In September 1995, GPO issued a press release announcing a Study
to Identify Measures Necessary for a Successful Transition to a
More Electronic Federal Depository Library Program. The study
will result in a report to the Congress that must be submitted in
March 1996. The text of the Press Release is provided below.
As part of the study, GPO established task forces to gather
information. The preliminary reports for a number of the task
forces are now available. Each report is posted to this list as
a separate message. Additional reports will be posted as soon as
they are completed.
Each report includes instructions on how to submit comments or
obtain additional information. Once the comments have been
reviewed, a final report will be issued by each task force, and
the task force reports will be appendices to the study report.
***************************************************************
GPO LAUNCHES STUDY OF AN ELECTRONIC FEDERAL DEPOSITORY LIBRARY
PROGRAM
In order to promote and ensure the public's right to timely,
equitable, and cost effective access to government information in
the "information age," the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO),
at congressional direction, has initiated a cooperative study to
identify measures necessary for a successful transition to a more
electronic Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).
In adopting the conference report to H.R. 1854, the Legislative
Branch Appropriations Act of 1996, Congress has established this
cooperative effort which includes representatives from the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, as
well as the national library community and other appropriate
government and public entities.
As outlined in the congressional report, the dramatic advances in
technology provide new opportunities for enhancing and improving
public access. However, the effect on the FDLP of the increasing
utilization of electronic technologies in support of
dissemination programs by all branches of government requires
careful analysis, planning, and a strongly coordinated effort.
Among other objectives, the study will:
- - examine the functions and services of the Federal Depository
Library Program,
- - survey current technological capabilities of the participating
libraries in the Federal Depository Library Program,
- - survey current and future information dissemination plans of
originating agencies,
- - identify measures that are necessary to ensure a successful
transition to a more electronically-based program,
- - identify the possible expansion of the array of Federal
information products and services made available to
participating libraries, and,
- - identify measures to ensure the most cost effective program to
the taxpayer.
The completed study shall be available to Congress by March 1996.
The study is coordinated by GPO's Superintendent of Documents
Wayne P. Kelley. An executive working group has been formed
comprising staff from the:
- - Joint Committee on Printing
- - Office of Management and Budget
- - House Oversight Committee
- - Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
- - House and Senate Appropriations Committees
- - Government Printing Office
- - Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress
- - Center for Electronic Records, National Archives and Record
Administration
- - Federal Publishers Committee
- - Interagency Council on Printing and Publication Services
- - Administration Office of the U.S. Courts
- - Federal depository library community.
The working group will be assisted by advisors from the:
- - Supreme Court
- - National Commission on Libraries and Information Science
- - CENDI (a group representing several Federal scientific and
technical information activities)
- - information industry
- - major library associations
- - Depository Library Council (a group that advises the Public
Printer on matters relating to the Federal Depository Library
Program)
- - State governments.
Individuals and organizations wishing to provide comments or
suggestions about the study or specific study tasks can send
Internet e-mail to study@gpo.gov or send a fax to the attention
of FDLP Study at 202-512-1262. Correspondence can be addressed
to FDLP Study, Mail Stop SDE, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20401.
*****************************************************************
Judy Russell (jrussell@gpo.gov)
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