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Administrative Notes: Newsletter of the FDLP
Table of Contents
~Administrative Notes Resources~ Get the PDF version of this volume Ric Davis Appointed Director, Library Service & Content Management
Mr. Davis began his GPO career in 1992 as a Program Analyst in GPO's Technical Support Group. In 1994, he joined the GPO Library Programs Service as a Management Analyst, and then went on to head the Electronic Transition Staff. In 1996, he joined Electronic Information Dissemination Services (EIDS) as the Product Services Manager and was named Assistant Director of EIDS in 2001. In April 2003, Mr. Davis was appointed the office's Director, where he was responsible for GPO Access ( www.gpoaccess.gov ), GPO's award-winning Web site that is the leading source of free, official Government information. Its publicly available resources have grown to encompass more than 2,800 separate databases through more than 100 applications including the Congressional Record , the United States Code , GAO Reports , Congressional Bills and Reports, Public Laws , the Federal Register , and many more. Mr. Davis earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science at James Madison University in 1988. He was awarded a Master of Arts degree in Government by the College of William and Mary in 1991. He has also completed additional graduate work at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Prior to joining GPO, Davis worked for RJR Nabisco.[ Top ] Spring 2006 Council Meeting UpdateThe Spring Depository Library Council meeting will be held in Seattle, Washington, Sunday, April 2, through 12:00 noon on Wednesday April 5, 2006. RegistrationIf you plan to attend the Spring Depository Library Council meeting in Seattle, WA, on April 2-5 and have not already registered, please do so now. Early registration allows GPO to plan appropriately for the correct number of attendees. Online registration is available at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/registration/spring_reg.html Keynote SpeakerJoseph Janes, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Academics at the Information School of the University of Washington, has been selected to address the attendee's during the 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. plenary Session on Sunday , April 2, 2006, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Dr. Janes will be discussing the future of librarians—from professional training through what the next cutting edge trends will be—with an emphasis on information dissemination services. Dr. Janes is a frequent speaker in the U. S. and abroad. He was the founding director of the Internet Public Library and the co-author of eight books on librarianship, technology, and their relationship, including Introduction to Reference Work in the Digital Age. He also writes the “Internet Librarian” column for American Libraries. He holds the M.L.S. and Ph.D. from Syracuse University, and has taught at the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the State University of New York at Albany, as well as at Syracuse and Washington. AccommodationsThe Council meeting will be held at the Renaissance Hotel, located at 515 Madison Street. To make your hotel reservation, call 1-800-546-9184 and reference the Government Printing Office or the Federal Depository Library Council Meeting to get the prevailing government rate of $124.00 (plus applicable state and local taxes, currently 15.6%) a night for a single or double. Reception/Tour InformationA reception is planned for Sunday , April 2, 2006 at the Seattle Public Library located at 1000 4th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104. During the reception tours of the facility will be provided during the reception of the facility. Regional/Selective LunchGPO is encouraging staff from each regional library to have lunch with their selectives ' staff on Monday , April 3, 2006 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Selectives should contact their Regional for details. Seattle Visitors GuideThe Northwest Government Information Network (NGIN) has created an informative visitors guide for the attendees of the 2006 Spring DLC meeting. NGIN hopes the guide will be helpful in preparing for your trip. To access this site, go to: http://www.evergreen.edu/library/govdocs/ngin/visitorinfo-spring2006.html Preliminary Schedule
For updates to the meeting schedule, go to: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/events/spring_council.html [ Top ] 19th Annual Interagency Depository Seminar for 2006: Updated Agenda AvailableThe 19th Annual Interagency Depository Seminar will be held in Washington, DC from July 31, 2006 through August 4, 2006. During the week long seminar representatives from various Federal agencies will present an overview of their information products and activities as they relate to Federal depository libraries. A preliminary schedule of events and additional event information is available at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/events/interagency.html[ Top ] Registry of U.S. Government Publication Digitization Projects LaunchedGPO is pleased to announce the launch of its Registry of U.S. Government Publication Digitization Projects at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/legacy/registry/ . GPO encourages you or the colleagues at your institution performing digitization to contribute information about your planned, in process, and completed digitization projects including U.S. Government publications to the Registry. You may update information about the projects as they progress. The Registry's goal is to provide comprehensive coverage of all appropriate digitization projects that include U.S. Government publications. The Registry is designed to:
Projects represented in the Registry must be freely accessible and entirely composed of digitized U.S. Government publications or include a substantial number of them. GPO has seeded the Registry with entries describing our initial plans for FDLP legacy publication digitization, as outlined in Information Dissemination Implementation Plan: Priorities for Digitization of Legacy Collection (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/about/reports/prioritydigitization_plan.pdf). As GPO's digitization activities progress, we will add additional information about our projects to the Registry.[ Top ] GPO Releases 21st Century Edition of Biographical Directory of the U.S. CongressIt has been years in the making, but now two centuries worth of history can be found in one place. The 16th edition of the classic reference tool the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 is now available online and in print from the U.S. Government Printing Office. Last published in 1989, the comprehensive 2,236 page directory provides the biographies of thousands of Members of the Senate and House who have served from the first through the 108th Congress. The most recent edition of the Biographical Directory details the changing face of Congress and lists Members by their full name, and for the first time nicknames or initials. Also listed are territorial delegates, resident commissioners, and vice presidents. "This significant historical reference tool is an example of how the digital age of printing and information gathering works hand in hand to provide the American public essential access to government information," said Bruce James, Public Printer of the United States. "With nearly all of the records from the Senate and House compiled electronically, this allows for the constant and timely updating of some of our nation's most important information." First published in 1859, the new 10-pound hardbound volume was compiled and edited under the direction of the Joint Committee on Printing, the Senate Historical Office and the House Office of History and Preservation. The GPO is making the publication available at no cost online thru GPO Access at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/serialset/cdocuments/hd108-222/index.html. Copies of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 are available for purchase from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/biographical_directory.html. In addition, the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 will be distributed to all Federal depository libraries under: Title: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 [ Top ] U.S. Census Bureau Presents Understanding Federal Statistics Workshop
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Where: |
Graduate School, USDA
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When: |
March 6-9, 2006
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Workshop Price: |
$449.00 per person |
This workshop is highly recommended for new and seasoned data users such as librarians, media specialists, planners, researchers and others who need the big picture. No special skills are required.
[ Top ]
In February, statistics for over 450 U.S. ports will be added to the current USA Trade Online Web site. The port data will include imports by port of unlading and exports by port of export. Data will be available on a detailed product level by country and will include values and shipping weights by method of transportation-air and vessel. Port statistics will be available from 2003 through the present on a monthly, year-to-date, and annual basis. The expected launch date of the port addition to USA Trade Online is February 10, 2006.
This significant database will be available to all FDL's through the accounts issued by STAT-USA/GPO and available to all paid subscriptions at current prices.[ Top ]
In order to commemorate Benjamin Franklin's 300th birthday, the Government Printing Office (GPO) has enhanced Ben's Guide to U.S. Government (http://bensguide.gpo.gov ). Help Ben blow out his birthday candles and then enter the new mini site, Learn About Ben. Read the expanded biography of Ben the statesman, Ben the inventor, and learn about his childhood. Link off to other Ben Franklin Web sites, play a few games, or peruse the list of books about Franklin.
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids is brought to the World Wide Web as a service of the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). Ben's Guide serves as the educational component of GPO Access, GPO's service to provide the official online version of legislative and regulatory information.[ Top ]
The Department of Justice white paper entitled "Legal Authorities Supporting the Activities of the National Security Agency Described by the President" is classified J 1.2:L 52; OCLC number 6314846. http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/lps66493
Published by the House Committee on the Judiciary. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/house_report_109-345.html.
This House Parliamentarian's Office document entitled “Constitution, Jefferson's Manual, and Rules of the House of Representatives,” contains the fundamental source material for parliamentary procedure used in the House of Representatives, including:
For sale from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/budget.html
Distributed to Federal depository libraries on CD-ROM, under: SuDocs class: PREX 2.8/1:2007, item number 0853-C. Shipping list 2006-0117-P, dated February 7, 2006
The President's State of the Union Address was printed in the Congressional Record dated Tuesday, January 31, 2006, on pages H15-19. http://www.gpoaccess.gov/sou/index.html.
