, and related technologies. The information needs of Congress, Federal agencies, and the public 

have evolved beyond print and GPO has transformed itself to meet its customers’ needs. 

This name change really symbolizes the digital transformation that has been underway at the agency for 

many years now. The name change also set in motion countless logistical and administrative changes that 

were necessary to change over 150 years worth of branding! As you have seen from us throughout the year, 

we have been introducing new promotional items, new logos and website design, and new forms, to name 

a few. Thank you for helping us advance awareness of our new name by changing references from “Printing 

Office” to “Publishing Office” on your websites and in your library!

Following suit with our name change, in January 2015, we hit another milestone. Library Services and 

Content Management (LSCM) cataloged the first document published with GPO’s new name. It was the Satellite 

Television Access and Viewer Rights Act: report of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation 

on S. 2799. 

Just a short time later, in March 2015, I was given the responsibility and honor of serving as the new 

Managing Director of LSCM. After spending three decades at GPO in various roles that have all supported 

our information dissemination programs, I am proud and happy to take the reins of the unit and lead our 

continuing transformation. 

Throughout the year, we have also been celebrating and reflecting on several other historical milestones, all 

revolving around the year 1895. This year marks the 120th anniversary of these key events in FDLP history.

n The Printing Act of 1895, the direct antecedent of Title 44, United States Code, transferred administration of 

the FDLP from the Department of the Interior to GPO and launched the distribution of executive department 

publications to depositories. 

n Also in 1895, GPO hired its first librarian, Adelaide R. Hasse. Between 1895 and 1903, the Superintendent of 

Document (SuDocs) classification system was developed by Ms. Hasse. 

n The first depository shipment, on July 17, 1895, contained eleven Congressional publications and was 

distributed to our (then) 420 Federal depository libraries. 

Fast forward to FY 2015, and the FDLP is going strong with over 1,150 Federal depository library partners 

throughout the U.S. and our territories. We are proud of and grateful for the work you do each and every day 

to Keep America Informed all these years later. For our part here at GPO, we work in support of four programs, all appropriated by Congress:

n The Federal Depository Library Program

n The Cataloging & Indexing Program

n The International Exchange Service

n The By-Law Program

Throughout this report, you will read about these four programs and the projects and recent activities we 

have undertaken to support those programs. 

On behalf of the staff in GPO’s LSCM business unit, I am happy to present to you our accomplishments for 

FY 2015.

With Warm Regards,

Laurie Hall

Managing Director, Library Services & Content Management

Acting Superintendent of Documents

Dear Federal depository library partners,
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FDLP Forecast Study

Begun in 2012, the FDLP Forecast Study queried 

Federal depository libraries about pressing issues, 

goals, needs, and views of the ideal FDLP of the future.

Three tools were used to collect data from the FDLP 

community.

■ Library Forecast Questionnaires: A questionnaire gathered data about conditions in each individual depository library, issues each library faced 

and anticipated for the future, and asked each library 

what GPO could do to assist them in providing free 

public access to U.S. Government information.

■ State Forecast Questionnaires: A questionnaire 

gathered data about conditions depository libraries in a state or region (through consensus) faced 

and anticipated for the future, and asked what GPO 

could do to assist them in providing free public access to U.S. Government information.

■ State Focused Action Plans (SFAPs): This 

survey asked FDLP libraries in states or regions to 

document initiatives and activities they planned to 

implement in the next five years.

Data from the Study is being used to develop ongoing GPO programs and services for libraries, inform 

the strategic direction of LSCM, and cultivate the National Plan for Access to U.S. Government Information. 

The FDLP Forecast Study Final Report was released in FY 2015. Project documents, Forecast Study 

results, themed Working Papers, and State Focused Action Plans can be found on the FDLP Forecast Study 

Project Page.

FEDERAL DEPOSITORY LIBRARY PROGRAM

National Plan for Access to 

U.S. Government Information/ 

Federal Information 

Preservation Network (FIPNet) 

The National Plan for Access to U.S. Government 

Information is a framework document of actions and 

outcomes that applies a user-centric approach to 

permanent public access to our Government’s information assets. Whether in a library or online, our goal 

is to create, sustain, and enhance Superintendent of 

Documents public information programs to ensure 

Federal Government information is acquired, cataloged, digitized, made findable, disseminated broadly, 

and preserved for future generations. The goal will be 

achieved through short and long-term strategies that 

strengthen and expand both the Federal Depository 

Library Program and the Cataloging and Indexing Program. Our vision is “to provide Government information when and where it is needed.”

In order to achieve this vision, the National Plan sets 

the groundwork and provides long-term strategies for 

the success and growth of:

■ The Federal Depository Library Program (statutory 

program)

■ The Cataloging & Indexing Program (statutory program)

■ The Federal Information Preservation Network 

(FIPNet) (new GPO strategic initiative)

As authorized by Chapter 19 of Title 44, U.S.C., the mission of the FDLP is to provide for no-fee, ready, and 

permanent public access to Federal Government information, now and for future generations. The vision 

of the FDLP is to provide U.S. Government information when and where it is needed, in order to ensure an 

informed citizenry and an improved quality of life. 

Through this historic U.S. Government program, GPO disseminates information products from all three 

branches of the Federal Government to approximately 1,150 libraries nationwide designated as Federal 

depository libraries, directly by law or as depositories designated by their Representatives and Senators. 

Federal depository libraries maintain and provide free public access to Federal Government information 

products and provide expert assistance in navigating those resources. Providing free online access to 

Government publications is provided under the authority of Chapter 41 of Title 44, U.S.C., via FDsys.
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FIPNet is a strategy for a collaborative network of 

information professionals working in various partner 

roles to ensure access to the national collection of 

Government information for future generations. In 

addition to our long-standing, historic statutory programs, the creation of FIPNet affords the public with 

guaranteed, long-term access to resources, materials, 

and expertise from libraries, Government entities, 

coalitions, and organizations. This initiative will ensure 

permanent public access to historic, at-risk publications and resources of significant value to the public. Depository libraries will benefit from the added 

resources and the sustainability of those resources for 

their patrons. Based on formal partnerships with GPO, 

FIPNet partners will provide an added guarantee that 

our rich history will be accessible for future generations to come. Learn more by visiting the FIPNet page 

on FDLP.gov.

In FY 2015, LSCM:

■ Launched an outreach and awareness campaign 

that included the following: 

■ Depository Library Council Virtual Meeting: 

Focusing on Service 

■ Meeting with the American Library Association’s 

Washington Office 

■ Meeting with National Libraries and the Library of 

Congress 

■ Depository Library Council Virtual Meeting: 

Navigating through Change 

■ Meetings with the Institute of Museum and 

Library Services 

■ Federal Information Preservation Network 

(FIPNet): A National Dialogue

■ Various Meetings at the American Library 

Association’s Midwinter Meeting and Annual 

Conference 

■ Various Meetings at the American Association of 

Law Libraries Annual Meeting 

■ Meeting with representatives from TRAIL 

(Technical Report Archive & Image Library) 

■ Follow-Up Meeting with National Libraries and 

the Library of Congress 

■ Signed the first FIPNet partnership agreement with 

the University of North Texas

Learn more and access reports, presentations, and 

related documents by visiting the National Plan for 

Access to U.S. Government Information Project Page.

