3.4 The Types and Status of Federal Depository Libraries

Your library may be designated as either a regional or selective depository with a status of either active or probationary.

If your library is a regional depository, it has agreed to receive all publications made available to depositories and to retain those items in perpetuity (with some exceptions). U.S. Senators may designate libraries in their state as regional depositories. Each state may have two regional depositories, though most have only one and a few states are served by regional depositories in neighboring states. Regional depositories are located at flagship, publicly supported universities as well as at public libraries and State libraries. In addition to selection and retention requirements, regional depositories serve as liaisons between the selective libraries in the state (or region) and LSCM. Regional depositories also provide consultation, coordinate planning, review publication disposal lists, and offer other services to selective depositories in their regions. The statutory authorization for regional depositories is found in United States Code, Title 44, chapter 19, §1912.

If your library is a selective depository, you have the option of tailoring the collection to fit the needs of your community, which includes the library’s primary users as well as the general public. This is achieved by selecting suitable materials to receive from Library Services and Content Management (LSCM), by retaining materials for at least 5 years or substituting them for online equivalents, and by retaining materials beyond the required 5 years as appropriate. Two selective depositories may be designated within each congressional district, although at any given time there may be more than two in some districts because of redistricting. In addition, each U.S. Senator can designate two depositories in their state providing there is an opening in that Senator's class. The number of selective depositories in a congressional district can also be augmented by designations for certain types of libraries allowed by special provisions in Title 44.

Active depositories are those in good standing with LSCM. They are compliant with the legal requirements for depository operation as stated in Title 44 and in chapter 2 of this Handbook.

Probationary depositories are those libraries that LSCM has determined to be noncompliant with the legal requirements for depository operation as stated in Title 44 and in chapter 2 of this Handbook.