The question of how long to continue providing the data in both the old format and the new online version can be a difficult one. Online distribution provides savings of money and resources only if the print equivalent can be discontinued or distribution drastically curtailed. Dual formats are an ideal solution from the standpoint of making the content widely available, but cannot realistically be continued for long except for the most important publications. The Census Bureau has decided that in the future printed reports will be limited to small digest-like summaries, the 1990 census serving nicely as a bridge between the earlier print era and the new digital age. GPO, while having committed to transitioning to a more electronic depository library program, has a less clearcut timeline for phasing out print equivalent publications.
Archival issues are another major concern.
In the past, an agency could consider its responsibilities met once the process of printing and distributing a publication had run its course. If the publication is only distributed online, an altogether different situation exists. Libraries will then provide access by linking to the online source and providing assistance to patrons trying to find and use the data. No copy exists in the library, so a conscious decision must be made at some point to permanently store the information in an accessible format. For data of obvious enduring significance, such as census data and congressional documentation, that should not be a problem, as the responsible agency will take pains to store the data indefinitely.