Profile of a Successful Depository Library-- A Regional Perspective Ann Marie Sanders, Library of Michigan Janet Fisher, Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Libraries in Federal Depository Library Program • 1955 - 563 • 1972 - 1077 • 1992 - 1405 • 2002 - 1297 Qualities of a successful depository library • Strong customer focus • Community profile • Aware of benefits of depository program to the library and the community • Attentive to authoritativeness of sources • Buy-in at all levels within the institution Qualities of a successful depository library (continued) • Approach selection with flexibility and with a fiscal responsibility • Seek partnerships and collaborative relationships with others • Let others know about resources available • Committed to continuous process improvement Strong Customer Focus • Open to serve community • Strives for excellent customer service Community profile • Identified focus community • Broadened scope to include entire Congressional district and/or wider community of users • Addresses unserved or under-served areas Aware of benefits of depository program to the library and the community • Leverages required actions to assist the library as a whole • Receives recognition from depository host library and the user community for: * Investing time and depository library resources * Fostering a sense of service to the public * Developing a connection of users of the library to ideas and events outside their own community Attentive to authoritativeness of sources • Value of providing user with primary source material Buy-in at all levels within the institution • Education of librarians and administrators-- not a one-step process • Buy-in is not necessarily total, but is a fundamental respect for and valuing of the concept of public access to federal government information Approach selection with flexibility and with a fiscal responsibility • Authoritative sources already paid for with tax dollars • Value of using the free and readily accessible before the value-added, but costly, commercial alternatives Seek partnerships and collaborative relationships with others • Partnerships & collaborative relationships * Mentoring, internships, continuing education * Grants and alternative funding strategies • Sharing successes and challenges * Web sites * Discussion lists * GPO services and support Let others know about resources available • Outreach to the user community including * library users (tangible and virtual) * co-workers * non-depository libraries * other institutions * Congressional district Committed to Continuous Process Improvement • Self-evaluates services periodically • Surveys user community periodically • Keeps up with the literature • Attends professional meetings, with the opportunity to interact with colleagues and users "You must be convinced yourself, know what you are selling and why, be able to look at the big picture, and establish a reputation for looking at the big picture." Mary Prophet Denison University Libraries Depository Library Council Meeting, Spring 2002