From lpsmail@access.digex.netThu Mar 14 11:50:04 1996 Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 20:41:05 -0600 From: Shipment Reply to: Discussion of Government Document Issues To: Multiple recipients of list GOVDOC-L Subject: ADNOTES: ABRIDGED MONTHLY CATALOG PUBLISHED THE MESSAGE BELOW IS FROM ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES, VOL. 17, #05 (Mar. 15, 1996) ABRIDGED MONTHLY CATALOG PUBLISHED The Library Programs Service has published the January 1996 Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, the first issue of the abridged paper edition. It was distributed to depository libraries on shipping list number 96-0032-S, dated February 15, 1996. Approximately 271 depository libraries have selected the abridged Monthly Catalog. Publishing costs for the full-size Monthly Catalog had been more than $500,000 annually. During the past two years, the Library Programs Service has been working towards reducing these costs, in consultation with the depository library community. The abridged Monthly Catalog plays a large part in reaching this goal. The January 1996 issue, with 229 pages and 2,324 cataloging records, is dramatically smaller the January 1995 issue, with 1,194 pages and 2,782 records. A title key word index provides access to the abbreviated records, which include OCLC numbers. Complete, unabridged Monthly Catalog records are available online from the SuDocs page at the GPO website. The searchable Monthly Catalog database contains cataloging records from 1994 through the present. The most direct address for the Monthly Catalog online database is: http://www.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/adpos400.html. We are continuing to develop a CD-ROM edition of the Monthly Catalog for distribution during the early part of this year. Questions regarding Monthly Catalog products may be directed to: Thomas A. Downing Chief, Cataloging Branch Library Programs Service voice: (202) 512-1121 fax: (202) 512-1432 e-mail: catlps@access.digex.net