Administrative Notes

Newsletter of the Federal Depository Library Program

Vol. 23, no. 09 GP 3.16/3-2:23/ 09 July 15, 2002

HIGHLIGHTS

Announcement Service 1

Serial Set 2

Emergency 

Response

Special

Collection 2

Promotional 

Campaign 2

Fall 2002

Conference &

Council

Meeting 3

ALA Speech:

Buckley 9

ALA Speech:

HaunMohamed 13

GPO Access 

Update 16

Readers

Exchange:

Access 19

FDLP Announcement Service 

Inaugurated

LPS has inaugurated the FDLP Announcement Service to provide 

depository libraries with time-sensitive information relating to the Federal 

Depository Library Program. Through this free email service, LPS will 

provide depository libraries with timely announcements relating to the 

program, including but not limited to notices on:

ÿ New issues of Administrative Notes and its Technical Supplement 

posted to the FDLP Desktop;

ÿ Meetings (Depository Library Council, Federal Depository Library 

Conference, Interagency Seminar);

ÿ Superintendent of Documents requests for withdrawal of 

documents;

ÿ Operational matters, e.g., Item Selection Update Cycle, problems 

with shipping lists.

The announcements will contain brief text, and, when applicable, URLs 

linking to full texts on GPO Access.

To subscribe, go to <http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/>. Click on <Online 

Mailing List Archives>. Click on <GPO-FDLP-L>. Click on <Join or 

leave the list> and follow the instructions.

Those who sign on will automatically receive the FDLP email 

announcements. Initially, LPS will continue to post the same 

announcements to discussion lists such as GOVDOC-L and DocTech-L, 

but ultimately the FDLP Announcement Service will be the sole online 

source for these notices. LPS strongly encourages all depository libraries 

to subscribe to the service.

The FDLP Announcement Service is not a discussion list, as only list 

owners may post messages. Any comments or questions should be sent to 

<askLPS@gpo.gov>.
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

2

Hand Correction Needed on Serial Set Volume

The “Contents Page” for Serial Number 

14601 contains an error. The entry for House 

Report 106-321 should have “2 pts.” 

following the entry instead of “pt. 1.”

We suggest that your library make this 

correction on your “Contents Page” in 

permanent black ink.

Emergency Response Publications Featured as 

Special Collection

Emergency Response Publications is a new 

Special Collection featured on the U.S. 

Government Online Bookstore. Emergency 

Response Publications includes titles that 

focus on managing and responding to 

emergency situations such as: First Response, 

Travel Emergencies, Medical Emergencies, 

and Emergency Guidelines and Training. 

While customers are able to order the 

publications directly from the Online 

Bookstore page, some titles require approval 

from the publishing agency before ordering.

You can view this collection of Emergency 

Response titles at <http://bookstore.gpo.

gov/eresponse.html>, or at the homepage of 

the Online Bookstore under “Browse Special 

Collection”.

GPO Launches Promotional Campaign for 

Depository Program

“Make the Connection at a Federal Depository Library”

The Library Programs Service (LPS) is 

working with GPO’s Office of Program 

Awareness and the Electronic Information 

Dissemination Service to develop a new 

marketing campaign to promote the Federal 

Depository Library Program (FDLP). This 

effort was first announced at the Spring 2002 

Depository Library Council meeting in 

Mobile, Alabama, when a draft promotion 

plan was shared with the depository 

community. The plan is now finalized. 

“Make the Connection at a Federal 

Depository Library” is the theme for the 

campaign, which depicts online access, 

publications and service.

Depository librarians will soon see the first 

products of the campaign. Posters and 

bookmarks are now being printed. LPS will 

distribute one copy to all depository libraries 

under item 0556-C as soon as they are 

available. Distribution is projected for late 

August or early September. Additional 

copies of the poster or packages of 50 

bookmarks will be sent upon request. Orders 

may be submitted to Michelle Overstreet at 

<moverstreet@gpo.gov>.

In addition to creating new promotional 

materials, LPS has purchased the services of 
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

3

the North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS) 

who will provide information about the FDLP 

to daily and weekly newspapers and radio 

stations across the country. One and twocolumn filler pieces and a radio spot were 

developed for distribution to these media 

outlets. LPS will monitor usage through 

regular reports provided by NAPS showing 

the circulation and major market area for the 

pieces.

More products, including a CD with public 

service announcements to help you promote 

your services and collections, are under 

development. LPS will inform you as they 

become available. To see the FDLP 

Promotion Plan or for more information on 

marketing and promotion visit the 

"Promotion" Web page on the FDLP Desktop 

at <http://www.access.gpo.gov/

su_docs/fdlp/pr/index.html>. Any questions 

may be directed to Cynthia Etkin at 

<cetkin@gpo.gov>.

Graphic to be used in the FDLP marketing campaign
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

4

2002 Federal Depository Library Conference 

and Fall Depository Library Council Meeting 

Planned for October

The 2002 Federal Depository Library 

Conference and Fall Depository Library 

Council meeting will be held October 20 

through October 23, 2002, in Arlington, VA. 

The Conference is the largest gathering in the 

country designed specifically for depository 

library staff. It will have programs for the 

beginning depository librarian or technician 

as well as for experienced staff. Federal

publishing agency representatives will 

discuss their electronic information initiatives 

and preview those still in the planning stages.