Discarding from Regional 

Depository Library Collections 

What began as a discussion document in the summer of 2014, the Superintendent of Documents draft 

policy, which would allow regional depository libraries to withdraw materials under certain circumstances, 

came closer to implementation in FY 2015.

GPO had received feedback from the Depository 

Library Council, regional depository librarians, and 

library associations, and during the first quarter of 

FY 2015, actions were taken to address the concerns 

expressed.

■ Work continued on creating a comprehensive National Bibliographic Records Inventory.

■ GPO began the initial process to seek certification 

for FDsys as a Trustworthy Digital Repository (TDR), 

in compliance with the International Organization for 

Standardization (ISO 16363).

■ A survey was conducted of regional depository 

libraries to determine how they would employ the 

discard policy and to obtain baseline data for geographic distribution of tangible copies. 

 In July 2015, GPO Director Davita Vance-Cooks 

transmitted the proposed policy, Government Publications Authorized for Discard by Regional Depository 

Libraries, to the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP) for 

approval. Within a month, GPO received a letter with 

the JCP’s approval with an added third stipulation that 

“a minimum of four tangible copies of the publication 

exist in the FDLP distributed geographically.” Read 

the JCP response letter, along with Director VanceCooks’ original approval request.

In FY 2016, GPO will work with regional depository libraries to develop and test processes and workflows. The policy does not yet have an effective date. 

For more information about the discard policy, see the 

presentation from the December 2014 virtual meeting, 

“The Draft Regional Discard Policy – Tell Me More, 

Tell Me More.”
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GPO Partnerships

Since 1997, GPO has developed strategic partnerships 

with Federal depository libraries and other Federal 

agencies to increase access to electronic Federal 

information. All branches of Federal Government are 

increasingly transitioning away from print, and fewer 

agencies and Federal materials are coming to GPO for 

publishing. This is due to budgetary pressures, Open 

Government initiatives, and increasing access to electronic solutions. 

One avenue to address this has been to develop 

strategic partnerships to ensure permanent public access to electronic content, assist depositories in providing access to electronic material, and help libraries better manage their depository collections. Partnerships 

also allow GPO to take advantage of the expertise and 

services of Federal depository librarians and Federal 

agencies. 

GPO currently maintains partnerships with 16 

depository libraries, eight Federal agencies, and two 

institutions. 

During FY 2015, LSCM: 

■ Renewed our ongoing partnership with Government 

Information Online, Ask a Librarian 

■ In FY 2015, 346 askGPO incidents were 

forwarded to GIO librarians.

■ Began work on cooperative cataloging partnerships 

with the University of Colorado, Boulder and the 

Colorado School of Mines to provide access to over 

1,400 total bibliographic records in the CGP for 

print and digital versions of the USGS Bulletins.

■ Signed a permanent public access partnership 

agreement with Illinois State University to provide 

access to 16 bibliographic records for digital 

versions of posters from World War I.

■ Completed work on the cooperative cataloging 

partnership with the University of Montana (2011 - 

2015)

■ Approximately 324 bibliographic records for 

publications from the U.S. Forest Service 

were added to the CGP in the last year of the 

partnership. 

GPO’s Federal Digital System 

(FDsys)

FDsys provides free online access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government. The content in FDsys is available in multiple 

formats including PDF, XML, audio, and photographs. 

FDsys provides access to digitized historical content 

and serial publications that are updated daily. 

GPO adds content to FDsys regularly and continuously implements enhancements to system functionality. FDsys offers the public access to approximately 50 

collections of U.S. Government information, and over 11 

million documents are indexed by the FDsys search engine. GPO’s Office of Programs, Strategy, & Technology 

(PST) manages FDsys and works closely with LSCM and 

other GPO business units on continuous enhancements 

and additions to FDsys content and functionalities.

In FY 2015, LSCM staff continued work with PST to 

increase content in FDsys. 

While continuing to add current content to existing 

FDsys collections, LSCM began work to increase public 

access to historical content. The following will be 

made available to the public beginning in FY 2016.

■ Volumes of the Bound Congressional Record dating 

from 1873 – 1997

■ Volumes of the historic Federal Register dating from 

1936 – 1994 (in collaboration with the Office of the 

Federal Register)

■ Historical Annual Reports of the Public Printer from 

1859 – 2014

Work was completed in FY 2015 toward the introduction of the next generation of GPO’s public access 

system, currently known as FDsys. Underway since 

2013, this work has been dedicated to enhancing the 

way the public interacts with GPO’s online offerings, 

including the development of a responsive user interface, a new Open Source search engine, the capability 

to link related publications, a mobile-friendly presence, 

and other improvements based on extensive stakeholder engagement during the design and development 

process. The new system was revealed shortly after 

the second session of the 114th Congress, convened in 

early 2016, with the introduction of govinfo. Though 

in beta, govinfo improves upon FDsys with a modern, 

easy-to-use look and feel that syncs with the need of 

today’s Government information users for quick and 

effective digital access across a variety of digital platforms. Following a period of testing and finalizing the 

system’s features, govinfo will become GPO’s digital 

system of record—the third such system since GPO 

inaugurated online access in 1994—and FDsys will be 

retired from service.
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ISO 16363 Certification 

for FDsys 

From its conception in 2005, the then “Future Digital System” (now known as FDsys) was designed to 

ingest, preserve, and provide access to the information produced by the U.S. Government. FDsys was to 

be developed according to standards and guidelines 

accepted by the digital preservation and library community at the time, including OAIS framework compliance. By January 2015, external stakeholders were 

eager for FDsys to pass an external audit of Trustworthy Digital Repository criteria. 

In order to pass an external audit, GPO would be 

required to gather evidence, document procedures and 

policies, and adhere to best practices for digital preservation, sustainability, and viability for FDsys, in addition to coordinating similar documentation and potential process changes within business units, including 

PST and LSCM. Goals and objectives were identified 

for a vision and project plan in order to prepare. In 

early 2015, GPO took the necessary steps to gain a 

National Digital Stewardship Resident to commit to the 

full-time organization of these documents and explore 

the viability of securing certification under the ISO 

16363 standard once an auditing body was presented 

having received certification under ISO 16919.