Conference report on H.R. 3199, USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (House Report 109-333) http://www.gpoaccess.gov/house_report_109-333.html.
[ Top ]
Franklin (franklin.gpo.gov), the new online catalog for the National Bibliography of U.S. Government Publications, [since renamed Catalog of Government Publications, or CGP] is being prepared for its official launch. The National Bibliography is a comprehensive index of public documents from all three branches of the Federal Government. In the online information environment, [the CGP] will be essential to GPO's core mission to ensure that the American public has access to Government information. [The CGP] is a component of a modernization plan to replace older legacy systems with GPO's recently acquired state-of-the-art integrated library system.
[The CGP] will provide more records and data than previous applications. It will contain more than 500,000 records dating from July 1976 to the present and will become more far reaching in the future. [The CGP] will replace older versions of the Catalog for U.S. Government Publications (CGP), the New Electronic Titles (NET), and the “Locate Libraries”. The “Other Catalogs to Search” feature will provide access to the Congressional Serial Set, periodicals, and Internet publications.
In addition to more extensive information, [the CGP] will be a robust search and retrieval tool that offers fielded searches and indexing to help with depository administrative functions. Direct links to online publications and to related records will be provided within the bibliographic record. GPO processing information and holdings will also be available.
A Statement of Work (SOW) for cataloging services to convert the historic shelflist and to catalog a small backlog of materials is being prepared for posting to Fedbiz Opps. A separate SOW is being drafted for cataloging services for materials acquired through web harvesting efforts. ID hopes to begin formal procurement activities early in calendar year 2006.
The primary objective of GPO's authentication initiative is to assure users that the information made available by GPO is official and authentic and that trust relationships exist between all participants in electronic transactions. GPO's authentication initiatives will allow users to determine that the files are unchanged since GPO authenticated them.
A GPO Source Selection Evaluation Board is currently reviewing offers from companies that are bidding on a Statement of Work crafted by the Authentication Team to assist GPO in procuring the necessary tools and capabilities to automate the application of digital signatures on Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) files. This will enable application of digital signatures in a more timely, efficient and cost-effective manner than can be achieved manually. As part of the same procurement, GPO intends to procure a validation mechanism that will enable users to easily view authentication information for digitally signed PDF documents. GPO hopes to make a contract award in January of 2006.
GPO has also begun applying its "Seal of Authenticity" to various print publications. This seal helps give the user assurance that their publication is coming from an official source and re-enforces the integrity of the publications. Additionally, GPO has developed an extensive Marketing plan for the release of the new program. Teams have been assembled, and plans are in place to spread the word about this innovative new GPO service to the widest audience possible.
One of the critical pieces of GPO's transformation from a 19th-century printing press operation to a 21st-century electronic information agency is GPO's Future Digital System (FDsys), which will manage, preserve, version, provide access to, and disseminate authentic digital content. GPO intends to procure the services of a contractor that will serve as the Master Integrator (MI) for building FDsys. The MI will work collaboratively with GPO to identify solutions for the FDsys functions and to integrate the various components, technology and applications into a world-class information life cycle management system. On December 20, 2005, GPO released a draft Request for Proposal (RFP) soliciting comments on the MI process and tasks. Comments are due by January 19, 2006. GPO expects that the final RFP reflecting these comments will be released in March. More information on FDsys is available at: http://www.gpo.gov/projects/fdsys.htm
As GPO works towards the completion of the GPO Access Distributed Computing/Data Disaster Recovery (DR) site, representatives from GITCO, AALL, and the Federal Depository Library Council will be conducting an evaluation of the site in its current state. This evaluation will allow library community representatives to compile and share a list of observations to address any desired improvements. The evaluation period is expected to run through the end of February 2006, at which time GPO anticipates initiating completion of the WAIS data clean up for the DR solution.