The meeting hotel is the Holiday Inn Rosslyn 

at Key Bridge, 1900 North Fort Myer Drive, 

Arlington, Virginia 22209. A limited number 

of rooms are available at the $150 (plus tax) 

Government rate, per night. This rate will 

be honored only through September 20, 

2002.

You can make reservations by calling 1-800-

368-3408 or the hotel directly at 703-807-

2000 and mention Code: DLC.

REGISTER ONLINE AT

 http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/tools/02conreg.html

 OR

REGISTRATION FORM

FALL DEPOSITORY LIBRARY COUNCIL MEETING

& FEDERAL DEPOSITORY LIBRARY CONFERENCE

Arlington, VA - October 20-23, 2002

E-Mail or FAX (NOT Mail) to:

Ms. Robin Haun-Mohamed

Library Programs Service (SLLD)

U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, DC 20401

Fax: (202) 512-1432

Email: rhaun-mohamed@gpo.gov

Name

Institution

Library/Office

Address

City/State/Zip Code

Telephone (include area code) Fax

E-mail Address

GPO will seek to make accommodations for attendees with disabilities. Please specify needs when returning this 

registration. Further, if you have a medical condition, you may want to list someone to contact in case of an 

emergency.

Special Needs

Emergency Contact Name/Phone
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

5

Preliminary Agenda

Federal Depository Library Conference 

&

Depository Library Council Meeting

Fall 2002

Sunday, October 20

Morning

8:30 Regional Meeting

• John Phillips, Oklahoma State University

• Robin Haun-Mohamed, Library Programs Service

10:00 Break

10:20 Regional Meeting

12:00 Lunch

Afternoon

1:30 Regional Meeting

3:00 Adjourn

4:00-5:00 Orientation for first-time attendees

• Cathy Hartman, Council Chair

• Robin Haun-Mohamed, Library Programs Service

Evening

7:00-9:00 Depository Library Council Working Session

Monday, October 21

Morning

8:30 Plenary Session

Welcome and Remarks

• Chief, Depository Services, LPS

• Council Chair

• Public Printer

10:00 Break

10:30 Plenary Session

11:30 GPO Question & Answer Session

12:00 Lunch
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

6

Afternoon

2:00 Orientation for New Documents Librarians

• Thomas A. Downing, Chief, Cataloging Branch, Library Programs Service

• Laurie Hall, Supervisory Program Analyst, LPS

• Betty Jones, Chief, Depository Administration Branch, LPS

• James Mauldin, Chief, Depository Distribution Division, LPS

2:00 GPO Access Open Forum

• T.C. Evans, Electronic Information Dissemination Service

2:00 Agency Update:

Hazardmaps.gov

Science.gov

2:00 Tour: U.S. Senate Library

2:00 Tour: National Air & Space Museum Library

2:00 Tour: Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology

3:15 Break

3:30 Cataloging Issues: Online Resources

• Thomas A. Downing, Library Programs Service

• Jim Noel, MARCIVE, Inc.

3:30 Depository Reference without Walls or Parking

• Linda Johnson, University of New Hampshire

3:30 Agency Update:

STAT-USA

• Cheryl Brumm

Census

National Agriculture Statistics Service

5:00 Adjourn

Tuesday, October 22

Morning

8:30 Public Promotion: Outreach Efforts

• Earl Shumaker

How to Talk With the Media

8:30 Law Resources in the FDLP: Perspectives of Depository Operations in a Law Library 

and a General Academic Library

8:30 Agency Update:

Internal Revenue Service

Patent and Trademark Office

Social Security Administration

10:00 Break

10:30 Pursuing the Past: Geneology Resources in Depository Libraries:

• Carole Callard, Library of Michigan

• Gay Carter, University of Houston—Clear Lake
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

7

10:30 CD-ROM Options—Not Dead Yet!

• Amy West, University of Minnesota

• Colleen Parmer, Bowling Green State University

• Karen Nordgren, Emporia State University

10:30 Office of the Federal Register

• Kevin Green

Business Law—Small Business Administration

• Patricia Cavanaugh

10:30 Tour: Library Programs Service

12:00 Lunch

Afternoon

2:00 U.S. Congressional Serial Set and History:

The Serial Set, PBS and the Making of a Documentary

• John Graham, Public Library of Cincinnati

Publishing of the Serial Set

• Aimee Quinn, University of Illinois, Chicago

2:00 E-Competencies and Development of Standards:

New Jersey Library Association

• Janie L. Hassard Hermann, Princeton Public Library

American Association of Law Libraries

• Tim Coggins, University of Richmond

ALA-GODORT

2:00 TBA

2:00 Tour: U.S. Senate Library

2:00 Tour: Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology

2:00 Tour: Department of Justice Library

3:15 Break

3:30 How to Use Online Tools:

Adobe Acrobat and Searching Techniques

• Leslie Greenberg, U.S. Government Printing Office

Documents Data Miner 2

• Nan Myers, Wichita State University

3:30 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: When Remote Storage is Your Only Option

• Bill Sudduth, University of South Carolina

• Ann Miller, Duke University

3:30 Government Sites for Kids

• Jerry Young, General Services Administration

• Jim Veatch, LibraryHQ

• Barbie Selby, University of Virginia, Arthur J. Morris Law Library

• T.C. Evans, U.S. Government Printing Office

7:00 to 9:00 Council Working Session

Wednesday, October 23
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

8

Morning

8:30 Designing Government Documents Training Programs:

Creating Subject Specific Modules for Reference Librarians

• Suhasini Kumar, University of Toledo

Library Instruction: A Peer Tutoring Model

• Kathleen Keating, University of New Mexico

• Dr. Susan Deese-Roberts, University of New Mexico

8:30 Academic and Public Libraries Working Together

• Mark McCullough, Minnesota State University-Mankato & Traverse des Sioux 

Library System

• Sue Kendall, San Jose State University

8:30 Agency Update:

EDPubs

• Judy Craig

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Mamie J. Bell

Department of Housing and Urban Development

10:00 Break

10:30 Using Census Data—Local Product Developments

• Sharon Morris, Johns Hopkins University

10:30 Everything You Wanted to Know About Weeding

Weeding: the Basics

• Kathyrn C. Mills, DePauw University

Weeding in Multi-Library Systems

• Lou Malcomb, Indiana University, Bloomington

10:30 Federal Trade Commission

• Carolyn Shanoff

Consumer Product Safety Commission

• Elaine Tyrrell

Food and Drug Administration

12:00 Lunch

Afternoon

2:00 Plenary Session

3:30 Adjourn
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

9

The Future of Access to Government 

Information

Remarks by Francis J. Buckley, Jr.

Superintendent of Documents

Before the Government Documents Round Table

American Library Association

Atlanta, GA

June 15, 2002

Introduction

Good morning. I am pleased to be here to 

participate in this dialog on the future of 

government information dissemination. I 

believe no-fee access to public Government 

information is a right of the people and a 

necessity, now and in the future, to support 

our democratic society. Also, that the 

Government has an obligation to provide 

broad, ongoing public access to its 

information. But as I see the evolution of 

information technology and the movement 

toward e-government, there are significant 

impacts on the future of access to government 

information through the Federal Depository 

Library Program (FDLP).

New Roles

The Government Printing Office Electronic 

Information Access Enhancement Act of 

1993 (Public Law 103-40), more commonly 

called the GPO Access Act, ushered GPO 

into the online information environment. By 

requiring online access to the Federal 

Register and Congressional Record, and 

“other appropriate publications distributed by 

the Superintendent of Documents” the 

foundation for the Federal Depository Library 

Program Electronic Collection (FDLP/EC) 

was laid. Specifically, the GPO Access Act 

charged the Superintendent of Documents to:

1) maintain an electronic directory of 

Federal electronic information,

2) provide a system of online access to the 

Congressional Record, the Federal 

Register, and other appropriate 

publications, and

3) operate an electronic storage facility for 

Federal electronic information.

In concert with the GPO Access Act, in 1996 

Congress directed GPO to transition to a 

more electronic FDLP. Thus in addition to 

the publications we put up on our own 

servers, we are pointing to electronic 

publications on agency websites.

The electronic information environment has 

provided several new roles and expanded 

some traditional roles for GPO:

1) Managing an electronic collection, the 

Federal Depository Library Program 

Electronic Collection (FDLP/EC);
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

10

2) Finding, identifying, and acquiring 

electronic government information 

products;

3) Developing locator and other services to 

complement the traditional bibliographic 

monthly catalog system; and

4) Providing permanent public access to 

electronic Government information.

Permanent public access to government 

publications has long been a requirement for 

GPO and the Library Programs Service. This 

has traditionally been achieved by 

distributing tangible items to depository 

libraries. In the electronic collection, 

permanent public access is achieved through 

a digital archive at GPO and partnerships 

with Federal agencies and depository 

libraries. Our efforts toward digital archiving 

ensure that citizens’ long-term rights to 

information access are protected. Now, 

current events are forcing a review of 

government information public access 

policies and programs, and we are addressing 

electronic security concerns at GPO through 

archiving, the use of PURLs, and the 

development of a geographically separate 

backup facility and mirror site for GPO 

Access. We strive to maintain the same level 

of permanency and security for the Electronic 

Collection as for tangible titles distributed to 

libraries.

Our program has been developed in concert 

with depository librarians and reflected in 

two documents: our plan for the transition to 

a more electronic FDLP and a collection 

development plan for the FDLP/EC.

The FDLP has a long and distinguished 

history as a centrally coordinated system of 

shared responsibility for building, storing, 

disseminating, providing access to, and 

preserving Government information. Also, in 

terms of electronic access, the FDLP/EC 

complements other government initiatives 

such as FirstGov and the National Archives 

Electronic Records program.

Challenges

An increasingly electronic FDLP presented 

several challenges for GPO. First, Discovery 

of publications on the web: In online 

distribution, we lack the automatic system of 

riders added to print orders to provide stock 

of printed publications to be distributed to 

libraries. GPO is developing systems and 

practices to enable us to discover agency 

publications on the Web effectively, and to 

gather the information efficiently about those 

publications needed for subsequent 

cataloging and preservation.

Assuring ongoing integrity of cont ent: In the 

print world, a user was assured that a 

publication from a Government agency, 

printed through GPO, was an approved, 

official document. Online, publications 

generally are not consistently reviewed and 

are not fixed in time by the printing process. 

Users, however, still need and expect the 

information to be official. GPO is working 

toward mechanisms that provide the same 

level of authenticity, both for publications on 

agency servers to which we point, and for 

archived publications.