While a number of digital repositories have already 

been certified as TRAC-compliant, none of them are 

operated by Federal agencies. A certification under ISO 

16363 will reinforce GPO’s commitment to its mission 

of ensuring effective public access to Government 

information through its assured preservation in digital 

formats. To begin the audit process, GPO was selected 

by the Library of Congress and the National Institute of 

Museum and Library Services in December 2014 as one 

of five institutions to receive a resident through the National Digital Stewardship Residency (NDSR) program. 

Under this program, host institutions are provided with 

a resident for one year to work on a significant digital 

stewardship project. 

Jessica Tieman, the NDSR resident, has assisted 

GPO in preparing an initial review and analysis of all 

repository documentation and evidence, creating a gap 

analysis against the requirements for the ISO 16363 

certification, and currently leads the Trusted Digital 

Repository Team. She has been with GPO since June 

2015. This team, comprised of both PST and LSCM 

staff, meet bi-weekly to discuss the current status of 

gathering and developing documentation necessary for 

the audit. Additionally, the NDSR resident conducted 

outreach with 12 TRAC-certified and OAIS-compliant 

digital preservation repositories to gather feedback 

from the digital preservation community regarding 

standards-based certification of repositories to identify 

how GPO should successfully identify with and verify 

the designation of “trustworthiness.” The resident is in 

the process of completing a full internal audit, including interviews with personnel, to be shared with GPO 

at the end of her residency in June 2016. 

FDLP Academy

The FDLP Academy was launched by LSCM in FY 

2014 as a new resource for educational tools on U.S. 

Government information. This educational program 

was created to support the FDLP community and to 

advance Federal Government information literacy. 

The mission of the FDLP Academy is to create 

and deliver enhanced educational opportunities to the 

FDLP community by fostering collaboration, facilitating 

knowledge sharing, applying new methods, and using 

multiple mediums.

The FDLP Academy enhances Federal Government 

information knowledge through events and conferences 

coordinated by GPO and webinars and webcasts on a 

wide variety of Government information topics. Many 

sessions are presented by GPO staff, while others are 

presented by staff from other Federal agencies and 

from members of the FDLP community, as recruited 

and hosted by GPO.

In FY 2015, LSCM:

■ Presented 69 webinars with over 8,200 registrants

■ Recorded 14 webcasts with over 1,300 views

■ Launched the FDLP Training Assistance Center tool

■ Launched the FDLP Coordinator Certificate 

Program with an eight-week Pilot course

■ Presented a booth display at the American Library 

Association’s Annual Conference to over 500 

visitors

■ Hosted DLC Virtual Meeting: Focusing on Service 

■ Hosted DLC Virtual Meeting: Navigating through 

Change: The Conversation Continues 

FDLP Academy resources include: 

■ An FDLP Events Calendar with information 

on upcoming events and related registration 

information;

■ A Webinars & Webcasts Archive with links to 

recordings and handouts of all past webinars and 

webcasts, categorized by learning track (FDsys, 

GPO, Agency, or FDLP Community);

■ An Events & Conferences page with information 

about GPO’s annual FDLP events;
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■ An Events & Conferences Archive with links to 

recordings and handouts of all past FDLP events 

and conferences that have been broadcast virtually; 

■ The FDLP Training Assistance Center, a 

collaborative training material repository for the 

FDLP community; 

■ A collection of FDsys training videos; and 

■ A form to request specialized training or to 

volunteer to share expertise through a webinar 

hosted by GPO.

FDLP Coordinator Certificate Pilot 

Program

The FDLP community has consistently requested that 

GPO provide more training and educational sessions 

for Federal depository coordinators. In the Education 

Working Paper from the FDLP Forecast Study, 26% 

of the respondents expressed a need for training on 

depository administration/management and 25% on 

LSCM/GPO tools and services.

The Federal Depository Library Program Coordinator Certificate Program (CCP) was designed to 

address some of these needs expressed by the community. 

The certificate program, conducted completely in 

the virtual environment, seeks to educate participants 

on the legal requirements and regulations of the FDLP 

and provides an overview of LSCM/GPO tools and 

services. 

In the spring of 2015, the Coordinator Certificate 

Program Pilot Program was conducted over eight 

weeks. Fourteen participants completed the program 

and received a certificate. After the completion of the 

pilot, LSCM evaluated the program and worked to enhance the program for a launch in FY 2016. 

FDLP Events

LSCM hosted two FDLP special events in FY 2015.

DLC Virtual Meeting: 

Focusing on Service

From December 2-4, 2014, LSCM hosted the DLC Virtual Meeting, “Focusing on Service.” 

Through this virtual event, the Depository Library 

Council (DLC) facilitated focused discussions with 

the Federal depository library community, who were 

encouraged to share thoughts on topics related to the 

FDLP. 

The virtual programs were:

■ Depository Library Council Meeting Kick-off & GPO 

Update

■ National Bibliographic Records Inventory Program 

■ The Depository Network, Part 1 – More than Collections: Why Regional Services Matter in the FDLP 

Network

■ The Depository Network, Part 2 – The Importance of 

Being Allowed to Discard: Why Regionals Support 

the Draft Policy

■ The Draft Regional Discard Policy: Tell Me More, Tell 

Me More 

■ The National Plan: A Progress Report

■ Online Congressional Hearings Project & Open 

Forum with DLC

■ Build Your Electronic Collection 

■ Law Libraries & the FDLP: Past, Present, & Future

■ Technology Planning

■ Designating Tribal College Libraries in the FDLP

■ Outer Spaces and UFOs (Unbrowseable Federal 

Objects): Developing Best Practices for Storing and 

Retrieving Documents in Onsite and Offsite Storage

■ DLC Open Forum / Recap of Emerging Issues / 

Meeting Wrap-Up

This event was another opportunity for the FDLP 

community to become actively involved in the continued dialogue about the future of the FDLP and issues 

facing depository libraries in 2014.

526 individuals registered for this three-day event, 

and there was an average of 228 attendees each day. 

Recordings from each session of the event are available for viewing, and a summary of each session is 

available from our December 2014 FDLP Connection 

newsletter. 

DLC Virtual Meeting: Navigating 

through Change: The Conversation 

Continues

From April 28-30, 2015, LSCM hosted the DLC Virtual 

Meeting, “Navigating through Change: The Conversation Continues.” 

Through this virtual event, the Depository Library 

Council (DLC) facilitated focused discussions with 

the Federal depository library community, who were 

encouraged to share thoughts on topics related to the 

FDLP. 
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The virtual programs were:

■ Depository Library Council Meeting Kick-off 

■ Public Depository Libraries

■ Government Information in the Background? A Look 

into Web-Scale Discovery Tools

■ The National Plan for Access to U.S. Government 

Information

■ Finding & Using Government Data to Support 

Patron Needs

■ Preservation & Access: Framing the “How Many?” 

