Skip to content.Skip to side navigation.
About.Help. A-Z Resource List. Locate a Federal Depository Library. Buy Publications. Other Services. Legislative. Executive. Judicial.
GPO Access Home Page.
Go

advanced
Navigation Bar
Related Resources.
•
 Association of Research Libraries
•
 Federal Depository Library Council
About Government.
Ben's Guide Logo.

Home Page > GPO's Digitization and Preservation Initiative

GPO's Digitization and Preservation Initiative

Laptop with books.The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) will collaborate with the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and others in the library community on a national digitization plan. The goal is to digitize a complete legacy collection of tangible U.S. Government documents to make sure that these materials are available, in the public domain, for permanent public access. The conversion of tangible materials will begin with print publications, but will eventually include microfiche and other tangible formats. Information will be digitized based on established priorities or local needs. GPO will:

  • Coordinate this effort;
  • Assist in the establishment and implementation of standards;
  • Maintain a registry of digitization projects;
  • Serve as a trusted repository for preservation and access, in addition to any other places that the materials might be held;
  • Certify and authenticate the electronic files; and
  • Ensure that there is appropriate cataloging and metadata for the items in the collection.

The availability of an electronic legacy collection will allow depository libraries, including regional libraries, to manage their tangible collections more effectively, substituting electronic copies for tangible copies -- if they wish to do so.

The first step in this process is to compile a list of priority titles or series for digitization. GPO is seeking recommendations of Government document titles and series that should be among the early items to be digitized. Please review the list of candidates for digitization that have already been proposed and add other titles that you feel should be on the list. Part one of the survey will close on May 8, 2004.

Following the analysis of the recommendations, GPO will ask the community to rank suggested titles and series for digitization. The second part of the survey will consist of a ranking period that will begin by mid-May and last for two weeks.

When the ranking is completed, GPO will make the results known, both as a single consolidated list, and also as separate lists by library type. This will make it possible to identify the overall priorities of the community as well as to identify the titles that are of greatest interest to specific types of libraries, such as public libraries, law libraries or state libraries. The lists will serve to focus attention on high interest titles and provide suggestions for institutions that are planning digitization projects. Libraries will be free of digitize other parts of the legacy collection based on institutional interests and local needs.

Please complete the three part form below to help us compile a list of titles or series for digitization. We will be accepting suggestions until May 8, 2004.

Step 1:
Library Identification
Step 2:
Title Selection
Step 3:
Confirm and Submit

Please identify your library type:

Depository
  Depository Number:

Other (Non-depository library, general public, etc.)

 

A service of the U.S. Government Printing Office.

Last updated: April 8, 2004
Page Name: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/digitization/index.html