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Notes > May 15/June 15, 2007
Administrative Notes: Newsletter of the FDLP
New Members Named To Depository Library
Council
Acting Public Printer William H. Turri is pleased to announce the appointment
of six new members to the Depository Library Council.
The Depository Library Council, composed of 15 members, each of whom serve
three year terms, advises the Public Printer on policy matters relating
to the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The FDLP, which traces
its roots to 1813, provides access across America to the published information
of all three Branches of the U.S. Government through partnerships with
more than 1,250 libraries ranging from public libraries to research universities.
“I am very pleased to announce the appointment of these accomplished
and dedicated individuals who will advise us on crucial issues relating
to public access to U.S. Government information,” said Turri. “The
breadth of their experience will benefit the Federal Depository Library
Program as it continues to evolve from print to digital media.”
The six new Depository Library Council members are:
Gwen Sinclair, librarian in Government Documents & Maps at the University
of Hawaii at Manoa Library. Sinclair has served for eight years as a government
documents librarian, of which five have been as head of the department.
She has presented on depository issues at library conferences and published
articles and brochures on various library topics, including government
secrecy and libraries. Sinclair is the first DLC member to have ever been
appointed from the Pacific Island region. She also has significant experience
in library collection disaster planning and recovery.
Victoria Trotta, Associate Dean for Information Technology and the Ross-Blakley
Law Library at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University.
She has directed the Ross-Blakely Law Library since 2000, and has been
in her current position for five years. In addition to her responsibilities
for the oversight and planning for all aspects of the Law Library and
Information Technology, Trotta provides oversight of the library's Federal
depository library program. She has published extensively on topics relating
to legal research, provided legal instruction, and has extensive public
speaking experience.
Dr. Christopher Greer, a senior advisor for Digital Data at the National
Science Foundation in Arlington, Virginia. Dr. Greer is a member of the
permanent staff at the National Science Foundation. His current responsibilities
include strategic planning for digital data activities in the newly-formed
Office of Cyberinfrastructure. Dr. Greer recently served as Executive
Secretary for the Long-lived Digital Data Collections Activities of the
National Science Board and is currently Co-Chair of the Digital Data Interagency
Working Group of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee
on Science.
Kathryn Lawhun, the Chief of Main for the San Francisco Public Library.
Lawhun instituted changes in the way San Francisco's Government Information
Center collects, stores, and provides access to the collection. She aptly
dealt with the shift from print to virtual documents by providing computers,
free printing, training, databases, additional indexes, and audio-visual
and microform equipment in order to keep her staff and customers better
equipped to access information in this age of changing technology. Lawhun
continues to actively work with San Francisco Public Library's document
librarians to plan for the future of preserving government documents in
every form of media.
John Shuler, an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at
Chicago. He is the Bibliographer for Urban Planning and Government Information/Documents
Librarian in the library’s Collections Development Department. Previously
he was head of the documents department at Colgate University. Shuler
has published extensively on the policy implications of government information
in electronic media, and is a strong advocate of virtual reference. He
worked with GPO to create our first ever formal partnership with the FDLP,
and spearheaded a 30-library virtual reference collaboration that GPO
is taking steps to endorse through a formal partnership.
The following 2-year appointment fills the position vacated by Richard
Akeroyd, completing the remainder of Akeroyd’s term:
Kendall Wiggin is the State Librarian for Connecticut State Library,
and was previously Director of Libraries at the New Hampshire State Library.
He has also served on the board of directors of the New England Document
Conservation Center and Libraries for the Future. As the head of a State
Library that serves as a regional depository library, he is a strong advocate
for public access to government information and at the same time very
aware of the opportunities and challenges presented by the inevitable
transition to electronic documents. Responsible for a large historic collection
of government documents, he plans to work with GPO on the digitization
and preservation of these collections.
The GPO is the Federal Government’s primary centralized resource
for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing, authenticating, and preserving
published U.S. Government information in all its forms. GPO is responsible
for the production and distribution of information products and services
for all three branches of the Federal Government. In addition to publication
sales, GPO makes government information available at no cost to the public
through GPO Access (www.gpoaccess.gov),
and through partnerships with more than 1,250 libraries nationwide participating
in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). For more information,
please visit www.gpo.gov.
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Fall Council Meeting & Depository
Conference Announced
Registration is now open for the fall meeting of the Depository Library
Council and Federal Depository Library conference. For meeting registration,
go to the events page on the new FDLP Desktop, at: http://www.fdlp.gov/events/fall07.html.
Date & Time:
Monday, Oct. 15, 2007, 08:00 a.m. — Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007, 05:00
p.m.