Question

■ Process of Change within the FDLP: Open Forum 

on the National Plan

■ Return of the UFOs (Unbrowseable Federal 

Objects): Continuing to Develop Best Practices for 

Storing and Retrieving Documents in Onsite and 

Offsite Storage

■ Technology Update

■ Digitization and Authentication for FDsys

■ Harvested Agency Content and PURLs

■ GPO Responses to 2014 DLC Recommendations / 

Open Forum / DLC Recap / Closing Remarks

505 individuals registered for this three-day event, 

and there was an average of 195 attendees each day. 

Recordings from each session of the event are available for viewing, and a summary of each session is 

available from our June 2015 FDLP Connection newsletter. 

Depository Library Council 

The FDLP community said goodbye to five members 

of the DLC when their terms ended in May 2015. GPO 

thanks them for their service to the GPO and to the 

FDLP. 

■ DLC Chair, Marie Concannon, University of Missouri 

(Columbia) Elmer Ellis Library 

■ Steve Beleu, Oklahoma Department of Libraries 

■ Christopher C. Brown, University of Denver Main 

Library

■ Rosemary LaSala, St. John’s University Rittenberg 

Law Library

■ Larry Romans, Vanderbilt University’s Central Library 

In June 2015, the FDLP community welcomed five 

new DLC members.

■ Melissa Bernstein, James E. Faust Library, S.J. 

Quinney College of Law, University of Utah

■ Erin Guss, St. Louis Public Library

■ Marianne Mason, The University of Iowa Libraries

■ Karen M. Russ, Ottenheimer Library, University of 

Arkansas, Little Rock

■ James Shaw, Dr. C. C. & Mabel L. Criss Library, 

University of Nebraska at Omaha

DLC member Hallie Pritchett, University of Georgia 

Libraries, assumed the role of Council Chair on June 

1, 2015. The following DLC members continued their 

terms in FY 2015.

■ Greta Bever, Chicago Public Library

■ Elizabeth Cowell, University Library, University of 

California, Santa Cruz

■ Kate Irwin-Smiler, Professional Library Center, Wake 

Forest University

■ Janet Fisher, State Library of Arizona

■ David Cismowski, California State Library

■ Daniel Cornwall, Alaska State Library

■ Rich Gause, University of Central Florida, John C. 

Hitt Library

■ Scott Matheson, Lillian Goldman Law Library, Yale 

University

■ Teri Taylor, New Jersey State Library 

Welcoming a New Library 

to the FDLP

In Aprils 2015, GPO welcomed DePaul University 

Library in Chicago, Illinois as a new digital Federal 

depository library. The university provides access to 

an online collection of thousands of Federal Government documents to share with the public, faculty, and 

students.

Promoting the FDLP

LSCM continues to promote the FDLP, Cataloging & 

Indexing Program, and their related resources through 

promotional campaigns and social media. In FY 2015, 

LSCM:

■ Created 128 posts related to the FDLP and C&I 

Program for GPO’s social media channels

■ Contracted with North American Precis Syndicate to 

launch a media campaign that generated over 2,600 
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news articles in all 50 states with a readership of 

almost 10,000,000

■ Made available two new tangible promotional items 

for free ordering by the FDLP community: a promotional note card that describes GPO online services, 

with QR codes to each one, and a new Ben’s Guide 

to the U.S. Government bookmark 

■ Revamped three promotional flyers available for free 

ordering and download by the FDLP community: 

FDLP, CGP, and FDsys 

■ Created the new FDLP Digital Marketing Toolkit, 

including new digital graphics, images, and an audio 

Public Service Announcement for free use by FDLP 

libraries 

Depository Library Spotlights

In each issue of the FDLP Connection newsletter, GPO 

highlights a Federal depository library and describes 

the unique services it offers. The feature also appears 

on gpo.gov. The following depositories were spotlighted in FY 2015:

■ Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State 

University, September/October 2014

■ Maureen & Mike Mansfield Library, University of 

Montana, November/December 2014

■ Houston Cole Library, Jacksonville State University, 

January/February 2015

■ Jefferson College Library, March/April 2015

■ W. Frank Steely Library, Northern Kentucky 

University, May/June 2015

■ Dimond Library, University of New Hampshire, July/

August 2015

FDLP Guidance

LSCM continues to review the Guidance articles available to libraries from FDLP.gov. Guidance contains 

advice for depository coordinators on how to comply 

with the FDLP regulations, and it is based on broad 

topics. Articles may reference multiple regulations. 

The following articles were updated in FY 2015: 

■ Federal Depository Library Directory and Library 

Addresses 

■ FDLP Quickstart Guide 

■ Leaving the FDLP 

■ Physical Facilities and Collection Maintenance 

■ Recall of Depository Material

■ Security of Library Users and Collections 

■ Services and Staffing at Depository Libraries 

(formerly named Depository Users and Service 

Expectations) 

■ Weeding a Depository Collection 

■ Official Communications of the FDLP

■ Free, Public Access

■ Bibliographic Control

■ Shipping Lists

Also in FY 2015, one new Guidance article was developed. 

■ All or Mostly Online Federal Depository Libraries 

has important information for all depository libraries 

to consider when they review their collections 

and services, as well as separate information 

configured to the various scenarios GPO is seeing 

in depositories. 

Guidance includes:

■ Reviewing the collection you currently provide access to (tangible and online formats)

■ Assessing the future demands for Government information and the appropriate formats to meet those 

needs

■ Steps to implement changes to the selection profile

■ For libraries considering joining the FDLP, an overview of considerations when selecting one or more 

formats

Public Access Assessments

Regular communication and consultation between individual depository libraries and GPO staff strengthen 

and benefit the FDLP. A Public Access Assessment 

(PAA) is a review by a GPO librarian of an individual 

Federal depository library’s operation and services; 

it is one of the significant ways that GPO communicates and shares informa¬tion with individual libraries in the FDLP. PAAs are intended to support each 

library through sharing of best practices, recognition 

of notable achievements, and recommen¬dations so 

the library may continue enhancing its operation and 

services. The assessment involves a review of library 

documentation and a conference call with depository 

library personnel.

GPO also performs PAAs, pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 

§19, to ensure that resources distributed to Federal 

de¬pository libraries are readily accessible to all library 

users, including the general public, and that libraries are complying with requirements and regulations 

outlined in Legal Requirements and Program Regula-
9

tions of the Federal Depository Library Program. If 

needed, GPO advises libraries on how to reach greater 

compliance and requests related follow-up action. 

Information about PAAs is available to depository 

library personnel in featured newsletter articles, a 

webcast, and an FDLP.gov guidance article. 

In FY 2015, 199 PAAs were conducted in 14 states:

■ Alabama

■ Florida

■ Idaho

■ Indiana

■ Iowa

■ Louisiana

■ Montana

■ New Hampshire

■ New York

■ Ohio

■ Pennsylvania

■ South Dakota

■ Tennessee

■ Wisconsin

FDLP Connection

The FDLP Connection newsletter links members of the 

FDLP community to stories of interest on GPO activities, the FDLP, and Federal agencies. The newsletter 

highlights the great activities, events, and accomplishments that impact the FDLP. 

