U. S. Depository U. S. Depository LibrariesLibraries

Public Service, Public Service, Democracy, and the Democracy, and the

InternetInternet

Use of Federal Use of Federal PublicationsPublications

• 1988 1988 167,000 users per 167,000 users per weekweek

• 19991999 4,700,000 users of GPO 4,700,000 users of GPO web site per weekweb site per week

• Collect and PreserveCollect and Preserve• Provide Bibliographic AccessProvide Bibliographic Access• Provide Physical AccessProvide Physical Access• Assist UsersAssist Users• Publicize ServicesPublicize Services

Depository Depository LibrariansLibrarians

Depository Depository ProfilesProfiles

53 regionals -1286 selectives53 regionals -1286 selectives• 50% Academic50% Academic• 20% Public20% Public• 30% Remainder30% Remainder

•Law and special•Federal agencies and courts•State libraries and courts•Military academies

Collection Collection DevelopmentDevelopment

• Written Collection PolicyWritten Collection Policy• Weeding PolicyWeeding Policy• GPO Provides GuidelinesGPO Provides Guidelines

CollectionCollection OrganizationOrganization

• OptionsOptions– Separate CollectionSeparate Collection– Integrated with Non-DocumentsIntegrated with Non-Documents

• SuccessSuccess– Enthusiasm of LibrarianEnthusiasm of Librarian– Time to SpecializeTime to Specialize

Bibliographic Bibliographic RecordsRecords

• Commercial Cataloging Commercial Cataloging TapesTapes

• Data Base Management Data Base Management • Catalog IndividuallyCatalog Individually• Combination ApproachCombination Approach

Physical AccessPhysical Access

• Required for Congressional DistrictRequired for Congressional District• Automatic for Public InstitutionsAutomatic for Public Institutions• Private Institutions May Use Private Institutions May Use

– Check-In without Identification– Separate Hours for Public– Separate Doors for Documents

ReferenceReference

Helping Helping real real

peoplepeople

is the fun is the fun part of part of

the jobthe job

PublicityPublicity

• BrochuresBrochures• Newspaper ArticlesNewspaper Articles• Income Tax FormsIncome Tax Forms• Academic Class LecturesAcademic Class Lectures• Community SeminarsCommunity Seminars

Electronic EraElectronic Era

Tools are DifferentTools are Different

Goal is the SameGoal is the Same

PUBLIC ACCESSPUBLIC ACCESSPublic Access

University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganDocuments CenterDocuments Center

http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/

Documents.center/Documents.center/

•Created in April 1995Created in April 1995•Integrate internet withIntegrate internet with

•Reference ServiceReference Service•Classroom InstructionClassroom Instruction

http://www.lib.umich.edu/libhome/Documents.center/

Special Special Electronic Electronic ChallengesChallenges

•Preserving Preserving electronic formatselectronic formats

•Keeping pace with Keeping pace with technological technological changechange

Electronic Electronic Collection Collection

DevelopmentDevelopmentWorldwide Availability Worldwide Availability

of 40% of all U.S. of 40% of all U.S. DocumentsDocuments!!

Internet AvailabilityInternet AvailabilitySuggests New NeedsSuggests New Needs

• Translation ServicesTranslation Services• Reference Service PlanReference Service Plan• Outreach to People without Outreach to People without

Internet ConnectionsInternet Connections• Librarian Training ProgramsLibrarian Training Programs

Equipment NeedsEquipment Needs

•Cost of latest equipmentCost of latest equipment•Old buildings difficult to Old buildings difficult to wire for internetwire for internet

•Internet connections in Internet connections in rural areas expensiverural areas expensive

Web Site Web Site Usability IssuesUsability Issues•Files too largeFiles too large•Frames, animation, Frames, animation,

browser plug-ins browser plug-ins •Text alternative Text alternative essentialessential

PreservationPreservation

• How long is permanent? How long is permanent? – 20 years? 100 years?20 years? 100 years?

• Longevity of CD-ROMSLongevity of CD-ROMS– Physical disksPhysical disks– Software too old or too new Software too old or too new

for equipmentfor equipment

New Roles for New Roles for LibrariansLibrarians

•Serving on Agency Serving on Agency Advisory GroupsAdvisory Groups

•Preserving Electronic Preserving Electronic Products OurselvesProducts Ourselves

Bibliographic Access

•GPO catalogs Internet GPO catalogs Internet publicationspublications

•General search enginesGeneral search engines•Specialized search enginesSpecialized search engines

– Google Uncle Sam• http://www.google.com/unclesam

– Hot Bot• http://www.hotbot.com/

UniversalUniversal Search Search Engine CautionsEngine Cautions

• Agency web sites may Agency web sites may block robots for security block robots for security reasonsreasons

• PDF publications usually PDF publications usually not indexednot indexed

Physical AccessPhysical Access

AtAt least one least one workstation must be workstation must be available to publicavailable to public

Decline of In-Person Reference

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 FY 1999

In-PersonReference

Rise in Web Access

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 FY 1999

Web Access inMillions

Web as a Percent of Total Reference

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

FY 1996 FY 1997 FY 1998 FY 1999

In-Person Web

Change in Reference

•People using internet People using internet for for initial informationinitial information•Coming to library with Coming to library with harder harder questionsquestions

E-Mail Reference

• Numbers increasing slowlyNumbers increasing slowly– 25 per week

• Length of time requiredLength of time required– 6 hours per week

• Questions from non-clientsQuestions from non-clients– 80% from outside the University

• Webform questionnaireWebform questionnaire– Priorities stated

Library Outreach and the Internet

• Internet Training Internet Training SessionsSessions

•Library Web PagesLibrary Web Pages•Class LecturesClass Lectures

Class Web Pages

• Variety of subjectsVariety of subjects• Research process formatResearch process format

– Finding books and journalsFinding books and journals– Using the on-line catalogUsing the on-line catalog– Relevant web sitesRelevant web sites

•Commercial and public accessCommercial and public access

Teaching Classes

• Hands on training most Hands on training most effectiveeffective

• DemonstrationDemonstration• Class web pagesClass web pages• Teaching the teachersTeaching the teachers

ALA Government Documents Round

Table <http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/GODORT/>

• Legislative, training, and Legislative, training, and computer issuescomputer issues

• Web page templateWeb page template• GODORT Handout ExchangeGODORT Handout Exchange

LIST-SERVS

• GOVDOC-LGOVDOC-L<http://docs.lib.duke.edu/govdocs/federal/govdoc-

l/ index.html>

• INTLDOC-LINTLDOC-L<http://web.home.idirect.com/~mmccaff/intl-doc/>

• DOCWORLD-LDOCWORLD-L<http://www.indiana.edu/~libgpd/idtf/

docworld.html>