Location:
Doubletree Hotel Crystal City-National Airport
300 Army Navy Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22202
The Conference and Council meeting are open to everyone, and there is
no registration fee. The programs provide Federal depository library staff,
information professionals, and all others interested in Federal Government
information dissemination the opportunity to stay current with Federal
Depository Library Program activities, provide input into the planning
process, and exchange ideas among colleagues.
Hotel Registration
A limited number of rooms at the Doubletree Hotel will be available on
a first-come, first-served basis at the Government rate prevailing at
the time of the meeting. The current rate is $195 (plus tax) per night
single and $215.00 (plus tax) per night double. The Government
rate may increase in the new fiscal year after October 1. Registrants
will be charged the prevailing Government rate regardless of the date
of their registration.
To book your reservations online, go to Doubletree's
Web site and use group/convention code FDL or call 1-800-HILTONS (445-8667).
Please mention the GPO's Federal Depository Library Conference
and Council meeting to receive the correct rate.
Reservations should be made before Tuesday, September 23, 2007 to ensure
receiving the prevailing Government rate. The District of Columbia’s
room tax is 14.5%. If you have any problem making your reservation, please
contact the Office of Education and Outreach at (202) 512-1119 for assistance.
Please make your reservations early!
Hotel reservations made after Tuesday, September 23, 2007 will be subject
to availability, and the rate may vary. The prevailing Government rate
will be honored beginning Thursday, October 11 through Saturday, October
20, 2007.
Parking
The hotel offers daily, overnight and valet parking. The maximum daily
self parking rate is $18.00 per day (with tax), valet is $24.00 per day.
Metro rail from the Reagan National Airport is approximately $2.00 and
cab fare is approximately $8.00. The Doubletree offers a courtesy shuttle
bus to and from Reagan National Airport to the hotel.
Vendors
Vendors interested in table space at the DLC meeting: please use the form
at http://www.fdlp.gov/index.php?option=com_philaform&form_id=11&Itemid=1
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Call for Educational Program Proposals
Issued
GPO's Library Services and Content Management has issued a call for proposals
for presentations for the upcoming fall meeting of the Depository Library
Council and Federal Depository Library Conference.
For details and the proposal form, go to the new FDLP Desktop at:
http://www.fdlp.gov/events/cfp.html.
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Cumulative Listing of Executive
Summary Performance Metrics Released
Library Services and Content Management is releasing a cumulative listing
of executive summary performance metrics on the activities of the Federal
Depository Library Program (FDLP) and the Cataloging and Indexing Program
(C&I). The cumulative statistics cover the date range of October 2005
(Fiscal year 2005) thru May 2007 (Fiscal year 2007 to date). The cumulative
report is now available online at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/metrics/index.html.
Annual Item Selection Update Cycle Ends
July 31
Adds will take effect October 1
For details, go to
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/tools/amendment.html
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CGP Functionality Enhanced
Library Services and Content Management is pleased to announce the availability
of two new email features as we continue to enhance services available
through the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP), http://catalog.gpo.gov.
When emailing up to twenty records there are now more format options from
which to select: “Standard”, “Short”, “MARC
Tags” and the newly added data formats: “MARC Format (.mrc)”
and “Aleph Sequential.”
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FDLP Desktop Beta 3.0 Launched
Beta 3.0 of the FDLP Desktop was unveiled on July 3, 2007. This limited
release features:
• New and improved forms--specifically Fall DLC Conference &
Meeting registration and Call for Education Proposals. Users will receive
an email confirmation of their submission. Meanwhile, LS&CM staff
will receive email notifications of submissions and all entries are saved
to a database. No more guessing if GPO received your registration! In
the future, your FDLP Desktop user profile will store your contact information
(if desired) and insert this information into forms to save you time.
You will also have the ability to unregister should the need arise.
• Keep up-to-date with the latest news regarding the FDLP with
newsflashes, RSS feeds, news articles, and more! Our new and improved
RSS feed is updated automatically as new content is published. In the
future, your site profile will allow you to subscribe to receive email
alerts of content based on content sections and categories.
• Site search functionality. Our site search is two-fold. As you
type your search term, a list of content items related to your search
will appear. If you see what you want, use your keyboard arrow keys to
navigate to the item and then hit <ENTER> to go to that article.
If you don't see what you want, finish your query and hit <ENTER>
to get a list of search results for your query.
This is only a glimpse of what has been done and what is yet to come!
Stay tuned as we continue to release new features of the Desktop. Other
features pending release include:
• Individual user profiles
• Self-moderated Needs & Offers
• Online ordering of GPO promotional materials with order tracking
• Private messaging
• Moderated online chats
• Discussion forums
LS&CM staff are currently conducting a comprehensive analysis of
the information disseminated on the FDLP Desktop in order to ensure that
it is current and catered appropriately for the Web and to our community's
expectations. We have decided to launch what has been completed so far
so that our community can take advantage of the completed, new features
while also having the chance to provide us feedback so we can make the
site as useful as possible. Due to the size of the site and scope of the
redesign, we will maintain dual sites during the migration and will create
redirects to migrated.