FDLP Connection’s featured, recurring columns include:

■ From the Superintendent of Documents

■ Council Corner

■ Partnership Showcase

■ Depository Spotlight

■ Featured GPO Project

■ Get to Know GPO 

■ Marketing Tip of the Month

■ FDLP Guest

In FY 2015, LSCM released six issues of the FDLP 

Connection, which are all archived.

■ Volume 4: Issue 5, September/October 2014 – 

Collaborating, Connecting, and Networking

■ Volume 4: Issue 6, November/December 2014 – 

Big News and Happy Holidays

■ Volume 5: Issue 1, January/February 2015 – 

Winter Updates

■ Volume 5: Issue 2, March/April 2015 – Busy Spring 

Months at the U.S. Government Publishing Office

■ Volume 5: Issue 3, May/June 2015 – 

The Transformation Continues

■ Volume 5: Issue 4, July/August 2015 – The FDLP 

and GPO: Celebrating 120 Years Together! 

Library Services System

Started in FY 2015, LSCM’s technology plan is focused 

on deploying new technology to provide streamlined 

services to support the FDLP community, as well as 

enhanced access for the public. The goal is to create 

a new suite of services based on a user-centric design 

approach, deploy a flexible architecture, and develop 

a service model with the capability to integrate easily 

with other related services. 

One major component of the plan is a formal 

market research project studying Federal depository 

libraries’ workflows and practices to help GPO better understand current processes and challenges in 

Federal depository libraries. GPO has contracted with 

Ithaka S+R for a professional ethnography by Dr. 

Nancy Foster and her team to conduct an analysis of 

the work practices of a select number of Federal depository libraries in collaboration with GPO staff. The 

purpose is to build automated systems and services to 

help improve efficiencies of operations for depository 

libraries and GPO. This research will contribute to the 

development of future services for libraries and is part 

of our goal to be a customer-centric service provider 

for FDLP libraries. Activities for FY 2015 included the 

development of a Request for Proposals (RFP), evaluation of proposals, and contract award. A project team 

was also created and assisted with the development of 

a project timeline and the preparation of a presentation for the 2015 Depository Library Council Meeting & 

Federal Depository Library Conference. 

Needs and Offers Tool

The Needs and Offers (N&O) list is a tool used by 

depository librarians for collection development 

purposes. Libraries seeking to dispose of publications 

withdrawn from their collections may offer publications to other depositories, and libraries seeking publications missing from their depository collections may 

post lists which can be viewed by other depositories, 

using the N&O service. Depository libraries may offer their discards here, after gaining approval for the 

publication deaccession from their Regional library, 

in accordance with 44 U.S.C. § 1912 and the state or 

region’s depository publication weeding procedures.

LSCM is creating an updated Needs and Offers tool 

that consists of functionality required to manage key 

information used by Federal depository libraries for 
10

the disposition of materials. In FY 2015, LSCM awarded 

the contract for this new tool, which will be under 

development throughout FY 2016. 

Web Archiving 

The FDLP Web Archive is comprised of selected U.S. 

Government websites harvested and archived in their 

entirety by GPO in order to create working “snapshots” of the websites at various points in time. The 

aim is to provide permanent public access to Federal 

Agency web content. GPO harvests and archives the 

websites with Archive-It, a subscription-based web 

harvesting and archiving service offered by the Internet Archive.

In FY 2015, LSCM:

■ Developed and implemented a workflow to manage 

regular frequency of crawls of existing and future 

collections 

■ Began outreach to content creators, beginning 

with a meeting with the Director of Digital Collections and his team at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial 

Museum

■ Formed the Federal Web Archiving Working group 

with the National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress 

■ Performed outreach to add new agencies to the 

group, including National Library of Medicine, 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 

the Smithsonian Institution, and the Department 

of Education 

■ Increased the size of the harvested collection to 4.7 

TB with 35,810,719 documents crawled

■ Increased archived agency websites available on the 

FDLP Web Archive on Archive-It to 111 and 109 

records available through the CGP 

■ Archived over 8,000 individual title PURLs to the 

FDLP electronic collection

■ Added contractual staff support to increase web 

archiving content 

There is an extensive project page on FDLP.gov, 

which provides more information and FAQs on the 

Web Archiving program. GPO also encourages you to 

submit nominations for Web archiving to LSCM’s Web 

Archiving team. 

FDLP Web Services

FDLP Web Services include website maintenance, plus 

functionality and content enhancement for FDLP.gov, 

Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government, and the Digitization Projects Registry. Notably in FY 2015, LSCM implemented enhanced security safeguards for all three 

sites to help prevent any security breach. In addition, 

analytics were placed on the sites to gather statistical 

data that can be used to pinpoint where adjustments 

and updates need to be made.

FDLP.gov

FDLP.gov was continuously enhanced throughout 

FY 2015. The LSCM Web Content Team made daily 

updates to content, graphics, forms, and homepage features. In addition, 210 FDLP News and Event 

Alerts were disseminated to subscribing FDLP libraries 

throughout FY 2015. 

Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government 

In April 2015, GPO launched the brand new Ben’s 

Guide to the U.S. Government website. New features 

include all new site content, a modernized look and 

feel, new images, a reorganized layout for a more 

intuitive user experience, and interactive games. 

After the site launch, GPO asked for feedback and 

received numerous suggestions from both the FDLP 

community and educators around the country. In 

response to those suggestions, GPO added some new 

enhancements to Ben in November 2015.

■ A glossary that includes over 80 terms and definitions

■ Downloadable, printable activities that include 

Word Searches and Crossword Puzzles for each 

age range

■ A downloadable graphic that can be used on library 

websites to link to Ben’s Guide

■ New content for all age ranges that highlights the 

powers of the Federal vs state governments 

Digitization Projects Registry

In July 2015, the Digitization Projects Registry was 

enhanced, updated, and re-launched. Designed to 

capture an inventory of digitization projects undertaken by libraries, U.S. Government agencies, and 

non-profit institutions, the goal of the Registry is to 

increase access to historical U.S. Government publications that were previously only available in print 

format. 
11

GPO Participation & 

Collaboration in Outside 

Groups

In FY 2015, LSCM staff participated in and collaborated with a number of groups in support of the FDLP 

and Cataloging & Indexing Program:

■ American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)

■ American Library Association (ALA)

■ CENDI and CENDI Policy Working Group (CENDI 

is an interagency working group of senior scientific 

and technical information managers representing 

14 U.S. Federal agencies)

■ CENDI Digitization Specifications Working Group 

■ Coalition for Networked Information (CNI)