Assuring ongoing access to content: GPO 

currently points to publications on the 

originating agency server for as long as 

possible, and we also maintain an archival 

copy of the publication. Users are routed to 

the archival copy only when the publication 

is no longer available from the originating 

site. GPO is involved in work to develop 

other systems and processes for archiving and 

preserving data and reliably delivering it to 

users over time.
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

11

Enhancing and extending the service role of 

depository libraries: The link between 

Government information, technology, and 

users at all levels of skill, knowledge, and 

proficiency is the depository library. More 

than ever users need assistance in making 

sense of the mass of Government 

information, and not all users are equally able 

to use and interpret Government information 

resources. This traditional role for depository 

librarians as guide and interpreter is being 

expanded and emphasized.

Archiving: No consensus exists on strategies 

for archiving digital information, and far

more research is being done on large 

repositories than on distributed archives. 

GPO has made it a priority to be aware of the 

state of the art, and to be involved actively in 

developing it. Currently, most research 

points to a central archive with adequate 

redundancy built in for disaster recovery. But 

what we are doing is capturing digital 

information for which we have no assurance 

of preservation.

Discovery and cataloging: As the electronic 

transition has progressed, resources at GPO 

that had been directed to distribution have 

been and continue to be reallocated to 

identification and acquisition, and we 

continue to expand the cataloging function. 

Acquisition of electronic publications is far 

more labor-intensive because we lack the 

print rider system.

And last but not least, a new issue for both 

the tangible FDLP collection as well as the 

Electronic Collection is that of Information 

sensitivity post 9-11. Our mission has always 

been to collect as comprehensively as 

possible government information products 

that are not classified or 

official/administrative use only that have no 

public interest or educational value (to 

paraphrase Section 1902 of Title 44). We 

collect and disseminate agency “publications” 

in various formats as a ministerial or service 

function.

Over the years, agency publications have 

been included in the program and later 

withdrawn for one reason or another. Since 

September there has been a lot of concern 

about the possibility that some of the 

information in the FDLP may be used 

inappropriately, but we have only had two 

agency requests to remove publications. One 

was from the U.S. Geological Survey last fall 

to pull a CD-ROM on water resources. The 

second is a current request from the General 

Accounting Office to pull a report from GPO 

Access on the Brady Act Instant Background 

Check. Although we have withdrawn the title 

from GPO Access, it is still available in 

hardcopy from GAO. The current issue of 

Administrative Notes has complete 

information on the title and ordering 

information. But we are aware that other 

agency websites have removed many 

publications for reasons of “national security” 

(undefined criteria).

The Future

In the future, the format of more and more 

government information will be electronic, 

although I envision the FDLP will always 

contain mixed media. In keeping with the 

GPO Access Act, we are working to ensure 

continued access to government information 

in an increasingly electronic environment. In 

FY 2001, over 15,200 online titles and over 

7,600 links to agency titles were added to 

GPO Access, for a total of well over 22,000 

new online titles that year alone. There were 

355 million document retrievals from GPO 

Access in FY 2001. Today document 

retrievals average more than 31 million per 

month, the equivalent of about 750 million 

pages of typewritten documents. In FY 1999, 

online dissemination represented 44% of 
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

12

titles distributed to depository libraries. This 

grew to over 60% of the titles distributed in 

FY 2001. More government information than 

ever is available online, and more Americans 

are using online government information than 

ever before.

According to a recent study titled The Rise of 

the E-Citizen: How People Use Government 

Agencies' Web Sites, published on April 3, 

2002 by the Pew Internet and American Life 

Project, “One of the fastest growing activities 

online in recent years has been the use of 

government Web sites (12)” 

<http://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?

Report=57>.

I would like to share with you the opening of 

this study’s Summary of Findings:

Web presence is not optional for 

governments in the United States. 

Citizens are online and learning to 

demand answers at Internet speed. 

Government budget-writers require that 

the cost-savings potential of the Internet 

be mastered. At the same time, laws and 

executive orders mandate the provision of 

at least some services online. And 

Americans are stepping up to use them. 

Fully 68 million American adults have 

used government agency Web sites – a 

sharp increase from the 40 million who 

had used government sites in March 

2000... They exploit their new access to 

government in wide-ranging ways, 

finding information to further their civic, 

professional, and personal lives (1).

The Rise of the E-Citizen found that:

58% of American Internet users, or 68 

million adults, have visited at least one 

government Web site, and most have 

visited more than one. This makes the 

act of seeking government information 

and completing transactions with 

government agencies one of the most 

popular activities online. More 

Americans have visited government Web 

sites than have sought financial 

information online, made travel 

reservations, sent instant messages, or 

gotten sports scores online (12).

This is good news for the FDLP. American 

citizens are increasingly comfortable with 

obtaining government information online, 

and the demand is rising. The FDLP 

Electronic Collection is growing to meet the 

demand. However, this does not mean that 

the need for GPO or depository librarians is 

diminished. In particular, I see the need for a 

centralized Superintendent of Documents 

program to find and acquire appropriate 

tangible and electronic information products 

for the FDLP, to catalog and index them for 

inclusion in the national bibliography, and to 

have systems to address the issue of 

permanent public access. The FDLP program 

and the Cataloging and Indexing program are 

complemented by, but not replaced by, newer 

initiatives for public identification and access 

to electronic government information.