In the meantime, our beta user is still active. Log in and check out
what registration will offer:
• Username: ahasse
• Password: sudoc1
As an added bonus, we are announcing a new URL for the FDLP Desktop.
Access us now at http://www.fdlp.gov!
Please report any bugs or provide your suggestions, rants, raves, et
cetera via our feedback form.
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Federal Depository Library Handbook
Chapters Posted for Comment
Chapter 5: Depository Collections, is now posted for public comment by
the depository community and other interested parties. Please use the
Web form provided at the Handbook Web site to submit comments by Friday
July 27, 2007. The chapter is available for review at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/handbook/index.html.
Chapter 6: Technical Services, remains available for public comment at
the same web site. Deadline for comments on this chapter is July 20, 2007.
The remaining three Handbook chapters will be posted at the Web site
as they become available.
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GPO Authenticates Electronic Documents
GPO has taken a big step in fulfilling one of the most important
goals of its Strategic Plan—providing authentic, electronic government
information to the public. The launch of the Public
and Private Laws beta site is the latest milestone in developing our
authentication capabilities. GPO launched this as a beta site to allow
users to help us test the technology and to provide feedback.
What is authentication?
Authentication is the process of verifying that the electronic document
came from a trusted source and has not been modified before reaching the
user.
How does it work?
Currently, we are manually signing each Public and Private Law. That means
a GPO employee goes through a process for each PDF (Adobe’s Portable
Document Format) file and applies GPO’s Seal of Authenticity, using
PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) and digital signature technologies. Seeing
the seal allows the user to quickly recognize that the file has been authenticated
by GPO, and that it is trustworthy.
Can I see it?
You are encouraged to visit the site and to check out the authenticated
documents. You can see firsthand GPO’s progress in executing its
Strategic Plan. Also, there is a Provide Feedback box that will take you
to a survey where you can share your thoughts.
What’s the big deal?
Given the number of digital documents that GPO provides to our users,
authentication is critical in ensuring that what they are getting has
not been altered. Authentication is a major component of GPO’s Strategic
Plan and also of the Future Digital System.
What’s next?
The beta test is the first step toward being able to authenticate many
more of the documents GPO provides electronically. GPO has been working
with contractors on the development of a bulk signing tool that will allow
us to automate the process and apply the signature to large numbers of
[ Top ]
Library Services and Content
Management Update
Remarks by Richard G. Davis
Acting Superintendent of Documents
Director, Library Services and Content Management
At the Federal Documents Task Force Meeting
ALA Annual Conference
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Good afternoon! I am pleased to be at the Federal Documents Task Force
meeting to provide you with an update from the Government Printing Office.
Before I begin with some of our new initiatives, there are a couple of
important items of note to speak about.
The FDLP and the Future Digital System
Recently, I have heard some discussion in the Federal depository library
community about how the future of GPO’s work with the FDLP may be
taken over by the FDsys. I want to assure you that this is certainly not
the case. In reality, the FDsys is being built, in part, to serve the
digital content management needs of the FDLP, but it is also a key component
of information/enterprise architecture for the agency. The FDLP remains
an integral program, and the FDsys is an information management tool that
will greatly benefit our program. Some of the specific benefits to the
program that FDsys will provide include: improved search functionality,
more authentication, version tracking, and online personalization options.
FDsys is also complementing print by supporting Print on Demand and high
volume printing technologies. We are looking forward to the future releases
of technologies associated with the Future Digital System being built
by Mike Wash’s Chief Technical Office team at GPO to help us.
GPO Access – No Fee Access
I also want to emphasize that GPO’s commitment to provide the public
with no-fee access to Government information through the FDLP, including
GPO Access, remains the same. GPO will not allow access to content available
through GPO Access to be restricted, diminished, or based on user fees
for the FDLP. The public will be able to continue to print and download
this information through the FDLP without restriction into the future.
New Public Printer and New Superintendent of Documents
First, as you may know, President Bush intends to nominate Bob Tapella,
of Virginia, to be the next Public Printer. Mr. Tapella currently serves
as Chief of Staff of GPO. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Chief of
Staff. It is our expectation that once the new Public Printer has been
confirmed, a decision and announcement on the next Superintendent of Documents
would follow shortly thereafter. While I am not a candidate for the position,
I am proud to serve as the Acting Superintendent of Documents until a
new one is appointed, and once that occurs, I will continue on in my current
position as the Director, Library Services and Content Management.
