Retired: 1996 Recommended Minimum Specifications for Public Access Work Stations in Federal Depository Libraries

[ Note: These standards are now superseded. For a complete explanation of LPS' current workstation recommendations and requirements, go HERE . ]

These recommended specifications are intended to assist depository librarians who are planning purchases of new personal computers (PCs) for public use in Federal depository libraries. The "Recommended Minimum Technical Guidelines," last published by the Library Programs Service (LPS) in January 1995, are superseded.

Related Issues and Considerations

The specifications are intended to assist in the purchase of new public access work stations capable of using most text-based FDLP electronic information products. Additional or different capabilities may be desirable for work stations used by library staff. Some libraries may elect to add applications software, such as spreadsheet, word processing, or data base software, to their public access work stations, but this is a local resource management decision.

LPS has been advised that work stations which conform to these minimum specifications may not be adequate for electronic cartographic information, or to run geographic information system (GIS) software. LPS is working with the Cartographic Users Advisory Council (CUAC) to develop a supplemental set of specifications which support GIS applications.

Depository libraries are encouraged to adapt this menu of specifications to fit their local situations. Although these specifications describe a robust multi-purpose single work station, many institutions are providing electronic access in networked environments. LPS cannot anticipate or address every possible depository library computer scenario. Rather, these specifications are intended to assist depository staff in making informed purchases which will best achieve the goal of providing public access to Federal Government information in a variety of electronic formats.

Computer equipment in depository libraries must be sufficient to allow timely and equitable public access to the Government electronic information products and should allow printing or downloading information selected by the user.

Given the large variation in the size of Federal depository libraries and the numbers of users served, LPS can not recommend a universal standard for the number of public access work stations in any given library. However, when assessing work station needs, librarians should consider such local factors as the amount of information provided over the Internet compared with the amount from CD-ROM, whether and how the work stations are networked, to what extent users are permitted to perform additional information processing at the public access work stations, whether users are experiencing extended waiting times at library peak service hours, etc.

LPS has deliberately not provided specifications for Apple Macintosh (Mac) or UNIX work stations. Based on responses to the 1995 Biennial Survey, Mac's are the computer of choice for a small minority of the depository libraries. However, depository libraries which have a Mac or UNIX environment should assess their functional capabilities in light of these specifications.

Many depository libraries have existing computer equipment which is no longer "state of the art." These specifications are not intended to be applied retrospectively to existing equipment, although they may assist in determining the appropriate time for replacement or upgrading.

These specifications are not intended to describe the best possible work station. Instead, they are the minimum, or baseline, specifications which should be considered when purchasing new stand-alone public access work stations. LPS encourages the purchase of equipment which exceeds these minimum specifications if economically feasible. The speed at which the computer capabilities evolve suggests that a higher initial outlay will result in an extended useful life for the equipment.

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