In 1983, GPO first asked computer equipment questions including mainframe, minicomputer, and microcomputer makes and models. For nearly 50 years, few of the survey's questions remained constant. GPO asked questions reflecting the times whether they concerned microcards in 1951 or CD-ROMs, bulletin boards, Web access, telecommunications, and other computer equipment today. This group is meeting now to give advice on the 1997 Biennial Survey questions. The procedures from survey to survey have generally stayed the same as well.
Questions are prepared, the survey booklet and answer sheets are typed, proofread, and duplicated.
Mailing labels are generated, envelopes stuffed, and mailed first class to the attention of the depository coordinator listed in our database. The database for tabulation by the Teleform fax software is developed. The libraries are given six weeks to return the survey. If librarians need replacement copies of the survey or the answer sheets, they can be obtained through U.S. Fax Watch. Many years ago, before GPO employees were allowed to make long distance telephone calls, GPO sent telegrams to those libraries which failed to submit the survey on time.