Slide 2 of 17 [ Table of Contents ]

Background A recommendation from the spring 1994 meeting of the Depository Library Council suggested the Library Programs Service (LPS) reexamine the depository inspection process. As part of this review, LPS developed a draft of a self-study to be used by depository libraries. Throughout 1995 and 1996, LPS asked libraries scheduled for inspection to complete the self-study report voluntarily. As part of the "Federal Depository Library Program Information Dissemination and Access Strategic Plan, FY 1996 - FY 2001," LPS modified the focus of the inspection program. Under the re-directed program, inspectors would visit those libraries that satisfy at least one of four criteria: The library did not meet depository standards established by GPO; The library had never been inspected; The library requested a site-visit from an inspector; or The library reported exemplary services or accomplishments, including a new building. In June 1996, LPS adopted the self-study instrument as an evaluation tool for use by depository libraries. Each depository library will submit a mandatory self-study report to LPS, which will determine the libraries that will be inspected. The basis for inspections is specified in 44 U.S.C. §1909, which states that "the Superintendent of Documents shall make firsthand investigation of conditions [in depository libraries] for which need is indicated" [emphasis added]. In September 1996, LPS issued the Federal Depository Library Manual Supplement 3: Self-Study of a Federal Depository Library. A slightly revised version of this manual is available on the FDLP Administration web site; the web version is the official text of the self-study template and supersedes the printed manual.

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