Though direct access to government 

information online is growing by leaps and 

bounds, not everyone is able to take full 

advantage of it without the aid of depository 

libraries and librarians. Even amidst the 

growing electronic nature of government 

information distribution, many citizens will 

continue to seek out depository libraries for 

access and guidance. We will always need 

libraries and depository librarians to facilitate 

access to electronic documents in addition to 

continuing to keep the documents in tangible 

format. Citizens will continue to go to 

libraries for expert guidance in finding and 

accessing information, whether that 

information is presented in tangible or 

electronic formats.

Closing Statements
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

13

In the development of the FDLP and our 

distribution programs, we have seen many 

milestones and many changes. Through it all, 

the FDLP has remained committed to 

providing public access to official, public 

Government information, and we will 

continue in the future. Thank you for your 

attention.

Developments in the Library Programs Service

Remarks by Robin Haun-Mohamed

Chief, Depository Services

Before the Government Documents Round Table

American Library Association

Atlanta, GA

June 15, 2002

Good afternoon folks—it’s been a while since 

I have had the opportunity to address you at a 

GODORT session, so I am pleased to be here. 

I have just a few things to mention—some of 

which are in the LPS handout, which can be 

found in the back of the room. I will try not 

to repeat information that Mr. DiMario and 

Mr. Buckley mentioned this morning, other 

than just to touch on the topic as a reminder.

LPS continues to experience staff shortages, 

but I am pleased to announce some 

improvement in the overall outlook. For 

those who have not heard, James Mauldin is 

now Chief of the Depository Distribution 

Division. James was a Program Analyst with 

LPS for several years and he is carrying over 

that experience into the Division Chief 

position. New projects that staff in 

Distribution are working on include a 

tracking system for depository shipments and 

development of a Web Claim Form. 

Implementation for these projects is 

tentatively set for October 2002 with the 

beginning of the new fiscal year.

The Cataloging Branch has two new section 

chiefs—Mike Levinson and Jennifer Davis. 

Both have worked in the LPS Cataloging 

Branch and we welcome their enthusiasm and 

expertise. The Cataloging Branch continues 

to recruit for catalogers. Tad Downing is 

conducting interviews to fill six cataloging 

positions for serials, monographs, and maps. 

We presently have 14 catalogers and hope to 

bring this number to 20 within the next few 

weeks. People interested in discussing these 

positions are encouraged to contact Tad at the 

Days Inn Downtown Atlanta. He has 

scheduled discussions with a number of 

people on Friday and Sunday and would be 

pleased to fit additional people in on Sunday 

and particularly Monday. These are not 

formal interviews but are excellent 

opportunities to discuss positions, income, 

and benefits; and to obtain advice on how to 

successfully work through the employment 

process.
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

14

The position of Librarian in the Depository 

Administration Branch recently closed and 

we are looking forward to seeing a selection 

list of candidates in the near future. A 

position that recently opened is the 

Congressional Documents Assistant in the 

Congressional Printing Management 

Division. This position deals with compiling 

the materials for the U.S. Congressional 

Serial Set. I have copies of the announcement 

for anyone that may be interested.

Work towards the acquisition of an Integrated 

Library System (ILS) continues in LPS. JCP 

has approved the acquisition of a commercial, 

off-the-shelf ILS. The solicitation for the 

automation consultant contract should be 

posted sometime this next week. Two 

positions, a program analyst and an 

outstanding scholar position, will also be 

open, for those of you interested in working 

under the office of the Director, with Laurie 

Hall, Supervisory Program Analyst.

The Electronic Documents Working Group 

continues to be active in providing sites and 

resources for inclusion in the FDLP 

Electronic Collection. There is a new email 

address, <lostdocs@gpo.gov> for folks to use 

when submitting entries for consideration. If 

you need the URL for the Electronic Docs 

Working Group, see me after this session and 

I can provide that for you 

<http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/

fdlp/tools/ewgroup/index.html>. For the 

month of May, 140 titles were received and 

77 titles were processed and added to the 

collection.

The Web Document Digital Archive 

(WDDA) Pilot Project with OCLC continues 

to progress. The first phase involved testing 

preservation metadata creation tools added to 

the CORC interface. The phase 2 beta 

version was delivered on June 3rd and will be 

tested for approximately 60 days. It 

introduces harvest and archived file transfer 

functionality as well as administration 

functions.

In August 2001, Mr. Buckley wrote to the 

library directors requesting assistance in 

revising state plans for the delivery of FDLP 

services. The response to this request has 

been very commendable. We have been 

advised of the revision of many state plans, 

and the initial development of the first state 

plan in two states. Many states have posted 

copies of the state plans or drafts on a 

website. You can link to many of these plans 

from the Library of Michigan’s Regional 

Depository Libraries page. Again, if you 

need the URL, please see me after this update 

<http://www.libofmich.lib.mi.

us/services/plans.html>.

Now for the really exciting stuff—all the 

inspector positions have been filled—we 

have four inspectors on board. The newest 

library inspector is Linda Resler, who comes 

to us from the Marine Corps Research Center 

in Quantico, Virginia.

We have begun inspecting libraries again, 

after taking about one year off due to lack of 

staff and the many self-studies that needed to 

be evaluated. Recent inspections have taken 

place in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New 

Jersey, New York, and Virginia. Libraries in 

Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, 

and Pennsylvania still need to be inspected as 

a result of the completion of the self-study 

evaluation backlog.

