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The Library Programs Service (LPS) is pleased to announce that Ms. Sheila McGarr has been appointed as Chief of the Library Division, effective June 7, 1999. Her new duties include managing the Depository Administration Branch, Cataloging Branch, and the Depository Services Staff and advising the Director, LPS on program-related matters.

In December 1981, Sheila began her career at GPO as a depository library inspector. From 1987-1992, she served as Chief of the Depository Administration Branch. Since September 1992, she has been Chief of the Depository Services Staff. For the time being she will continue to supervise the depository library inspectors and organize the annual Federal Depository Conference and the Interagency Depository Seminar.

Prior to joining GPO, Sheila worked at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and before that she was employed at the North Shore Community College in Beverly, Massachusetts. She received her M.S.L.S. from The Catholic University of America and her B.A. from Merrimack College.

Annual Selection Update Cycle 2000 Running June & July

Survey 99-002 Issued

Survey 99-002 has been assigned to shipping list 99-233-P dated May 24, 1999. The survey will run from May 24, 1999 until June 4, 1999. All depository libraries, selectives and regionals, must respond to this survey.

Libraries will not receive a paper copy of this shipping list. The survey is available online only at: <www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/surv99-2.html >.

Two products will be surveyed:

• Administrative Office of U.S. Courts will issue Court Testimony and Miscellaneous Information on CD-ROM. Page counts and software requirements will vary upon release.

• The Patent and Trademark Office is discontinuing the use of CD-ROM format and converting to DVD-ROM format. Several titles will be combined. Frequencies will vary, but all titles will supersede. These DVD-ROM products are due to start with the September/October, 1999 issues.

1. Patents BIB (C 21.31/2:) and Patents SNAP (C 21.31/6:) will be combined. New class will be C 21.31/16:, item 0154-H-01.
2. Patents ASSIGN (C 21.31/4:) and Trademarks ASSIGN (C 21.31/9:) will be combined. New class will be C 21.31/13:, item 0154-H-02.
3. Trademarks REGISTERED (C 21.31/7:) and Trademarks PENDING (C 21.31/8:) will be combined. New class will be C 21.31/14:, item 0154-H-03.
4. Patents CLASS (C 21.31/3:) Title and class remain the same. New item: 0154-H-04
5. Trademark ASSIST (C 21.31/10:) Title and class remain the same. New item: 0154-H-05.
6. Patents ASSIST (C 21.31/5:) Title and class remain the same. New item: 0154-H-06.

As a part of Y2K compliance efforts, several changes have taken place recently within the Lighted Bin System. First, the Lighted Bin System has a new name: Automated Depository Distribution System (ADDS). In addition, bin locations changed during the week of May 16, 1999. These changes should be transparent to depository libraries.

If your library experiences any major problems with shipments, please contact:

When claiming materials in paper or electronic formats, including separates, mail a copy of the original shipping list to the following address:

For "Direct Mail" claims, use the "Depository Library Inquiry Form" and send it to the address for paper format claims.

To fax claims to GPO, including those for direct mail, use (202) 512-1429. Please do not use any other fax number. Using other fax numbers delays the processing of your claim.

Mail microfiche claims directly to the contractor’s address on the shipping list.

LPS began shipping National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) maps to depositories in mid-May. These maps had previously been distributed directly to the libraries from NIMA. Because many libraries have a separate location for maps, a separates shipping list will be prepared and mailed to the separate map location. The depository of record will continue to receive the shipping list also via the regular shipment box. The shipping list number format is: 99-2001-S. Map shipping lists are posted to the U.S. Fax Watch and to the Federal Bulletin Board (FBB) in .dbf format.

Materials Selected under Old Item Numbers
May Be Distributed under New Item Numbers

New item numbers are assigned when new material enters the Federal Depository Library Program, when groups of materials are split out from existing item numbers, and when publications already in the program are altered in ways that make a new item number necessary. In the Administrative Notes Technical Supplement, new item numbers are listed in the column: Update to the List of Classes: New Item Numbers. These changes are posted weekly in the GPO Access Web site, in WEBTech Notes, at: <www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/webtech.html >.

As noted in the Technical Supplement and in WEBTech Notes, materials previously selected under an old item number will continue to be distributed under the new item number unless the library deselects the new item. Materials received under these new item numbers must be processed and retained in depository collections in the same way as if received under the old item number.

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. This document supersedes the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) "Recommended Specifications for Public Access Work Stations in Federal Depository Libraries" (Administrative Notes, v. 18, no. 9, June 15, 1998).

DISK DRIVES AND STORAGE

PERIPHERALS

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.

These guidelines are aimed at providing reasonably robust workstations which should provide years of service before they become obsolete, but LPS encourages the purchase of equipment that exceeds these specifications if at all economically feasible. The speed at which computer capabilities are evolving indicates that the higher the initial outlay, the longer the useful life for the equipment. If a higher end system is not affordable, look for flexibility and expandability in the system that will allow for enhancements and upgrades at a later date.

As of this writing the Pentium III was just released. LPS believes it is too soon to recommend its purchase for depository libraries. At this early stage not much software supports the Katmai New Instructions (KNI) of the Pentium III that make it a more powerful and speedy processor. Of greater concern is the unique ID number associated with each chip that has potential security risks. Intel is going to release software that allows the ID number to be turned on and off. When this problem is eliminated and if your software supports KNI, consider purchasing a 500 MHz Pentium III.

Depository libraries must have computer equipment sufficient to allow timely and equitable public access to Government electronic information products and should allow printing or downloading information selected by the user. During a depository library inspection LPS will use a functional approach to determine compliance with this requirement.

LPS cannot anticipate or address every possible depository library computer scenario and depository libraries are encouraged to adapt this menu of specifications to fit their local situations. Depositories may require multi-purpose single workstations, electronic access in networked environments, or a combination of both. Given the large variation in the size of Federal depository libraries and the numbers of users served, LPS cannot recommend a universal standard for the number of public access workstations in any given library. However, when assessing workstation 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 workstations are networked
• to what extent users are permitted to perform additional information processing at the public access workstations
• whether users are experiencing extended waiting times at library peak service hours, etc.

When configuring workstations bear in mind that some government CD-ROM products now link to the web to update information on the CD-ROM. This means that for the user to get the newer information and the full benefit of the product at least one workstation must have both CD-ROM capability and Internet accessibility with a graphical browser.

Additional or different capabilities may be desirable for workstations 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 workstations, but this is a local resource management decision.

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

LPS has deliberately not provided specifications for Apple Macintosh (Mac) or UNIX workstations. Based on responses to the 1995 and 1997 Biennial Surveys, Mac's are the computer of choice for a small minority of the depository libraries. However, depository libraries that have a Mac or UNIX environment should assess their functional capabilities in light of these specifications.

LPS works with the Cartographic Users Advisory Council (CUAC) to develop any additional specifications which support GIS applications. These are included in the recommendations with the indicator "l FOR CARTOGRAPHIC DATA USE:".

For additional information, or if you have any questions about these specifications, please contact Cynthia Etkin, Depository Library Inspector, at <cetkin@gpo.gov> or by voice at (202) 512-1119.

• "Public Access to Electronic Government Information Provided Through Federal Depository Libraries," Administrative Notes, v. 17, #7 (May 15, 1996).

• "Depository Library Public Service Guidelines for Government Information in Electronic Formats," Administrative Notes, v. 19, #11 (September 15, 1998).

• "FDLP Internet Use Policy Guidelines," Administrative Notes, v. 20, #2 (January 15, 1999).