Southeast Region Guidelines for Management and Disposition of Federal Depository Library Collections

AACRL/NAAL/CUS WorkshopCooperative Collection DevelopmentOctober 10, 2011

Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)

•Established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its Government’s information

•The government gives libraries materials free of charge, and in return, libraries make the materials freely available to the public

But is this material…

“Free” like a beer?

“Free” like a puppy?

or

FDLP collections

•The documents belong to the federal government

•Before disposing of a document, it must be offered to other depository libraries in the area

•Libraries follow regulations established by the Government Printing Office (GPO)

Depository Libraries in the Southeast

Alabama Southeast Region

• 22 depository libraries▫ 2 regional libraries▫ 20 selective libraries

▫ Community colleges▫ Small and large

universities▫ Law libraries▫ Public libraries

• 260 depository libraries▫ 12 regional libraries▫ 248 selective libraries

▫ 180 academic libraries▫ 31 public libraries▫ 8 state libraries▫ 41 law libraries

Auburn University Libraries Government Documents Collection

Over 1 million paper volumes

Over 2 million microfiches/microcards

Occupies a fourth of the 1st floor of the library

Occupies a fourth of the closed stacks area

A depository since 1907

Depository Collections

•Larger libraries have huge ‘legacy collections’▫Often lightly used▫Often incomplete▫Often uncataloged

•Important collections for the library, the state, and the region

•No single library can have a complete collection

Why the ASERL FDLP Plan?

•Need to explore a viable alternative – some believe the current plan is not sustainable

•ASERL is the right group

•Judy Russell

•The ASERL deans are motivated

ASERL Guidelines

•The goal is to ensure that the Southeast has at least two complete cataloged sets of print publications and maps

•Divide the universe of government documents between the depository libraries in the Southeast

•Libraries take responsibility for limited portions of the depository materials

Centers of Excellence

•Libraries agree to inventory and catalog holdings for a specific agency, format, or subject

•Commit to collect items for the agency or subject and make them available either digitally or through ILL

•Become the ‘experts’ for that area

•All Southeast depositories are welcome to participate

Centers of Excellence

Where are we now?•Begun to establish Centers of Excellence

•Disposition database—an automated exchange list for depositories in the Southeast▫Offer withdrawn documents to other libraries▫Acquire needed documents for Centers of

Excellence and other collections

•Digitization projects▫Florida—Canal Zone documents