In December, LPS issued a call for selfstudies from libraries in Michigan, 

Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. We are 

moving slowly but surely through these 

studies, and inspections will be scheduled 

later this year for some of these libraries, 

depending on how fast the self-study reviews 
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

15

go and how many library inspectors have 

completed the training.

I have just a few reminders for you. The 

2003 Annua l Item Selection Update Cycle is 

underway. Any item numbers you wish to 

add must be submitted during this period, 

which ends July 31, 2002. The new item 

number selections go into effect with the new 

fiscal year, October 1, 2002. Libraries are 

reminded they may not make claims for 

materials selected during the update cycle 

until October 2002. Also remember that 

while you can add material only during the 

update cycle, you can deselect material yearround.

The 2002 Recommended Minimum 

Specifications for Public Access 

Workstations in Federal Depository Libraries 

will be published in the June 15, 2002 issue 

of the Administrative Notes (vol. 23, # 08). 

These guidelines are useful for depository 

librarians when new computer purchases are 

being considered. The recommendations 

become requirements on October 1, 2003. 

Information about the workstation 

specifications can be found on the FDLP 

Desktop <http://www.access.

gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/computers/>.

As part of the inspection/self-study process, 

we are finding many libraries that do not 

meet the Minimum Specifications because 

they do not have a DVD Reader/Player. This 

will be a problem in the near future as Census 

continues to release material from the 2000 

Census in DVD format.

There has been much discussion recently 

about the Essential Titles for Public Use in 

Paper Format list. The list was printed in the 

January 15, 2001 issue of Administrative 

Notes (vol. 22, # 02), along with the 

Dissemination/Distribution Policy for the 

Federal Depository Library Program (SOD 

71). The Essential Title list was developed 

with input from the depository library 

community. Titles can be added or removed 

from the list. Titles recommended by the 

library community will be considered for 

inclusion in the list. Titles will be removed 

when it has been determined that the agency 

has ceased publication in paper. Major 

changes in the operations or funding of the 

FDLP may also initiate changes to the list. If 

you wish to make recommendations for the 

Essential Titles list, please use the askLPS 

service.

There are some publications in broad 

categories that are mentioned specifically in 

the essential titles list—for example, see the 

entry for Decennial Census publications. 

Most specific titles are generally covered 

under the Section 4.b. of the SOD 71 policy: 

“the tangible product is of significant 

reference value to most types of FDLP 

libraries.” Paper Census publications 

produced under contract through GPO will be 

disseminated to the libraries. I have brought 

a handout with both the Essential Titles list 

and SOD 71 that is available in the back of 

the room.

In past updates I always enjoyed sharing title 

information about new products disseminated 

to the libraries. When I became head of 

Depository Services, I thought I had to leave 

that behind, but behold, here I am again, so 

one more time let me share with you some 

interesting titles that have been or will soon 

be sent to the libraries:

Tangible Products:

• Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2001-

2003

• Federal Justice in the Mid-Atlantic 

South: United States Courts from 

Maryland to the Carolinas, 1789-1835

• Measuring America: The Decennial 

Censuses from 1790 to 2000
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

16

• Patterns of Global Terrorism, 2001

• World Trade Center Building 

Performance Study: Data Collection, 

Preliminary Observations and 

Recommendations

Online only titles include:

• Status of Technology and Digitization in 

the Nation’s Museums and Libraries 

(2002)

• You, Your Privacy Policy and COPPA: 

How to Comply with the Children’s 

Online Privacy Protection Act

• Beyond Nunn-Lugar: Curbing the Next 

Wave of Weapons Proliferation Threats 

from Russia

I want to thank you for asking me to speak 

and now I will turn the program over to T.C. 

Evans for the GPO Access update.

[Handout]

GPO Access Update

GPO Access Performance Measurement

and Improvement

Until recently, performance problems were 

routinely frustrating large amounts of GPO 

Access customers. Through Keynote 

Systems, Inc., a performance measurement 

service, we have been working to identify and 

eliminate these problems and have succeeded 

in eliminating many. While there are still 

periodic problems, overall performance has 

improved. We are continuously monitoring 

and working to improve the performance of 

GPO Access. In addition, we are beginning 

to track performance in specific cities across 

the United States to identify any geographical 

trends.

GPO Access Statistical Measures

ÿ Since 1994, GPO Access retrievals have 

exceeded 1.2 billion. This is equivalent 

to over 29 billion typewritten pages.

ÿ GPO Access has averaged close to 32 

million document retrievals in the last six 

months, and reached an all-time high of 

almost 36.5 million document retrievals 

in October 2001.

ÿ GPO Access contains over 135,000 

electronic titles and points to over 89,000 

others for a total of more than 225,000 

titles.

ÿ GPO Access provides use of over 2,400 

databases through more than 80 

applications.

What’s New on GPO Access

ÿ 2002 GPO Access User Survey is now 

online at <http://www.gpo.gov/

su_docs/survey02.html>. Please provide 

your feedback to help improve the 

services available via GPO Access. 
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

17

(Deadline for survey submissions is June 

30, 2002.)

ÿ Cannon's Precedents are now available

via GPO Access at <http://www.gpo.

gov/congress/house/precedents/cannons

/srchcan.html>.

