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Top 10 List for New Documents Librarians

PDF version of the list.

1. Read the basic publications of the FDLP.

In addition to the titles and Web sites listed in Resources for Federal Depository Library Administration, see:

Selected Textbooks:

Andriot, Donna, ed. Guide to U.S. Government Publications. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 2000. (Annually identifies agency series and SuDocs class stems and provides publication history.)
Boyd, Anne M. United States Government Publications. 3rd ed. Revised by Rae E. Ripps. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1949, reprinted 1952. (Guide to historical information about government printing and dissemination)
Morehead, Joe. Introduction to United States Government Information Sources. 6th ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1999. (First edition in 1975 supplanted Schmeckebier.)
Robinson, Judith Schiek. Tapping the Government Grapevine: The User-Friendly Guide to U.S. Government Information Sources. 3rd ed. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1998.
Schmeckebier, Laurence F. and Roy B. Eastin. Government Publications and Their Use. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 1969. (Provides the history of documents, bibliographies, and catalogs)

2. Find out your depository library number and internal and external passwords.

The number is on the inside flap of the shipment box. E-mail AskLPS to obtain passwords if they can't be located. Use a form on the Desktop to Update your library's Directory entry.

3. Find Item Lister of item selection.

Use the Item Lister feature on the Desktop to find the item lister of item selections. Review item profile for additions and deletions ideally along with a written government documents collection development policy in hand. Physically handle the material at your library and visit neighboring depositories to examine potential additions. Use the Suggested Core Collections and the Documents Data Miner features.

4. Locate reports to and from GPO about your library.

Find any reports about the depository operation as they give helpful, historical snapshots of your library’s depository operation. If you can't locate this information, send a message to the GPO Contact Center. Copies will be made from your library's permanent file and sent to you. Reports include Biennial Survey submissions (those not online in the FDLP Desktop), inspection evaluations, and, if applicable, self-study reports and evaluations. Please note that inspections and self-studies are being revitalized as Public Access Assessments.

5. Contact your regional librarian for disposal instructions and advice.

Find out whether there is a state electronic discussion list and how to sign up, whether there is a government documents group in the state or region and join it. Contact neighboring depositories for networking opportunities, cooperative collection development, and promotion possibilities.

6. Subscribe to GPO-FDLP-L and other electronic discussion lists

7. Find out about the library's mission, vision, goals, strategic planning documents so that you know how the depository operation fits into your setting.

Who has purchasing power? Who are the techies? Find out whether there is a department budget for purchasing supplementary commercial reference tools, computer equipment, replacements for lost/damaged materials, travel/training, etc. Communicate with your library administration.

8. Look for training opportunities on the local to national level.

GPO offers several opportunities, including:

Interagency Depository Seminar, held annually for 5 days in Washington, DC. Preliminary agenda is announced on GPO-FDLP-L.
Federal Depository Library Conference, combined with the fall Depository Library Council meeting. Held annually in the Washington, DC metro area. Preliminary agenda is announced on GPO-FDLP-L.
Depository Library Council meetings, held semiannually. Fall meetings take place in the Washington, DC metro area; spring meetings are located in other parts of the U.S. Preliminary agenda is announced on GPO-FDLP-L.

9. Find out if the library's depository operation has a Web presence.

If it doesn't, to get started use the FDLP Web template. FDLP graphics are also available.

10. Review other helpful Web sites.

ALA GODORT
Current news on variety of issues, e.g., appropriation bills, NTIS, etc.; links to professional resources such as e-journals, electronic discussion lists, state documents groups; laws and legislation.
Toolbox for Processing and Cataloging Federal Government Documents
Links to GPO products, GPO cataloging records at OCLC, vendors, PURLs; Web pages by depository librarians, etc.
ALA GODORT Handout Exchange and Clearinghouse
Submissions by documents librarians on a variety of topics, e.g., CD-ROM user guides, collection development policies, maps user guides and processing, staff policies and training guides, etc.
Documents Center (University of Michigan)
Federal Government Resources on the Web. Comprehensive coverage including bibliographies, links to new and historic documents, broad subject access, agency directory, and search engine.