■ Ex Libris Users of North America 

■ Federal Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative 

(FADGI) Preservation Working Group

■ FADGI Audio-Visual Working Group 

■ FADGI Still Image Digitization Working Group 

■ FADGI Still Image File Format Working Group 

■ Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) 

American Indian Libraries Initiative

■ FEDLINK Digital Preservation Interest Group

■ FEDLINK Preservation Interest Group

■ Federal Web Archiving Working Group (National 

Archives & Records Administration, Library of Congress, & GPO) 

■ Government Documents Round Table (GODORT), 

American Library Association

■ International Conference on Digital Preservation 

(iPres)

■ International Internet Preservation Consortium (IIPC)

■ Maps and Geospatial Information Round Table 

(MAGIRT)

■ National Digital Stewardship Alliance

■ National Digital Strategy Advisory Board 

■ OCLC

■ Preservation Administrator’s Interest Group, American Library Association 

■ Preservation and Reformatting Section (PARS), 

American Library Association

■ Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) (Library 

of Congress) 

■ Public Library Association (PLA)

■ Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)

■ Science.gov Alliance

■ Society of American Archivists (SAA) 

■ Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T)

■ Special Libraries Association (SLA) 

FDLP Outreach: Events, Conferences, Training, 

and the FDLP Academy 

Date Events Hosted or Attended by GPO Location

November 2014 FedTalks Washington, DC

November 2014 Collaboration Meeting with the Office of Minority Health Hyattsville, MD

November 2014 Archive-It Partner Meeting Montgomery, AL

November 2014 House Subscriptions and News Research Fair Washington, DC

December 2014 Coalition for Networked Information’s Annual Meeting Washington, DC

December 2014 Fedlink American Indian Library Initiative Working Group Meeting Washington, DC

January 2015 Visit to the University of Nebraska Lincoln Lincoln, NE

January 2015 Visit to the Washington, D.C. Public Library Washington, DC

January 2015 American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting Chicago, IL

April 2015 Computers in Libraries Annual Conference Washington, DC

April 2015 Federal IT and Security Conference Arlington, VA

May 2015 Imaging Science and Technology’s Archiving 2015 Conference Los Angeles, CA

May 2015 FEDLINK Spring Expo, Library of Congress Washington, DC

May 2015 Indiana State Library Government Information Day Indianapolis, IN

May 2015 Program for Cooperative Cataloging Meeting at the Library of Congress Washington, DC

May 2015 2015 Open Access Symposium Dallas, TX

May 2015 ISACA’s National Capital Area Chapter Annual Meeting Arlington, VA

continued next page
12

Date Events Hosted or Attended by GPO Location

May 2015 North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG) Conference Washington, DC

May 2015 Tribal College Librarians’ Institute Bozeman, MT

May 2015 Training Class for Department of the Interior Library Staff on Washington, DC

GPO’s Federal Digital System

June 2015 Citizen Engagement Seminar Washington, DC

June 2015 American Library Association’s Annual Conference & Exhibition San Francisco, CA

June 2015 Preserving America’s Print Resources Summit Berkeley, CA

June 2015 Visit to the University of California Berkeley Berkeley, CA

June 2015 Visit to Oakland Public Library Oakland, CA

July 2015 American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting & Conference Philadelphia, PA

July 2015 Meeting of Virginia’s Federal Depository Libraries Richmond, VA

September 2015 National Institute of Standards and Technology’s 2015 Cybersecurity Washington, DC

and Innovation Forum

September 2015 Association of Tribal Archives Libraries and Museums Conference Washington, DC

September 2015 Visit to Denver Public Library Denver, CO

September 2015 Regis University’s 100th Anniversary Celebration Denver, CO

September 2015 Visit to the University of Denver Denver, CO

Date Virtual Events Presented or Hosted by GPO 

October 2014 Historical Indian Publications by the United States Government

October 2014 Census Information Centers and State Data Centers

October 2014 Weeding Your Depository Collection

October 2014 Federal Legislative History 101

October 2014 Mapping Census Data with GIS: Tips and Tricks

October 2014 Needles in the Haystack of History: How to Use the WPA Historical Records Survey

October 2014 eBooks at GPO: The Why, What, and How

October 2014 Stocking the Pond: Finding, Gathering, Growing, and Maintaining a Digital Collection

November 2014 Transforming Government Data 

November 2014 Using Census Bureau Demographic and Economic Data in a Business Plan

November 2014 How to Find Standards: Tips and Tricks

November 2014 GRANTS.gov: Register, Find, and Apply

November 2014 Interactive Teaching Strategies for Sharing Government Information Resources

November 2014 Soil Surveys for Architecture Students

November 2014 Moving to a Mostly or All Online Depository

November 2014 Joining the FDLP as an All Online Depository

November 2014 Discovering a Gold Mine of U.S. Government Information: Exploring the HathiTrust Catalog & Its Rich Veins

December 2014 U.S. Census Bureau Geographic Entities and Concepts

December 2014 Depository Library Council Virtual Meeting: Focusing on Service

January 2015 Onward and Upward: Enhancing Training Tools and Resources for the FDLP Community

January 2015 Name Authority Records: Corporate Bodies (Part 1)

January 2015 HHS Office of Minority Health Resource Center: Documents, Data, and eResources

January 2015 Conducting a Community Needs Assessment 

January 2015 Fighting Ebola and Infectious Diseases with Information: Resources & Search Skills Can Arm Librarians

January 2015 An Orientation to Congress.gov

January 2015 Advanced Name Authority Records: Corporate Bodies (Part 2)

February 2015 USA Trade Online and the FDLP

February 2015 Engaging Humanities Students with Government Information

February 2015 Buying Stuff: Comparing Personal Consumption Expenditures Data from the BLS and BEA
13

February 2015 Navigating GPO’s Federal Digital System

February 2015 A Century of Black Life, History, & Culture: Stories from GPO (Parts 1 and 2) 

March 2015 Publishing Partnerships: Federal Depository Library Program Requirements & Opportunities for Cooperation

March 2015 History of the U.S. Census

March 2015 Iowa Poster Project at the GPO

March 2015 GPO Partnership Projects: Expanding Access to Government Resources

March 2015 Women in the Workforce: GPO’s Women’s History Month 2015

March 2015 Government Information Online: A Digital Government Information Reference Tool that Blends 

Librarian Expertise, Discovery, and Reference/Referral

March 2015 Overview of IPUMS (Integrated Public Use Microdata Series) Data Projects

March 2015 Planning Your Federal Depository Library Celebration 

March 2015 Introduction to GPO’s Federal Digital System

March 2015 Advanced Navigation in GPO’s Federal Digital System

March 2015 Crossroads: Research at the Intersection of State and Federal Law

March 2015 What Every Government Documents Librarian Needs to Know about the SuDocs Classification System