ÿ The new edition of the Congressional 

Directory for the 107th Congress is 

available at <http://www.access.gpo.

gov/congress/cong016.html>.

ÿ Two new topics have been added to the 

New Titles By Topic E-mail Alert 

Service. Employment and Occupations 

and Federal Statistics. To sign up for any 

of these lists, go to: <http://

bookstore.gpo.gov/alertservice.html>.

Online Bookstore Enhancements

ÿ The various browse features on the 

Online Bookstore have been enhanced so 

that price and status information is 

updated daily. In addition, customers

may now use the search and browse 

features to add publications to their 

shopping cart for a fully integrated 

shopping experience.

ÿ Future enhancements for the Online 

Bookstore include improved system 

integration to allow for the fastest 

possible automated processing of 

customer orders; improved online 

ordering for foreign customers; and 

providing third-party handoff to orders 

for those who are unable to directly 

purchase from the U.S. Government 

Online Bookstore.

GPO Access Training

ÿ Updates to the GPO Access Training 

Manual were recently posted on the GPO 

Access help page. Current and future 

updates may be found at <http://www.

gpo.gov/gpoaccess/help/trainingbk>.

ÿ Please submit requests for GPO Access 

training classes for 2003 at <http://

www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/tools/g

atrain.html>. Because of reduced 

funding, it will be necessary for GPO to 

schedule GPO Access training classes in 

conjunction with trips where exhibits are 

planned.
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

18

UnderDevelopment

ÿ Work towards building the GPO Access 

mirror site in Pueblo, CO is proceeding. 

As this work progresses, normal data 

backup will continue with the addition of 

the temporary storage of key data at a 

GPO facility near Washington, DC.

ÿ Work is underway on revisions of a new 

look and feel for GPO Access pages. We 

are making use of what has been learned 

from our work with users in open forums, 

usability studies, and through regular 

feedback channels. Additionally, we are 

working on an adult version of Ben's 

Guide to U.S. Government for Kids. We 

plan to release these new pages in the 

coming months.

ÿ GPO is working in partnership with the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration's Office of the Federal 

Register on a participatory rule-making 

site, to be known as FedReg.gov. This 

site will provide a mechanism for the 

public to submit comments electronically 

on proposed rules and view comments 

submitted by others. This site should be 

released around the beginning of July 

2002.

ÿ Work is underway to provide a means of 

notifying the depository community 

through a new listserv when depository 

items that are going only from paper to 

electronic in the FDLP are available for 

sale through the Superintendent of 

Documents Sales Program. To sign up 

for the GPO EL Sale Listserv, go to 

<http://listserv.access.gpo.gov>. It will 

also be accessible through the New Titles 

By Topic Email Alert Service available 

through the U.S. Government Online 

Bookstore.

ÿ GPO is working with GSA to publish 

"Extending Digital Dividends: Public 

Goods and Services that Work for All," 

an audio ebook version put out by the 

Federal Architecture and Infrastructure 

Committee of the CIO Council. The 

audio ebook on CD-ROM will 

accompany the print publication, and will 

be available for sale through the 

Superintendent of Documents as well as 

distributed through the FDLP. You can 

view the "Extending Digital Dividends" 

ebook at the GPO Access booth, number 

3029, in Georgia World Congress Center.

ÿ GPO Access will soon host a new Web 

site for the U.S. Capitol Police. This site 

will include an online recruitment tool.

Upcoming Outreach

EIDS personnel will be attending and 

displaying the GPO booth at the following 

shows:

June 30- July 2 National Education Association Dallas, TX

August 8-13 American Bar Association Washington, DC
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

19

Readers Exchange

The Challenges of Maintaining Access in a Networked 

Environment.

17th Annual Missouri Government Documents Conference:

"Access in a Networked World"

by Frances Piesbergen and Nena Thomas

May 2, 2002

This session was presented as a 

discussion forum, led by Nena and 

Frances, on the practical, theoretical and 

ethical issues surrounding the decision to 

provide web-access to government 

information. The purpose of the 

presentation was to allow librarians to 

share their ideas and experiences and to 

foster further discussion.

Practical issues ranged from what to 

include on a government documents web 

site to how to provide access to Internet 

resources when the library doesn't have 

an online catalog.

Before You Begin - What is the purpose of 

the site?

Are you creating:

• a unique resource of new information or 

an enhanced means of accessing the 

information (in essence, a ‘new’ product) 

-or-

• an access site/index to help people get to 

existing information

Before You Begin: 

http://www.isu.edu/~woodstep/Subjects_1.ht

ml

A. Finding the Resources (GPO; state 

government sites; private sites, edocuments)

How do I find sites, e-publications, 

etc?

- solicit suggestions from subject 

specialist/collection development; 

email; articles; surfing the web; 

checking established sites for new 

links; etc. 

Finding the Resources

1. The Federal Bulletin Board: 

http://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov/

2. Google Uncle Sam: 

http://www.google.com/unclesam

3. GPO Access; Browse Topics: 

http://library.ucok.edu/gov/browse

topics/

4. e-mail from Larry Romans, 

(Friday, April 19, 2002) to 

GOVDOC-L @Lists.psu.edu. 

Subj.: Finding New Govt. Sites 

and New URLS – Updated List. 