New Depository Library Council Members
Depository Library Council members are so very integral to the long-running
success of the FDLP. They serve to assist and advise GPO in identifying
and evaluating methods to improve public access to Government information
through the FDLP. We are currently in the process of confirming our newest
DLC members, and you can expect a press release within the next week.
Budget
I also wanted to update on GPO’s FY08 budget request, specifically
as it relates to the Salaries and Expenses Appropriation. House Report
2771 is available on GPO Access, the Legislative Branch Appropriations
Act, 2008. It passed the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon.
For 2008, GPO requested $45,613,000 for the Salaries and Expenses appropriation.
Special projects for the FDLP fall under this category, including data
migration and processing new digitized and harvested content for GPO Access,
FDLP outreach and assessments, an expansion of our cataloging and indexing
program for web harvesting and other initiatives. The House recommendation
is that we receive $35,434,000. While this is significantly less than
requested, it is an increase of $2,338,000 from what we are currently
receiving. Once we have more information on our appropriations, as they
make their way through the Senate and conference, we will share it with
you.
I’d now like to take some time to update you on some of the various
initiatives we are working on at GPO.
FDLP Desktop
I am pleased to announce that we have a beta redesign of the FDLP Desktop
available. The innovative design offers the use of the latest Web tools
to enhance your interaction with GPO and your colleagues. Although still
in beta mode, the redesign features friendly and reorganized content with
customization options, a site search, and more. All of your favorite content
from the old Desktop is currently being migrated to the new site.
Additionally, the Library unit will be unveiling a new service called
FDLP Express. With this new service, users can register to have the latest
news and updates from the new Desktop captured and sent right to their
e-mail inbox. This new service makes it convenient and easy for you to
stay current with the timeliest FDLP updates. FDLP Express will ensure
that you receive news and updates as quickly as possible without having
to constantly check the Web site for new information.
Authentication
As you may know, authenticated Public and Private Laws for the 110th Congress
are now available on GPO Access as a searchable and browseable application
in beta form. Public and private laws within this application contain
digitally signed and certified PDF files that contain GPO's Seal of Authenticity.
This authentication initiative furthers GPO’s work to provide users
further assurance that files electronically disseminated through GPO Access
are unchanged since GPO authenticated them. The URL for this new application
is included in the latest GPO Update.
As part of testing GPO's authentication technology, we would like to
collect valuable input and comments from all users on this application.
Handles
While GPO is currently assigning PURLs to online publications, Handles
is the persistent identifier of choice selected by the team at GPO building
the Future Digital System. In view of this, Library unit staff are leading
an effort to release a beta version of the Handles implementation project.
GPO began assigning PURLs to online publications in 1999 and to date
we’ve created more than 80,000 PURLs with an additional 800-1,000
PURLs being generated each month. Migration of these PURLs to Handles
will follow the implementation with the Future Digital System.
Shared Regionals
I’d like to talk about a goal identified in GPO’s A Strategic
Vision for the 21st Century: to develop a new model for the FDLP that
increases partner flexibility. I want to emphasize the word “flexibility.”
One stated objective is, “to allow the existing 53 [now 52] regional
depository libraries to combine their tangible collections in a manner
that will continue to offer acceptable public access to documents at reduced
operating costs to participating libraries.”
As you all know, the concept of multiple libraries sharing the responsibilities
of a regional Federal depository is not new. It is almost as old as the
statute that created regional depositories in 1962. Within the statutory
framework of Chapter 19, Title 44, U.S.C., different models of sharing
resources and responsibilities between regional and selective libraries
within the states they serve have been implemented over the years. These
include different models of intra-state sharing between regional and selective
libraries, and between regional depository libraries in one state and
selective depository libraries in an adjacent state where no regional
library exists.
For almost fifteen years now that I have been a part of it, the Federal
depository library community has discussed alternative models for carrying
out the responsibilities of regional depository libraries. More recently
I recall, for instance, a Regional Meeting we had in 2003 on Strengths,
Opportunities, Weaknesses and Threats at our Fall Regional Meeting. There
was a statement made back then that in looking to the future, GPO must
acknowledge that all regionals are not equal. GPO has a responsibility
to engage library administrations in the need for the continued existence
of the Regional when that administration pulls their support or other
resources from a Regional.
Back then, and especially since then, technological innovations and the
online environment have made it possible to develop models for sharing
resources and responsibilities between regional depositories in different
states and the selective libraries and patrons they support. In this environment
where geographic boundaries are blurred to services, who better to determine
how to deliver the Government information needs of a region than the depository
libraries that currently serve it?