April 2015 FDLP Coordinator Certificate Program Pilot (weekly sessions)

April 2015 Chat with GPO: All about Public Access Assessments

April 2015 U.S. Congressional Serial Set

April 2015 Getting to Grad Students: Government Documents in the LIS Curriculum

April 2015 Tips and Tricks in GPO’s Federal Digital System

April 2015 Financial Education Resources for Library Staff

April 2015 Introducing the American Housing Survey

April 2015 Creating Online Federal Depository Collections: Case Studies 

April 2015 Depository Library Council Virtual Meeting: Navigating through Change

May 2015 FDLP Coordinator Certificate Program Pilot (weekly sessions)

May 2015 Cybersecurity: A Shared Responsibility with Infinite Opportunities

May 2015 Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government

May 2015 Using Metadata to Navigate GPO’s Federal Digital System

May 2015 Occupational Employment Statistics: Online Data about Occupations from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

May 2015 Cataloging Serials and Integrating Resources in Government Publications with RDA

May 2015 Looking at Geographic Equivalencies Using MABLE

May 2015 OHIO GODORT Meeting 

June 2015 Promoting the Depository Collection While Supporting Research Trips to the National Archives 

June 2015 SuDocs Classification System: An Overview

June 2015 FDLP Coordinator Certificate Program

June 2015 Telling Your Story with Data

June 2015 Local Employment Dynamics

July 2015 SHA in Action: An Overview of a Selective Housing Agreement 

July 2015 All Hands on Deck: Publishing the Congressional Record

July 2015 SHA in Action: Maintaining a Selective Housing Agreement for USGS Topo Maps: 

A Long-Standing, Win-Win Partnership

July 2015 Electronic Location and Access in GPO’s Bibliographic Records: Solving the Mysteries of the 856 MARC Fields

July 2015 SHA in Action: CONSORT and Case Western Reserve

July 2015 Introduction to GPO’s Federal Digital System

July 2015 Advanced Navigation in GPO’s Federal Digital System

July 2015 SHA in Action: Experiences of a Regional Depository Library

July 2015 Metadata Differences in the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications and OCLC: 

An Examination of GPO Practice

July 2015 StatsAmerica: A Portal to Apps and Rich Data Tools for Economic and Community Development

August 2015 No More Proquest Congressional!&$%#@ So What?
14

CATALOGING & INDEXING PROGRAM (C&I)

National Bibliographic Records 

Inventory Initiative

The identification and creation of online bibliographic 

catalog records for new U.S. Federal Government 

publications, in all published formats, is accomplished 

through daily operations. A separate retrospective effort is necessary to build online bibliographic records 

for historical and fugitive (uncataloged but relevant) 

materials. This is the effort known as the National 

Bibliographic Records Inventory Initiative (NBRII). 

The NBRII endeavors to provide an online bibliographic record or serial holding record for historical records not currently captured in the CGP. These 

records include: 

■ Fugitive materials, with a focus on publications issued prior to 1976;

■ Older publications where bibliographic records exist 

only in a non-electronically available resource, i.e., 

catalog card, or other paper bibliographic record, 

such as the Monthly Catalog; and 

■ Materials that were previously cataloged with such 

minimal information that they require critical record 

enhancement to reach a full-level bibliographic 

record. 

In support of this initiative, in FY 2015, LSCM: 

■ Created 445 bibliographic records for publications 

from the U.S. Forest Service (University of Montana 

partnership)

■ Added 751 records for print USGS Bulletins to the 

CGP (University of Colorado, Boulder partnership)

■ Added 741 records for electronic USGS Bulletins 

to the CGP (Colorado School of Mines partnership)

■ Added 200 records for materials related to the 

Panama Canal to the CGP (University of Florida 

partnership)

■ Added 1,450 records of digitized U.S. Government 

posters to the CGP (University of Iowa Libraries 

partnership)

■ Continued cataloging materials from five collections 

of historic materials, including: Statutes at Large, 

United States Reports, Register of Debates in Congress, Congressional Globe, and The Debates and 

Proceedings of in the Congress of the United States 

(University of North Texas partnership)

■ Completed 68 drawers of the Historic Shelflist, exceeding our goal for the fiscal year, and transcribed 

7,677 shelflist titles, added one authorized Library of 

Congress Subject Heading and one corporate name 

authority to 11,907 existing shelflist records, and 

checked-in almost 18,000 serial issues 

■ Cataloged recently digitized versions of titles available through FRASER (FRASER partnership)

GPO in Top 10 of Original 

Catalogers in the World

GPO was once again named one of the top 10 online 

original catalogers in the world in OCLC’s Annual 

Report for FY 2015. During that period, GPO added 

11,036 new, original records for U.S. Government 

information products to WorldCat, which is the world’s 

largest network of library content and services. 

A founding member of the OCLC network in 1976, 

GPO has reached several important milestones as an 

active contributor to WorldCat through the years. In 

1992, a GPO Cataloger contributed the 100,000th record to the OCLC Bibliographic Database, and in 1999, 

a GPO cataloger contributed the 43,000,000th record. 

Under the requirements of sections 1710 and 1711 of Title 44, U.S.C., GPO is charged with cataloging a 

comprehensive index of public documents issued or published by the Federal Government that are not 

confidential in character. The goals of the Cataloging and Indexing Program are to:

■ Develop a comprehensive and authoritative national bibliography of U.S. Government publications 

■ Increase the visibility and use of Government information products

■ Create a premier destination for information searchers

This undertaking serves libraries and the public nationwide and enables people to locate desired 

Government publications in all formats. The main public interface for the access of cataloging records is the 

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.
15

Catalog of U.S. Government 

Publications

In FY 2015, there were 23,640,306 successful searches 

of the CGP. Over 19,074 new bibliographic records 

were added to the CGP, of which 17,140 were full 

bibliographic records containing 9,912 PURLs (Persistent URLs). Approximately 460 new Serials titles were 

added to the CGP, of which 277 contained PURLs. 

Over 100 FDLP Web Archive titles and 200 free Federal Government eBooks, from various agencies, were 

also available in the CGP, with more being added 

continuously. 

Also in FY 2015, service maintenance and 

functionality enhancements were made to the CGP and 

its related services. LSCM: 

■ Completed Authority Control work, which improved 

results for authority-related content 

■ Developed New Dynamic Searches for the CGP’s 

New Titles pages 

■ Configured new MetaLib resources and a new 

Quickset

■ Redeveloped the New Titles Report Generator 

Resource Description and 

Access (RDA) 

GPO successfully completed implementation of RDA 

in April 2013 and now catalogs new bibliographic and 

authority records according to the RDA standard. 

In FY 2015, GPO continued to monitor and apply new and updated practices in RDA, its Library of 

Congress Program for Cooperative Cataloging Policy 

Statements, and other documentation of the Program 

for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC). In addition, Library 

Technical Services continued to review, evaluate, update, and develop local practices and procedures. 

