Administrative Notes Newsletter of the Federal Depository Library Program Vol. 19, no. 04 GP 3.16/3-2:19/04 February 15, 1998 Keeping America Informed Federal Depository Library Program A Program of the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) [Updated from a handout titled "100 Years of Keeping America Informed," issued in 1995 and printed in Administrative Notes, vol. 16, no. 5, 3/25/95.] * Federal Depository Library Program makes available to the public no-fee access to information produced by Federal agencies * Enabling legislation * Title 44, Chapter 19 of the U.S. Code Gives the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) responsibility for acquiring, classifying, cataloging, distributing to libraries and ensuring the preservation of Federal Government information products * Title 44, Sections 1901-1903 of the U.S. Code and OMB Circular A-130 Requires Federal agencies to make all their publications in all formats available to SuDocs for distribution to depository libraries * Access is through 1,365 depository libraries (as of 1/31/98)--of which 53 are Regionals--located throughout the U.S. and its possessions--each library tailors its selection of Federal titles to meet the information needs of its community * Electronic access * No-fee online access (through the Internet or dial-up) to the Federal Register, Congressional Record, Congressional bills introduced in the Congress, Code of Federal Regulations, Commerce Business Daily, public laws, and over 70 Government databases * The Federal Bulletin Board provides free access to more than 4,700 files from 21 Federal agencies * Categories of depository libraries Academic (general) Libraries 50% Public Libraries 20% Academic Law Libraries 11% Community College Libraries 5% Federal Agency Libraries 4% State Libraries 3% State Court Libraries 3% Special Libraries 2% Federal Court Libraries 1.7% Military Service Academy Libraries 0.3% * Depository libraries by size of collection Up to 150,000 volumes 27% 150,000 to 600,000 volumes 47% More than 600,000 volumes 26% BENEFITS OF A CENTRALIZED DEPOSITORY LIBRARY SERVICE * Protects the public's access to information published by Federal agencies * Individual Federal agencies save: * Staff resources--each agency doesn't have to communicate with and supply documents to depository libraries * Money--agencies don't have to pay costs of printing, binding, or shipping documents, or of licensing software * Centralized bibliographic control is maintained through the Monthly Catalog and electronic Pathway Services located at * Inspections of libraries by SuDocs ensure that required standards of document access, public service and preservation are maintained, with an emphasis on Government electronic information * Allows for effective implementation of input from key advisory bodies--such as American Library Association and Depository Library Council * Offers convenient link to SuDocs Sales Program * Provides service that is consistent and of high quality HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS * Act of 1813: Authorized distribution of one copy of House and Senate Journals to select university and state libraries and historical institutions; Secretary of State responsible for distribution * 1814: American Antiquarian Society earliest known depository * Printing Act of 1852: Appointed a Superintendent of Public Printing within the Department of the Interior * 1857: Shifted responsibility for depository distribution to Secretary of the Interior, who also was authorized to designate depository libraries * 1858: Representatives authorized to designate a depository from own district * 1859: Authorized each Senator to assign one depository in own state * Printing Act of 1860 * Established Government Printing Office (GPO) in the legislative branch to consolidate Congressional printing * Authorized Superintendent of Public Printing to administer a Government printing program * Directed JCP to set standards for paper purchases and to approve major procurement * March 4, 1861: Government Printing Office and President Abraham Lincoln inaugurated on same day * 1869: Appropriations Act established a Superintendent of Documents within Department of the Interior * 1876: Title of Superintendent of Public Printing changed to Public Printer * Printing Act of 1895 (antecedent of Title 44 of the United States Code): Landmark legislation was a comprehensive and substantive revision of public printing laws * Centralized printing, sought to eliminate wasteful and disorderly distribution practices of the day * Transferred Office of Superintendent of Documents to Government Printing Office from Interior * Added executive department documents to depository distribution * Libraries from the Executive Branch departments and the military academies added to depository system * 1895: First Monthly Catalog appeared; 420 libraries in system * 1895-1903: SuDocs classification system developed by GPO librarian Adelaide Hasse * 1907: Land grant colleges added to system * 1947: First biennial survey of depository libraries conducted * Depository Library Act of 1962 * Increased to two the number of depository libraries permitted per congressional district * Added libraries from independent Federal agencies * Authorized establishment of regional depositories * Provided for distribution of non-GPO publications * 1972: Highest appellate courts of the states added to system * 1977: More than 1,200 libraries in depository library system JCP authorized GPO to distribute microfiche to depository libraries * 1978: Law libraries added to system * 1988: First CD-ROM distributed to depository libraries * 1993: Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act of 1993 enacted (Public Law 103-40) "GPO Access Law" * 1994: GPO Access service launched; available by subscription, free to depositories * 1995: Centennial year of Federal Depository Library Program * GPO Access free to all users * 1996: GPO releases Study to Identify Measures Necessary for a Successful Transition to a More Electronic Federal Depository Library Program; outlines a transition to a predominantly electronic depository library program in 5 to 7 years * 1998: 1365 depository libraries in system