In working to meet the goal in GPO’s Strategic Vision, and also
at the request of the depository library community, GPO developed Guidelines
for Establishing Shared Regional Depository Libraries. These draft guidelines
were posted to the FDLP Desktop and a request for comments was sent through
FDLP-L. At the start of my comments on this section, I emphasized the
word “flexibility.” I can tell you today that based upon all
the comments I have read thus far, I think all of us have general agreement
on that principle. I believe every letter I have received used the word.
Now we need to work together, cautiously yet optimistically, and within
the boundaries of the law, to move the FDLP forward in a manner that continues
to serve the public without sacrificing our historical principles that
have worked so well. That is the challenge: moving from broad principles
to the details of how best to accomplish this without sacrificing the
historical underpinnings of the program. I am confident that if we keep
communications open and work on this together, we can keep this program
viable and relevant into the future.
GPO encourages you to read the guidelines and send in your thoughts and
suggestions to us—as individuals, organizations, as a region. GPO
wants to receive comments that represent the broad spectrum of our community.
The deadline for submitting comments was extended through June 29th. GPO
plans to share these comments with both legal staff at GPO and also our
congressional oversight committee, so that we can work together with the
library community on next steps to best address interstate shared regional
opportunities that we are being asked to respond to. Send your e-mail
to Cindy Etkin at cetkin@gpo.gov.
While working on new initiatives, GPO continues to improve and enhance
existing services.
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
The first enhancements that I wanted to address concern the Catalog of
U.S. Government Publications, GPO’s online public access catalog.
The CGP has been live since March 6, 2006, and since that time, it has
had more than 20 million successful requests. Recently, we began offering
new e-mail features. When e-mailing up to twenty records there are now
more format options from which to select.
Also, testing of Z39.50 access to the CGP has been underway since mid-April.
Testers will continue to test and provide feedback on their experiences
until the end of June. Additionally, the new Federal Depository Library
Directory is nearing release as a service of the CGP. A Brief Bibliography
pilot project is also underway to test workflows, and the separate record
approach for cataloging and information is on the FDLP Desktop.
Partnerships
Partnerships with other organizations within the FDLP community are integral
to GPO’s mission and to serving our customers according to the highest
standard possible. There are a few enhancements of note that I wanted
to talk about today. First, this April, GPO signed a partnership agreement
with Southern Methodist University for permanent public access to the
library's World War II digital library. Partnership discussions are also
underway with the Homeland Security Digital Library and the Government
Information Online virtual reference service. Also, work with Oklahoma
State University continues on the redesign of Browse Topics. I want to
encourage all of you to consider becoming a volunteer contributor for
one or several of the many topics covered.
Finally, to help encourage the development of partnerships, work is underway
to enhance partnership-related information on the FDLP Desktop. As a first
step, sample Memorandums of Understanding for content and service partnerships
have been added to the Desktop.
Digitization Demonstration Project
In March 2006, a six-month digitization demonstration project was authorized
by the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP). The project began in July 2006
and provided GPO the opportunity to test equipment capabilities, develop
workflow processes, analyze costs, and evaluate methods for ingest, storage,
and access to the digitized files.
The project was under the purview of the Customer Services Business Unit,
Digital Conversion Services. They used our Operational Specification for
Converted Content to produce preservation master files. Specifications
for Quality Control was used to determine the quality of the preservation
master files. The access derivatives were created as Adobe Acrobat Portable
Document Format (PDF) files.
We provided the unit with the publications for digitization, based upon
previously identified priorities. The Chief Technical Officer (CTO) reaffirmed
that the specifications met the requirements of the Future Digital System.
The project was completed in December 2006, and in January 2007 GPO arranged
a meeting of specialists that represented the Federal government, Federal
depository libraries, academic libraries, and others in the information
community.
The attendees were surveyed and there was agreement that the digitization
specifications for preservation level scanning produced high quality acceptable
derivatives that support access and search.
There also was consensus that GPO’s role in the digitization arena
is not necessarily to digitize the entire collection of Federal publications
all on our own. Rather, the group indicated that GPO should play a role
in the cooperative environment of Federal publications digitization projects.
They also pointed out that GPO should carve a niche for itself by digitizing
special materials such as maps, fragile materials, or microfiche.
At its April 2007 meeting, the Depository Library Council came to similar
conclusions and recommended that GPO partner with libraries and other
institutions on digitization projects. Council further recommended that
GPO focus its efforts on standardizing partnership agreements and coordinating
the dissemination of specifications for digitization.
GPO will be making a summary of the Digitization Demonstration Project
available along with a proposed path for moving ahead. And we look forward
to any comments you may have on the direction we’ll propose to the
JCP.
