GPO is requesting comments on the first module, Public Services, of an
update of the Self-Study of a Federal Depository Library (Federal
Depository Library Manual, Supplement 3, Revised 1999). The new
Self-Study of a Federal Depository Library is designed to enable
depository coordinators to become more familiar with their depository
operations and to determine areas needing improvement or change.
Self-Study of a Federal Depository Library - Public Services
The Public Services module contains a list of questions on depository
public services, suggestions on evaluating your responses, and a
section on tracking progress where change is warranted. An overview of
legal authorities, a list of GPO and library resources for review, and
definitions of terms are also included.
We encourage you to review the module, and we welcome your comments.
The deadline for comments is Monday, August 18, 2008. We will give your
feedback careful consideration as we continue the Self-Study revision
process.
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Background on the Revised Self-Study
The Self-Study is a tool for your library’s voluntary, internal use
for educational or strategic planning purposes. Each module includes
constructive advice on how to address different situations in the
library. Future plans call for interactivity in the online resource to
accompany static sections that can be printed for use offline.
Modules under development will expand upon topics in the 1999
Self-Study. A new module under consideration is Strategies for
Improving Services, where we hope to share constructive and effective
strategies for different library situations that cover aspects of more
than one module. Examples of strategies include how to manage the
depository during library financial difficulties and how to improve the
visibility of the depository collection within the library building.
We plan to disseminate draft versions of each module as they are
fully developed. When all the modules are finalized, we encourage you
to review each one, and to complete those where it could lead to
improvements in the library’s depository operations. Each module is
designed so that it can be worked through in one continuous review, or
section by section, as time permits. For libraries that have a Shared
Housing Agreement with another library, the review of the main library
and the SHA library may be conducted together or separately.
We envision the Self-Study as a tool that will ultimately enhance
public access to U.S. Government information and increase
information-sharing among libraries, as depositories continue to
evolve, face new challenges, and collectively share solutions.
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