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liqhiights

U.S. Government

Printing Office

October 1975

Number 12 GP 3.27:12

Assistant Public Printer

(Superintendent of Documents)

Regional Libraries

Needed

Every State needs at least one re- gional depository library. Here will be

found on microform and/or in print

every available depository item currently produced by the United States Government. The regional depository

library provides the possibility for centralizing as complete a collection as is possible within a State.

It also provides the machinery

jl^nder existing Federal Law for re- ^aping the documents collections of ^depository libraries within the State. Runs of documents no longer relevant

to the needs of today's library patrons can be listed for the regional depository library. Selection may then be

made to assure completeness of holdings, and the lists circulated to

aid in rounding out other collections.

The regional library can then authorize disposal of unneeded documents.

To date, some 36 States have taken

advantage of the opportunity to es- tablish regional depository libraries. Indeed, each State is entitled under

law to two regional depositories and 6

States have availed themselves of this

provision.

Presently, there are 21 university

libraries serving as regional depositories, 13 State libraries, 4 public li- braries, and 2 State library commissions. The universities have been es- pecially alert to the excellent research

possibilities afforded to a library un- Ytaking the responsibility of being ^ regional depository.

In New England, 3 States have a

tri-partite arrangement with the University of Maine at Orono which serves

as the regional depository for New

Hampshire and Vermont.

How difficult is the task of being a regional depository? A few years ago, the University of Colorado Libraries

at Boulder answered the question this way: "The regional depository system

works very well, without overloading

the designated library. It involves only

a small increase in the number of documents received, very little reference or interlibrary loan. The biggest

problem has been assisting the other

libraries to dispose of their unwanted

documents. Even this is a very small

problem, if the donor library will submit its list in a format suitable for Xeroxing. We then act as a liaison with

the receiving library, serving first the

region, then out-of-state depositories

developing collections."

Continued on page 2

1
r

Questions and Answers Two Ways of Establishing

Regional Depositories

Q. What does a library do having lost the 10 new style claim forms you

sent this spring?

A. Just write us for 10 more. For each

claim you make, two additional

forms will be mailed to you. Our

address is: Library Division, Li- brary and Statutory Distribution

Service, U.S. Government Printing

Office, Washington, D.C. 20401.

Q. When will we see another five year

index to the Monthly Catalog?

A. The 1961-1965 five year index is presently in the hands of a private contractor. Hopefully, it will be

ready by the end of this year.

Q. Is there a master list or subject

index of Department of Agriculture

Bulletins?

A. No, says a spokesperson for the

National Agricultural Library, unless some depository library has

produced one. But if you need a bibliography on windmills or hydraulic rams, drop a line to: Refer- ence Division, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, Maryland

20705. They will be glad to do a search for you.

Under present law, one or two depository libraries within a State may

be designated as regional depositories. Such designation must be ap- proved by the State Librarian and is made by a Senator. A depository li- brary must be capable of the regional

duties, including service to the other

depository libraries in the State. A second method, seldom used, can be accomplished. A regional de- pository of a neighboring State may

be designated to serve neighboring

states (as Maine now serves New

Hampshire and Vermont). This can

be done on recommendation of the

State Librarians involved, and

through the offices of a Senator of each State. .

^ ( Continued from page 1 Surprisingly, 12 States have yet to take advantage of their opportunity

to establish a regional library. They

are: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware,

Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Mississippi,

Missouri, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee.

Hopefully, their State library associations and existing depository libraries

will encourage them to take this necessary step towards better service

for all.

One library uses a small rubl stamp which reads:

"Jennie Cross says:

DOCUMENTS ARE FUN

Take One Home Today"

2
1

A. Students find it

a pleasure to work

with Government publications in the

excellently lighted library of the University of Maryland's Baltimore

County campus.

B. Attractive display of Government

Documents greets visitors entering

the Julia Rogers Library of Goucher

College in Towson, Maryland.

C. Kardex control of Depository Docu- ments is being effectively employed

by the library of the University of Maryland's Baltimore County campus.

D. Government publications are an in- tegral part of the State Department's

Law Library in Washington, D.C.
c

New

Telephone Numbers

Dear Documents Librarians:

If you have any experiences or sug- gestions to share with other depository libraries, send them along for publication in Public Documents

Highlights. Keep the questions coming, too. We'll do our best to get the answers.

Editor

Public Documents Highlights

Library and Statutory

Distribution Service

U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20401

For questions on depository shipping lists and claims, "Monthly Cata- log" entries, classification numbers,

and related subjects, you can call Mrs. Mae Collins at (703) 557-

2145, or Mr. Norman Barbee at (703)

557-2146.

For placing sales orders, call (202) 783-3238. If you are having

problems with a sales order, ask for customer assistance at (202) 275-

3050.

For microform questions, call Mr.

L. R. Gulick at (703) 557-2025.

Correction

Publications: Automatic Distribution

On page 2 of the August issue of Highlights, the item number of the

Daily Statement of Treasury should

read 923-A-2; and the item number

of the Internal Revenue Bulletin

should read 957.

Public Documents Highlights is circulated bi-monthly by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. 20402, and is mailed at

first class postage rates. Public Documents Highlights is intended primarily for librarians of the Federal

Depository Library Program. Material

proposed for circulation may be

submitted to the Editor, Public Documents Highlights, Library and Statutory Distribution Service, Government

Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20401. The Superintendent of Do^

ments, however, retains the right

accept such material, to edit it, and

to assign priorities of circulation.

fr U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1975—0-2 10-569 #2940

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GPO 896-306