Automated Metadata Extraction
GPO has entered into an agreement with DTIC, the Defense Technical Information
Center, to be part of the automated metadata extraction software development
project. DTIC has been working on this tool with Old Dominion University
since FY 2004.
The automated metadata extraction tool uses a software application that
can identify and extract metadata such as title, corporate author, report
date, distribution limitations, etc., from an electronic document with
minimal or no human intervention for the citation creation. The application
uses a rules-based template approach. Documents are grouped based on layout
and a template is created for each group.
GPO will be working with ODU to enhance the templates already in use
for the DTIC scientific and technical documents to test the feasibility
of their use on the EPA documents that GPO gathered during the harvesting
pilot project we conducted.
For more information on the metadata extraction process, go to the FDLP
Desktop for Gopi Nair’s presentation in the Fall 2006 Proceedings
of the Federal Depository Library Conference. His presentation includes
samples of metadata extracted from Congressional hearings.
Lou Rosenfeld, co-author of the best selling book Information Architecture
and the World Wide Web, has estimated that it would take 60 employee-years
to create metadata for a collection of one million documents. At that
rate GPO is very glad DTIC began exploring automated metadata extraction.
And we’re looking forward to working with DTIC and ODU on this project.
We will keep the community informed as this project moves forward.
Last but not least, there are a couple of quick reminders.
Annual Item Selection Update
The deadline for amending item selections is July 31, 2007. Any drop changes
you make will be effective immediately, and any add changes will be effective
on October 1, 2007.
2007 Biennial Survey
Also, the 2007 biennial survey is scheduled to be released in October
2007. GPO staff members are currently at work refining the survey tool,
and of course, survey questions will be shared with the community prior
to its release. More information on the survey will be forthcoming in
the next few months.
Interagency Depository Seminar
I also wanted to take the opportunity to remind you that the 2007 Interagency
Depository Seminar will be held in Washington, DC from July 30 - August
3. Representatives from a variety of Federal agencies will present an
overview of their information products and services as they relate to
Federal depository libraries. Advance registration is required, but there
is no fee to attend the seminar. Prospective attendees should complete
the online registration form on the FDLP Desktop.
I sincerely thank you for your time today, and I will be available throughout
the conference, along with several other GPO staff members. Feel free
to engage us on any of the initiatives going on at the GPO.
[ Top ]
[Handout]
Library Services and Content Management Update – ALA Annual Conference
– June 2007
ANNUAL ITEM SELECTION UPDATE
The annual update cycle affords depository libraries the opportunity to
add items to their selection profile, and will take place beginning on
June 1, 2007. Libraries are asked to evaluate their selections during
the months of June and July and submit their final adds and drops by July
31, 2007. Items can be dropped during the update cycle, or at any time
during the year. The drops are processed immediately and take effect within
48 hours. Items selected during the update cycle will become effective
on October 1, 2007.
GPO recommends that libraries review their current selections in terms
of their communities’ Government information needs and change their
selections accordingly.
2007 INTERAGENCY DEPOSITORY SEMINAR
The 20th Annual Interagency Depository Seminar will be held in Washington,
DC from July 30 - August 3, 2007. Representatives from a variety of Federal
agencies will present an overview of their information products and services
as they relate to Federal depository libraries. Prospective attendees
should complete the online registration form at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/registration/interagency_reg.html
DEPOSITORY LIBRARY COUNCIL MEETINGS & FEDERAL DEPOSITORY
LIBRARY CONFERENCE
The 2007 Fall Depository Library Council Meeting and Federal Depository
Library Conference will be held from Monday, October 15 through Wednesday,
October 17, 2007, at the Doubletree Hotel Crystal City located in Arlington,
VA.
The 2008 Spring Depository Library Council meeting will be held March
30 through April 2, 2008 at the Westin Crown Center Hotel located in Kansas
City, Missouri.
Additional information for these meetings will be made available to the
depository community once registrations and hotel reservations are being
accepted.
PUBLIC ACCESS ASSESSMENTS
Public access assessments will enable Library Services & Content Management
(LSCM) to fulfill legal requirements “to make firsthand investigation
of conditions for which need is indicated” (44 USC §1909).
Assessments will emphasize public access to all formats of depository
resources and related library services. They will also provide libraries
with opportunities to share depository management best practices in order
to enhance depository services and promote greater efficiency and effectiveness
of depository operations. GPO expects to perform public access assessments
of all libraries on a regular schedule, beginning in 2008.
For more on Public Access Assessments, go to: http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/proceedings/07spring/assessments-0407.pdf.
BIENNIAL SURVEY
GPO is in the process of developing an online survey instrument and testing
the functionality of the software for the 2007 Biennial Survey. In addition,
GPO is reviewing the questions to find ways to more effectively measure
operations and more accurately assess library conditions.