Additional evaluation opportunities will be made available as new phases of the DR implementation are completed. The feedback received will be instrumental as GPO moves toward the completion of the DR and explores the possibility of switching the site to the publicly accessible interim search solution until FDsys provides a new search platform.
GPO is working on a MOU involving GPO, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives and Records Administration that will outline roles and responsibilities in the provision of public access to digitized legacy Federal Government documents. This MOU is a prerequisite for obtaining approval for GPO participation in this project from our oversight committee, the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP). Once JCP approval is received, GPO will begin implementation of the plan for the digitization of Federal publications. Priorities for Digitization of Legacy Collection , GPO's planned approach to digitizing the tangible collections of historical documents in Federal depository libraries, is located at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/legacy/index.html
GPO will first focus on digitizing legislative and regulatory material that expands the coverage of the most popular GPO Access databases.
GPO is finalizing development of the Registry of U.S. Government Publication Digitization Projects. The Registry will be a locator tool for publicly accessible collections of digitized U.S. Government publications. When it is available via GPO Access, volunteer contributors will be able to input records about their institution's projects that include digitized copies of publications originating from the U.S. Government.
GPO's Digitization Specification 3.2 is in the process of being reviewed by participants in GPO's Meeting of Experts on Preservation. This specification when released will be used to support GPO's plan to convert legacy documents into preservation masters that will subsequently be used to creative derivative “access” files that support user requirements.
Version 3.2 is a result of multiple internal reviews and two focused external reviews by Federal agencies and universities involved in preservation quality digitization. Additional information about the legacy digitization project, including a link to Specification 3.0, is available at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/legacy
The specification will continue to evolve as technological advancements and digitization requirements occur in the digital imaging industry.
GPO is waiting for recommendations from the Depository Library Council for additional titles to be considered for inclusion in the Essential Titles for Public Use in Paper Format list. GPO and the Council are working together to develop and refine the methodology for a new survey for these titles.
The 2005 Biennial Survey of Depository Libraries ran from December 2, 2005 through the end of December. A total of 987 libraries responded during this period. GPO staff are now in the process of contacting the libraries that have not yet responded to the survey and the survey form will be available until the end of January. Libraries that have not submitted their responses will then be contacted directly to obtain their survey response.
Questions 65 and 66 dealing with digital publications files generated a healthy exchange of ideas for the discussion lists. While the final figures are not yet available, data from survey results received through January 12, 2006 included the following information:
65: My library systematically downloads, stores online publications identified from GPO Access or through GPO-created PURLS, and makes them accessible to the general public from local servers. This past year my library downloaded the following number of digital publication files (this does not include shipping lists, Web pages, or datasets):
0 = 823 libraries
1-25 = 90
26-100 = 25
101-500 = 26
501-1000 = 7
1001-5000 = 11
More than 5000 = 4
66. My library is willing to receive Federal digital publication files on deposit from GPO, store them, and make the accessible to the general public from local servers. My library is willing to receive the following number of digital publication files per year (this does not include shipping lists, Web pages, or databases):
0 = 652 libraries
1-25 = 176
26-100 = 56
101-500 = 41
501-1000 = 26
1001-5000 = 14
More than 5000 = 21
Libraries were also queried about their training needs. The mostly highly requested training was for Census, GPO OPAC, STAT-USA, GIS, and GPO Access services.
Another area of high interest in recent council meeting discussions, virtual reference, the survey showed that 494 libraries provide virtual reference service, but that a slightly higher number of libraries (547) were not interested in participating in a virtual reference service if it was administered by or through GPO.
The Federal Depository Library Program continues to be well known in the library community as an active, vital program, but it may not be so well known in local communities and service areas. According to the survey responses, 134 libraries are doing active promotion of the depository program to the general public, 626 libraries promote the depository program infrequently, and 226 libraries reported no depository promotion.
The final survey results will be summarized and made available in the near future. The raw survey responses will also be available for libraries to use in comparison with their information needs to do comparisons against past survey results. Previous biennial surveys in electronic formats are located at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/bisurvey/index.html
GPO-FDLP-L is now GPO's primary vehicle for communicating with depository library staff. As such, all depository libraries should have at least one staff member subscribed to this announcement service. To join the list, point your browser to: http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/archives/gpo-fdlp-l.html
Click on “Join or leave the list” and follow the on-screen instructions.