As a result, nine new GPO Cataloging Guidelines 

were published on September 2, 2015. The full complement of remaining bibliographic GPO Cataloging 

Guidelines will be published in FY 2016. Finally, in 

FY 2015, Library Technical Services trained new staff 

in RDA practices, offered refresher training to existing 

staff, provided personal training and improved staff 

performance through ongoing quality assurance, and 

presented eight technical services webcasts and 

webinars to the public. 

Classification Guidelines 

Revision Project

After the successful implementation of Resource LSCM 

uses the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) classification scheme to classify U.S. Government publications in both tangible and electronic formats. As the 

authority for SuDocs classification, it is essential that 

classification rules be consistently applied. The GPO 

Classification Manual, the established reference tool 

for classifiers of U.S. Government publications, was 

published in 1993 in tangible format. Many policy 

changes have occurred since its publication. The lack 

of a centralized, updated source for guidance poses 

challenges in implementing consistent and correct 

classification decisions.

In FY 2015, GPO began planning a project to update the 1993 GPO Classification Manual and to have 

the most current SuDocs classification instructions in 

one place that are: 

■ Available to the FDLP community and LSCM staff

■ In a format that is accessible online

■ Easily updated with necessary changes, corrections, 

and enhancements

The scope of this project will include a comprehensive review of:

■ Past and current classification policies and 

practices, including the 1993 GPO Classification 

Manual

■ Policy changes made by past and present 

supervisors

■ Other updates to classification policy that have 

occurred over the years

The project was initiated in the fall of 2015 and is 

projected to last two years. Updates will be posted to 

FDLP.gov as this project progresses. 

Cataloging Guidelines

GPO continues to draft updates for the GPO 

Cataloging Guidelines, which codify GPO practices 

and procedures for cataloging Federal Government 

publications. The effort to revise the Guidelines is a 

multi-year project. 

The following Cataloging Guidelines articles were 

made available in September 2015: 
16

As authorized by Section 1719 of Title 44, U.S.C., and 

pursuant to an international treaty establishing the 

exchange of official publications, GPO distributes tangible Government publications to foreign governments 

in an exchange program managed by the Library of 

Congress (LC). Those foreign governments agree to 

send to the United States similar publications of their 

governments for LC collections. The following statistics 

reflect IES activity for FY 2015. 

Distributed IES Publications: 

■ Full Sets: 100,024

■ Congressional Record: 4,846

■ Federal Register: 7,019

■ Serial Set (Paper): 310

■ Total Boxes Shipped: 1,668

LSCM administers the distribution of certain tangible 

publications as specified by Public Law. Under various provisions of Title 44, U.S.C., GPO is required 

to provide copies of publications to certain Federal 

agencies and others as directed by Congress. Two or 

more copies of every publication printed are provided 

to the Library of Congress, even if those publications 

are not distributed to Federal depository libraries. In 

addition, NARA receives up to three copies of every 

publication GPO prints. On behalf of the Department 

of State, LSCM distributes copies of publications to foreign legions. LSCM maintains mailing lists for By-Law 

distribution of specific publications.

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: 074 GPO Item Number 

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: 086 SuDoc Number 

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: Congressional Material 

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: Public and Private Laws 

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: Treaties 

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: Audiovisual Resources 

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: Computer Files 

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: Serials 

■ Bibliographic Cataloging: Integrating Resources 

Cataloging Record 

Distribution Program

The Cataloging Record Distribution Program (CRDP) 

continued in FY 2015 through a contract with MARCIVE, Inc. Through this program, in FY 2015, 107 

libraries received free bibliographic records that correspond to their item number selection profile.

For more information on the program, how to join, 

participation requirements, and more, visit the CRDP 

page on FDLP.gov.

List of Classes Update Project

As digital publishing has taken center stage at GPO, 

maintaining an up-to-date List of Classes publication 

has become a foremost concern to ensure that the 

FDLP community is provided with SuDoc classification 

and Depository item number information, in print and 

electronic form, that is valid, reliable, and accurate. 

To that end, in FY 2015, GPO staff members began to 

update the List of Classes database information. The 

List of Classes Update Project also instituted a process 

by which all active SuDoc class stems are checked on 

a routine schedule for validity. A parallel project is 

also verifying that serials in the List of Classes are still 

actively being published. 

Deactivated depository item numbers are automatically removed from library DSIMS profiles. As changes 

are identified, depository library staff will see an increase in the number of WEBTech Notes published. 

List of Classes data files that are regularly updated 

(on the 1st and 15th of every month) can be downloaded from the FDLP’s List of Classes Data Files 

page.

INTERNATIONAL 

EXCHANGE SERVICE 

BY-LAW PROGRAM
17

3. Visit FDLP.gov for any information you need 

related to the administration and management of your depository library.

4. Follow GPO on social media, and send us 

news and updates from your library. Your 

library could be featured by GPO.

■ Facebook

■ Twitter

■ Instagram

■ YouTube

■ Pinterest

■ LinkedIn

■ Government Book Talk Blog

Everyone at GPO sincerely thanks the FDLP community for their continued support and stellar service to 

the public in FY 2015 and beyond. 

METRICS

The following statistics reflect notable LSCM metrics 

for FY 2015. 

■ New titles acquired (online and tangible): 9,192

■ Number of serial issues checked-in: 39,882

■ Searches of the CGP: 23,640,306

■ Total titles cataloged: 19,074

■ Total PURLs created: 8,583

■ Total titles distributed : 5,920

■ Total copies distributed: 1,072,919

■ Number of Federal depository libraries: 1,159

■ Total titles available through GPO: 1,531,184

■ Number of askGPO inquiries resolved: 5,875

As we continue the strong partnership between GPO 

and FDLP libraries, communication remains integral 

to our collaborative success. There are several mechanisms by which FDLP libraries can contact GPO:

1. Reach GPO staff members on any topic 

related to GPO, the FDLP, and FDsys using 

askGPO.

2. Contact LSCM’s Office of Outreach and 

Support with any questions related to 

depository operations, guidance, legal 

requirements, and more.

There are a number of mechanisms by which GPO 

disseminates information that is relevant to the FDLP 

community. 

1. Subscribe to receive FDLP News and Events 

alerts in your email inbox. These are 

important announcements that all FDLP 

libraries should be receiving. 

2. Subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter 

for project updates and news and information 

about the FDLP and U.S. Government 

information. 

CLOSING
Federal Government information is made available 

for free public use in Federal depository libraries 

throughout the U.S. in approximately 1,200 locations.

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

732 North Capitol Street, NW

Washington, DC 20401-0001

Keeping America Informed | OFFICIAL | DIGITAL | SECURE

www.gpo.gov | facebook.com/USGPO | twitter.com/usgpo