The Biennial Survey provides GPO with important information used in administering
the FDLP. The 2005 Biennial Survey Results include questions and aggregate
responses from a total of 1,190 depository libraries that responded to
the 2005 Survey. The 2005 Survey data includes the questions and individual
library responses which may be downloaded in preparation for the 2007
Biennial Survey. These files are accessible from the FDLP Desktop at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/bisurvey/
AUTHENTICATION
In late May, GPO released the beta Authenticated Public and Private Laws
for the 110th Congress to the library community for comment. The beta
application is searchable and browseable at http://fdlpdev.gpo.gov/plaws/index.html.
This application contains digitally signed and certified PDF files that
contain GPO’s Seal of Authenticity. GPO is using Public Key Infrastructure
(PKI) and Digital Signature technologies to verify the authenticity of
the electronic U.S. Government documents that are disseminated through
the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). As part of testing GPO’s
authentication technology, we would like to collect valuable input and
comments from all users. If you would like to provide us feedback, please
complete our feedback form, http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=44753915185.
GPO’s Authentication initiative focuses on the primary objective
of assuring users that the information made available by GPO is official
and authentic and that trust relationships exist between all participants
in electronic transactions. In furthering GPO’s mission to provide
permanent public access to authentic U.S. Government publications, GPO
is working to afford users further assurance that files electronically
disseminated through GPO Access are unchanged since GPO authenticated
them and provide security for and safeguard Federal Government publications
that fall within scope of the FDLP.
DIGITIZATION OF THE LEGACY COLLECTION
In March 2006, a six-month digitization demonstration project was authorized
by the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP). The project began in July 2006,
with the goal of providing GPO the opportunity to test equipment capabilities,
develop workflow processes, analyze costs, and evaluate methods for ingest,
storage, and access to the digitized files. The demonstration project
was completed in December 2006. In January 2007, GPO arranged a meeting
of digitization specialists representing Federal libraries, Federal depository
libraries, academic libraries and others in the information community,
to review and provide feedback to GPO on a sample set of digitized files
in PDF format.
A draft summary report of the Digitization Demonstration Project has
been completed and is being reviewed by GPO management. The summary, which
will be posted for public comment once approved, includes a short synopsis
of the specialists’ review of the converted document files, as well
as a list of recommendations for future GPO digitization efforts and next
steps for GPO’s digitization program.
SHELFLIST DIGITIZATION
The pre-1976 historic shelflist project goal is to convert the bibliographic
data on these cards into machine-readable records in MARC21 format so
that they can be loaded to GPO’s Integrated Library System (ILS)
(Aleph 500) catalog. The solicitation for conversion of the historic shelflist
was reposted and open for bids on May 24, 2007, and responses are due
by June 29, 2007. The file is at http://www.fbo.gov/spg/GPO/PSPSD/WashingtonDC/ASBTS07/listing.html.
FDLP DESKTOP REDESIGN
GPO unveiled a beta redesign of the FDLP Desktop at the spring Depository
Library Council meeting in Denver, CO. Our goal for the redesign is to
balance the mission of the FDLP with the latest Web tools to enhance your
interaction with GPO and the depository community. The beta FDLP Desktop
is available at: http://fdlpdev.gpo.gov/fdlp.
[This site will be shut down soon. See article on Beta 3.0 on p. 5. –Ed.
7/13/07]
EXPRESS NEWSLETTER
In conjunction with the new FDLP Desktop, GPO plans to launch an online
express newsletter that will “push” information to subscribers,
taking advantage of many of the capabilities that will be available in
the new desktop. The express newsletter will be offered in addition to
the Administrative Notes newsletter and its Technical Supplement. Still
in the planning stages, testing of the express newsletter will commence
when the desktop is launched later this year.
GPO/NTIS PILOT PROJECT
Through a pilot project, Depository libraries have no-fee access to DARTS
(Depository Access to Reports, Technical and Scientific), a database containing
NTIS online reports dating from 1964 to 2000. The purpose of the pilot
is to determine if NTIS can participate in the FDLP by providing access
to its online content without having a negative impact on revenue, as
by statute NTIS is self-sustaining.
After beta testing, the pilot began in late February and is projected
to last a year. To date, 322 depositories have registered for the service.
They have visited the site more than 2,000 times, with an average of 17
visits per day, each visit lasting an average of a little more than nine
minutes. To sign-up for the service, fill out the verification form and
fax it to GPO at 202-512-2300. The form is available at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/coll-dev/ntisform.pdf.
Any questions about this project or signing up for it, should be addressed
to Cindy Etkin at cetkin@gpo.gov.