Based on responses to the November 2005 communications survey, Administrative Notes will be available in electronic format only, and paper distribution will be discontinued in 2006. Each issue will be available online, in HTML and PDF formats, at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/adnotes/index.html
The Administrative Notes Technical Supplement (ANTS) will continue to be published in paper as well as in electronic format through 2006, pending development of alternative products. The availability of each issue of Administrative Notes and ANTS will be announced via the GPO-FDLP-L listserv. The Information Dissemination communication policy currently under development will determine the long-term continuance of these two titles.
The spring Depository Library Council meeting will be held in Seattle, WA, at the Renaissance Hotel. The meeting is open to the depository library community, other information professionals, and the general public at no charge. Pre-registration is available at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/spring_reg.html
For reservations at the Renaissance Hotel, contact the hotel directly at 1-800-546-9184 and reference the Government Printing Office or the Federal Depository Library Council Meeting to get the prevailing government rate of $124.00 (plus applicable state and local taxes, currently 15.6%) a night for a single or double.
The meeting will begin Sunday, April 2, 2006, starting with registration from 8:00 a.m. - noon, and the first session, New Attendees Orientation, will run from 10:00 a.m. - noon. The regular schedule will commence that afternoon at 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The meeting will conclude at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, 2006.
For more information on the 2006 Spring Depository Library Council Meeting, go to: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/events/spring_council.html
The 19th Annual Interagency Depository Seminar will be held in Washington, DC from July 31, 2006 through August 4, 2006. During the weeklong seminar representatives from various Federal agencies will present an overview of their information products and activities as they relate to Federal depository libraries. The seminar, open to all depository library staff who would like to attend, but limited to 60 participants, will provide an opportunity for both new and experienced documents staff to review basic materials and learn about new products. Scheduling details, including participating agencies and tours, will be announced during the coming months.
Prospective attendees should complete the online registration form by May 31, 2006 at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/interagency_reg.html
Questions about the seminar should be directed to the Education and Outreach Staff by telephone on (202) 512-1119; by fax on (202) 512-0016; or by e-mail at ylouden@gpo.gov.
A block of 40 rooms has been set aside for seminar participants at the Red Roof Inn, located at 500 H St., NW, Washington DC 20001. Reservations should be made by calling the hotel at 202-289-5959 and providing the block code of B254AIDLS to receive the rate of $104.99 per night plus 14.5% tax. Reservations must be made by July 17, 2006 to insure the quoted rate and will be on a first come, first served basis.
GPO has been working with teams of volunteers from the Federal depository library community to develop the next generation Federal Depository Library Manual and Instructions to Depository Libraries . The resulting new publication will combine the Manual, its supplements, and the Instructions into a single online publication that will be updated as necessary. Each chapter will include requirements and performance examples with an emphasis on the electronic FDLP. The teams have now submitted most of the draft chapters to GPO and GPO staff is reviewing them.
The manual update Web site provides an outline for the chapters, timelines for the revision and other related information. It is available at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/e-manual.html
The GPO LOCKSS Pilot Project was launched in June 2005. To date, GPO has made the current volumes of five Government e-journals available to the 19 libraries that are participating in the twelve-month pilot. The Treasury Bulletin , the Social Security Bulletin, Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology , Humanities and Survey of Current Business are already available, and Monthly Labor Review and Monthly Energy Review will be released in January 2006. LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) is open source software that provides institutions with a way to collect, store, and preserve access to their own local copies of e-journal content. LOCKSS was developed by Stanford University, and is currently maintained by the Stanford University LOCKSS Program Management Office with support from the LOCKSS Alliance. The purpose of the GPO LOCKSS Pilot Project is to investigate whether LOCKSS, or similar software, can be used to manage, disseminate, and preserve access to Federal Government e-journals that are within the scope of the FDLP and the International Exchange Service (IES).