Provides URL’s to a number of 

sources including:

5. The Virtual Acquisitions Shelf 

and News Desk : 

http://resourceshelf.blogspot.com

B. Pointing to the Resources

Should I:
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

20

- catalog an existing site so people can 

link from the OPAC

- web page link to someone else’s site

- reinvent the wheel?

- create duplicate (shadow) sites; store 

electronic documents/data on-site

Pointing to the Resources

1. Suggested Checklist for Local 

Decision-Making: Working with 

URLs/PURLs in Your Local 

Catalog. Federal Depository 

Conference, April 13, 1999. 

Presentation by Nan Myers, Wichita 

State University, and Arlene 

Weible, Willamette University: 

http://library.wichita.edu/govdoc/

PURLS_SUGGCKLST.htm

C. Maintaining the Resources

Do you have:

- URL/PURL checking software 

(KyoSoft Link Checker, Web Link 

Validator, & lots more)

- staff time and energy

- technical support /expertise -

guaranteed storage, network server 

support, etc.

Maintaining the Resources

1. Obtaining Archival Copies of 

Online Only Depository 

Documents: 

http://www.lib.umich.edu/

govdocs/godort/admin/coll/

archdpos.htm

2. “Why Do We Need to Keep This 

in Print? It's on the Web ...”: a 

Review of Electronic Archiving 

Issues and Problems 

http://libr.org/PL/19-

20_Warner.html

3. The Search and Seizure of 

Electronic Information: 

http://www.arl.org/info/frn/other/

matrix.pdf

4. Executive Order 13233: 

http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/

2001/11/eo-pra.htm

http://www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/

historicalworks.html

5. URLs, PURLs & TRULs: Link 

Maintenance in the Webaccessible OPAC, Tom Tyler, 

Univ. of Denver, Computers in 

Libraries ’99. 

http://www.du.edu/~ttyler/cil99/pr

oceedings.htm

6. Cataloging Government Internet 

Resources and the Implementation 

of PURL Technology: a Q & A 

session with GPO. ALA 

Midwinter, January 31, 1999. 

Sponsored by GODORT 

Cataloging Committee and 

Federal Documents Task Force. 

http://www2.lib.udel.edu/godort/c

ataloging/purl.htm 

A. Philosophical Issues

- What can be considered an ‘official’ 

source and who makes that 

determination?

- Who should be responsible for 

permanent access?

- Loss of previously available material: 

paper to EL-only, removal of EL 

materials from established sites, 

refusal to provide previously 

accessible materials.

- Who pays for all of this – should 

government information remain 

“free” or is it inevitable that 

information access will become feebased?

- Is moving TOWARD an all electronic 

dissemination system viable and/or 
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

21

justifiable, given the instability in an 

environment when electronic access 

can be seriously curtailed?

Philosophical Issues:

1. OMB Watch: 

http://www.ombwatch.org/article/

articleview/213/1/1/

2. Removal or Destruction of Federal 

Depository Library Documents: 

http://arl.cni.org/info/frn/gov/Sus

man.html

3. Secrecy and Security News: 

http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2002

/04/index.html

4. Anti-Terrorism Legislation and 

Related Issues: 

http://www.arl.org/info/frn/other/

ATL.html

_______________________________

Because the presentation wasn’t 

designed to answer all of the 

questions documents librarians face in 

dealing with electronic access issues, 

no definitive conclusions or solutions 

were reached. What did occur was a 

lively exchange of ideas and 

suggestions among colleagues, and a 

better understanding that there is no 

one “right way.” Each institution and 

staff must assess the individual 

situation to determine what is the 

“best way” given their constraints and 

the needs of their constituency.

Nena Thomas

Chair, MLA Government Documents SIG

Head of Reference/Government Documents

Coordinator

University of Missouri-Rolla

Frances Piesbergen

Recorder, MLA Government Documents SIG

Government Documents Librarian

University of Missouri-St. Louis
AN-v23-#09-7/15/02

22

Table of Contents

FDLP Announcement Service Inaugurated .................................................................................. 1

Hand Correction Needed on Serial Set Volume ........................................................................... 2

Emergency Response Publications Featured as Special Collection............................................. 2

GPO Launches Promotional Campaign for Depository Program................................................. 2

2002 Federal Depository Library Conference and Fall Depository Library Council

 Meeting Planned for October..................................................................................................... 4

Registration Form: 2002 Fall Council & Conference................................................................... 4

2002 Federal Depository Conference and Fall Council Meeting: Preliminary Agenda............... 5

Future of Access to Government Information / Buckley, ALA, 6/02 .......................................... 9

Developments in the Library Programs Service / Haun-Mohamed, ALA, 6/02 ........................ 13

GPO Access Update ................................................................................................................... 16

Readers Exchange: The Challenges of Maintaining Access in a Networked

 Environment / Piesbergen and Thomas................................................................................... 19

Administrative Notes is published in Washington, DC by the Superintendent of Documents, 

Library Programs Service, Government Printing Office, for the staffs of U.S. Federal 

Depository Libraries.

It is published on the 15th day of each month; some months have additional issues. 

Postmaster send address changes to: The Editor, Administrative Notes

U.S. Government Printing Office

Library Programs Service, SLLD

Washington, DC 20401

Internet access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/adnotes/index.html

Editor: Marian W. MacGilvray (202) 512-1119 mmacgilvray@gpo.gov