HANDLES BETA TEST
GPO has selected the Handles System for persistent identifier technology,
and LSCM plans to beta test the system in the coming months. On-going
discussions with other business units within GPO are now occurring to
coordinate the technical aspects of the beta test. Additionally, LSCM
staff are exploring the details for registering the IP address for the
Handles server with the Corporation for National Research Initiatives,
and staff are scheduled to attend a Handles workshop offered as part of
the International Digital Object Identifier Foundation's 2007 Annual Members
Meeting in Washington. GPO plans to complete the beta test and document
the results before the end of this calendar year.
ILS STATUS AND NEXT DELIVERABLES
New Email Services Implemented
Library Services and Content Management is pleased to announce the availability
of two new email features as we continue to enhance services available
through the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP), http://catalog.gpo.gov.
When emailing up to twenty records there are now more format options from
which to select: "Standard", "Short", "MARC Tags"
and the newly added data formats: "MARC Format (.mrc)" and "Aleph
Sequential".
Z39.50
Testing by a select group of depositories is continuing through June 30.
GPO continues to work on activities leading to release to all depositories,
with a target of late summer, including analyzing the log files, data
gathering, and evaluation of testers’ feedback. GPO automation staff
have also been working with a variety of Z39.50 clients, to enable some
basic assistance to depositories with questions.
New Federal Depository Library Directory
Final development is underway prior to the release of the new Federal
Depository Library Directory as a service of the Catalog of U.S. Government
Publications. A data entry conventions guide and an OPAL presentation
will be released to the depository community for assistance in updating
their directory information prior to release of the Directory to the public.
Upgrade of Aleph software to version 18
LTIS is working with Ex Libris and our systems integrator, Progressive
Technology Federal Systems (PTFS) on activities surrounding the upgrade
of the Aleph software to version 18. GPO brought up the ILS on version
16.02. Once the new version is fully tested in the test environment, the
production server will be upgraded. Completion is estimated by the end
of the year. Version 18 has many new features, particularly in the area
of patron authenticated services.
Citrix implementation
The implementation of Citrix to provide GPO staff secure desktop access
to the Aleph client is in the final testing stages before acceptance.
Implementation will enable workflow changes and faster appearance of Federal
government publications in the CGP in at least brief record form.
MetaLib
Planning is underway to upgrade the MetaLib to version 4 prior to moving
forward to implementation. Dependent on time and staff needed to work
on the Aleph software version 18 upgrade, implementation is projected
by the end of the year.
FEDERAL DEPOSITORY LIBRARY HANDBOOK
Work on the new Federal Depository Library Handbook is progressing steadily.
The public comments received on twelve sections have been reviewed and
incorporated as appropriate.
Chapter 6 (Technical Services) is posted for public comment on the FDLP
Desktop at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/handbook/index.html,
with comments due by July 23, 2007.
Chapter 5 (Depository Collections) was sent to key stakeholders for comment.
Chapters 2 (Legal Requirements), 7 (Public Assessments), 13 (Increasing
Electronic Depository Collections), and various appendices are under development.
The twelve sections which are in "FINAL DRAFT" versions are
posted to the FDLP Desktop for reference use. The final versions may change
slightly when the entire FDL Handbook is finalized. The FDL Handbook is
expected to be completed this summer.
DISTRIBUTION AND GPO ACCESS STATISTICS
During the period from October 2006 through May 2007, GPO distributed
2,620,678 tangible copies of 5,768 titles (print, microfiche, CD's, DVDs
and in-house maps). USGS map distribution during the same period included
266 titles and 68,849 copies.
From October 2006 through May 2007, 10,122 online titles and 4,488 PURL
links to agency titles outside of GPO Access were added, for a total of
14,610 new online titles. These additions bring the total number of titles
to 219,773, and the total number of PURL links to agency titles outside
of GPO Access to 52,442, for a total of 272,215 titles accessible through
GPO Access.
In the first 7 months of FY 2007, 270.3 million documents were retrieved
from GPO Access, averaging nearly 38.6 million a month, or 1.3 million
per day. Retrievals from GPO Access since its inception in 1994 now total
3.2 billion.
In the first 8 months of FY 2007, 12,094 titles were cataloged, compared
with 8,893 in the same period in FY 2006.
[ Top ]
Questions?
If you have questions or comments on any of the content
in Administrative Notes, please send them to askGPO, the online help service
at:
http://gpo.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/gpo.cfg/php/enduser/ask.php
To ensure that your question is routed to the correct
area, please choose the category "Federal Depository Libraries"
and the appropriate subcategory, if any.
You may also contact the GPO Customer Contact Center
at 866-512-1800 (Toll-free), or at 202-512-1800 (DC Metropolitan Area),
Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., EST.
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