Measures of success for LOCKSS include harvesting 10 e-journals from Federal Government Web sites, providing access to those e-journals via LOCKSS, and collecting information from pilot partners about their experiences with LOCKSS.
Additional information and news about the GPO LOCKSS Pilot Project is available at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/lockss/index.html
GPO is working to devise a data migration strategy to ensure that information on the CD-ROMs that have been distributed to depository libraries remains accessible. After an initial review of CD-ROMs that have been distributed to depositories, we have selected three agencies to use as case studies: The Department of Education, the Department of Justice, and the United States Geological Survey. These agencies were selected because the number of discs produced appeared to be a manageable sample, yet varied enough to cover a good cross section of considerations for migration. We wanted a sample that would include:
Additionally, we want to see how much of the information on these discs is already available via the Internet.
A list of depository CD-ROMs from these agencies was prepared and reviewed to see which ones were available via the Internet. GPO will soon release a list of the discs reviewed, indicating which are available online and which are considered migration candidates. Titles available online will be considered for migration at a later date, but GPO is placing a higher priority on the titles not found online because those titles are at greater risk of loss of content. Discs considered to be migration candidates will be tested, and the results will be used to devise a migration strategy for other depository discs.
GPO also met with representatives from the Government Information Preservation Working Group (GIPWoG) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to discuss issues related to this project. These organizations are working with GPO on migration and possible reverse engineering of older discs to make the information on them available.
GPO is continuing its efforts to discover and retrieve publications from Federal agency web sites that fall within the scope of the FDLP and the National Bibliography Program. GPO is currently exploring a solution for the discovery, harvesting, and assessment of documents and publications from web sites utilizing web crawler and data mining technologies.
As a first step in learning about available methodologies and technologies, GPO will be working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a pilot project for web discovery and harvesting of all EPA web sites. In addition to locating electronic content for the FDLP, the information gained through this pilot will be utilized in developing a set of long-term requirements and specifications for web discovery and harvesting in conjunction with the implementation of GPO's FDsys.
GPO has received all appropriate internal and external approvals to move ahead with the pilot project. GPO received vendor proposals on December 6, 2005 and will award the contract in mid-February 2006. The intent is to select two vendors to conduct the pilot concurrently so as to compare technologies, approaches, and results. Once awarded, the selected vendor(s) will conduct three separate crawls of the EPA web site during a six-month period. The results from each will be compared to develop criteria for targeting in-scope materials other agency web sites for inclusion in GPO's information dissemination programs.
The annual item selection update is currently underway for participants in the FDLP. The update began on December 1, 2005 and will continue through January 31, 2006. The annual update cycle affords depository libraries the opportunity to add items to their selection profile. Added item numbers will go into effect on April 1, 2006. Items can also be dropped during the update cycle, or at any time during the year. The drops are effective immediately.
As part of its ongoing planning efforts, GPO undertook a review of the item number system used by libraries in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) to select tangible and electronic titles. As a result of this review, GPO released three briefing papers and solicited comments from the depository library community. All three papers are available at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/selection/index.html.
GPO received more than 90 comments on the briefing papers. GPO received a mix of comments on the proposed model for selection of online titles. The majority of comments GPO received found the proposed model for tangible selection to be a workable solution. All questions, comments, and suggestions received will be considered as we move forward with this process. The comments have been summarized and are available for review at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/selection/index.html.
GPO is currently revising the briefing papers and will release new versions that will incorporate feedback received during the comment period in the near future.
Effective February 1, GPOExpress, based on a contractual agreement between GPO and FedEx Kinko's, will begin supplying printing services to Federal agencies. Under this agreement, agencies will be issued with a credit card that allows them to purchase printing at their local FedEx Kinko's store. Part of the agreement includes the delivery of a PDF version of documents printed through this service to an FTP site that so that GPO can review/acquire titles for the National Bibliography of U.S. Government Publications.
GPO has begun selling the GPO Cataloging Records previously available as a monthly subscription service from the Library of Congress. The cataloging records are available in MARC format via ftp. The cost for the monthly service is $1,920. For more information, contact the GPO Contact Center: contactcenter@gpo.gov
A new RSS Feed (Rich Site Summary/Really Simple Syndication) for “What's New” on GPO Access is available at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov
RSS is a small XML file that notifies users when a Web site has been updated. Users subscribe to an RSS feed and receive notification message that alerts them to additions to the “What's New” feature.
Supreme Court Nomination Hearing transcripts (1971 - forward), in their entirety, are now available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/senate/judiciary/scourt.html
The United States Code: 2000 Edition, Supplement 2, is now available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/search.html
The United States Code is the codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States, based on what is printed in the Statutes at Large. It is divided by broad subjects into 50 titles and published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives.
GPO plans to release a United States Statutes at Large (Volume 117, 108 th Congress) application this spring, with future volumes to follow, after final review and approval by the Office of the Federal Register.
GPO currently has 15 partnerships with depository libraries and Federal agencies. A complete list is available at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/partners/index.html
Any depository interested in exploring the possibility of a partnership is encouraged to contact GPO.
GPO formed two new partnerships in 2005.
GPO and the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis implemented a partnership in April 2005 to provide depository access to Federal Government information in the Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research (FRASER) service.
GPO and the Robert Muldrow Cooper Library of Clemson University formed a partnership in June 2005 to facilitate the migration of tangible publications distribution to electronic (EL) dissemination for Federal depository libraries while assessing the operational and service implications of a regional Federal depository library with a primarily electronic collection.
While more than 92 percent of the new titles made available through the FDLP are available in electronic form, whether or not they are also available in tangible form, GPO continues to distribute a large volume of tangible publications to Federal depository libraries. In FY 2005, GPO distributed a total of 5,285,169 tangible copies (including maps) of 10,301 titles (paper, CD-ROM, microfiche, maps), to depository libraries.). Of the total, 7,714 titles were in paper (including maps).
Titles available through GPO Access are up substantially. In FY 2005, GPO added 18,834 titles, an increase in titles of 6,902 (58%) compared to FY 2004.
In addition, 6,432 publications were acquired for the electronic archive in FY 2005 via harvest from agency Web sites. ID is pursuing its web discovery and harvesting project as an alternative to manual harvesting, and anticipates a substantial increase in the number of harvested titles in FY 2006.
GPO produced 15,194 bibliographic records (including 2,094 ONIX records) in FY 2005. There is currently a backlog of 2,886 items to be cataloged. GPO is addressing the backlog by awarding a supplemental cataloging contract for which a Statement of Work will be published in FedBizOpps in February 2006.
Since its inception in 1994, GPO Access retrievals have exceeded 2.45 billion. June 2005 was the busiest month ever, with more than 39 million retrievals. The total number of retrievals in FY2005 was 431 million. Through November, more than 52.67 million additional documents have been retrieved in FY2006.
GPO is exploring opportunities to outsource all or parts of its sales and agency distribution programs. GPO is looking for vendors to recommend an entirely new "model" for publications sales and distribution operation. Rather than paying the vendor, GPO wants to find an arrangement where the vendor will share the revenue with GPO, improve service to our customers, and continue to fulfill our mission to keep America informed through the sale of public documents. GPO expects to release its RFP in January 2006 and receive return by the end of March 2006 for review.
GPO has launched an improved U.S. Government Online Bookstore that adds additional services for sales customers. The Online Bookstore now uses Pay.gov, a secure Government-wide financial management transaction portal available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for more timely and efficient processing of GPO credit card and deposit account orders. The improved Online Bookstore also provides customers with the option of expedited shipping via USPS Priority and Express Mail, new and improved shopping cart and order confirmation emails, expanded ordering options for international customers, and allows customers to save their shopping carts.
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Ric Davis has agreed to accept the position of Director, Library Service & Content Management, one of the positions in which he has been acting since October, 2005. He also recently served as Director of Program Development Service. The Program Development Service was responsible for managing and directing a state-of-the-art worldwide program that involved conceptualizing, evaluating, planning, designing, and implementing new GPO programs and projects in support of the Information Dissemination (Superintendent of Documents) mission and initiatives.