21. SuDoc Classification Practice Change for JCP Hearings

Effective immediately, GPO will cease using cutter numbers on the Hearings issued by the Joint Economic Committee: SuDoc Y 4.EC 7: Item nos. 1000-B (P), 1000-C (MF) GPO will use the serial number that is on the Hearing as the suffix for the SuDoc class. This new procedure is consistent with the classification numbers assigned to other Congressional Committee Hearings. Chapter 5 of the GPO Classification Manual outlines this practice. Publications classified prior to this announcement will not be changed to reflect this new practice. For example: Title: Evolution of an Economic Crisis?: The Subprime Lending Disaster and the Threat to the Broader Economy, Hearing Before the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, 110th Congress, 1st session. Serial no. 110-250 SuDoc Class: Y 4.EC 7:S.HRG.110-250 URL: http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS92364

Wednesday, 26 March 2008 | 3 hits

22. GPO Practice Change: Cutter Numbers

Effective immediately, GPO will cease using cutter numbers on the Hearings issued by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (House): SuDoc Y 4.G 74/7: Item nos. 1016-A (P), 1016-B (MF) GPO will use the serial number that is on the Hearing as the suffix for the SuDoc class. This new procedure is consistent with the classification numbers assigned to other Congressional Committee Hearings. Chapter 5 of the GPO Classification Manual outlines this practice. Publications classified prior to this announcement will not be changed to reflect this new practice. For example: Title: New Allegations Against GSA Administrator Lurita Doan : Retaliation Against Government Officials Cooperating with Investigators, Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, 110th Congress, 1st session. Serial no.: 110-37 SuDoc Class: Y 4.G 74/7:110-37. PURL: http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS93845

Monday, 05 May 2008 | 3 hits

23. FDLP Desktop Re-launch

On Monday, January 12, 2009, the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) will re-launch the FDLP Desktop. Visitors to http://www.fdlp.gov will see that the beta version has been replaced by the new design. At the same time, the homepage for the legacy FDLP Desktop will redirect users to fdlp.gov. This re-launch comes after a year of development and community feedback and is designed to streamline GPO’s dissemination of Program-related news, content, and tools to enhance library participation and public services. Highlights of the re-launch include: Homepage news organized by categories Easy login using your depository number and internal password Access to depository-only services (e.g., promotional ordering) The ability to bookmark Desktop pages within your library’s login Please note the following: URLs to content may have changed. Please update your bookmarks. The navigation scheme has changed. Content is continually being migrated from the legacy FDLP Desktop. Individual accounts are no longer active on the FDLP Desktop. Social networking tools (e.g., blogs, forum) are consolidated under the FDLP Community site (http://community.fdlp.gov). Users are encouraged to sign up and participate. More information on the structure, design, and functionality of the FDLP Desktop is available under Tutorials, which is available from FDLP Desktop homepage.

Friday, 09 January 2009 | 34 hits

24. Depository Directors Weigh in on the Value of their Depository

In August 2008, Ric Davis, the Acting Superintendent of Documents, sent a letter to all depository library directors, asking them to submit letters that describe the value users find in their depository library. The responses that GPO received were unique and thought-provoking and are so important as we embark on the strategic planning process for the FDLP and design our path for the next ten years. View the collection of depository library director responses and learn more about the value of the FDLP.

Tuesday, 16 December 2008 | 3 hits

25. WEBTech Notes May/June 2008 issue (Intermediate Solution)

The WEBTech Notes search feature is currently experiencing technical difficulties. As a temporary solution, an Excel document containing the entire WEBTech Notes dataset is available until the full search capability can be restored. In addition, the May/June 2008 issue of Administrative Notes Technical Supplement (ANTS) is available in print and in pdf formats. The pdf format is posted on the FDLP Desktop with the past issues while we are working on the Web application (with a search feature). We will keep you informed on our progress. Thank you for your patience while we work to enhance WEBTech Notes.

Monday, 08 December 2008 | 5 hits

26. Ben's Guide Survey

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) is planning a redesign of Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids and has released two surveys in order to capture user feedback. One survey is geared toward kids and students, while the other is geared toward parents, educators, and adult users. Originally released in 1999, Ben's Guide serves as the educational component of GPO Access. GPO is asking the FDLP community to not only provide feedback on ways to improve and update the site, but also to share the survey with educators, parents, and other users of Ben's Guide so that we can gather the widest variety of user feedback possible. A link to the surveys is provided on the Ben's Guide homepage as well as the K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 entry pages. Take the survey. The survey will be available through Monday, February 2, 2009. We look forward to your feedback, and thank you for helping to spread the word!

Friday, 19 December 2008 | 5 hits

27. 2008 Comparison of Legislative Resources

A comparison of legislative resources available on GPO Access and other Government and non-Government Web sites was recently completed. Eight Web sites were selected for in-depth analysis including GPO Access, THOMAS, House.gov, Senate.gov, CQ.com, HeinOnline, Lexis-Nexis Congressional, and Westlaw.  The report specifically evaluates the availability of legislative resources on all of the databases examined, the scope of the resources on each database, the source of those resources (i.e., whether they house their own content or link to other Web sites for it), and additional legislative resources or features exclusive to comparable Web sites. The 2008 comparison report and previous reports are available through the Federal Bulletin Board (FBB).  This analysis was last conducted in 2003.

Tuesday, 16 December 2008 | 6 hits

28. LSCM FY2008 Year in Review

LSCM is pleased to announce the release of the 1st annual LSCM FY2008 Year in Review. The LSCM Year in Review highlights LSCM’s major accomplishments of FY2008 and will serve to map LSCM's work for the future. The Year in Review discusses topics including digitization, strategic planning, the ILS, authentication, automated metadata extraction, marketing, the FDLP Desktop, the Federal Depository Library Handbook, and more. This document will be distributed to all libraries under item 0556-C and will appear on an upcoming shipping list.

Tuesday, 28 October 2008 | 3 hits

29. GPO Study of Regional Depositories

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) was directed by the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP) to determine the extent to which public access via the FDLP may be impaired by current or projected organizational, financial, technological, or other conditions affecting regional depository libraries. The study was to be delivered to the JCP on or before June 1, 2008. GPO completed the report, Regional Depository Libraries in the 21st Century: A Time for Change?, and received comments from the depository library through June 30, 2008. GPO is now reviewing all the comments and working on the final report to submit to the JCP. Draft Report Regional Depository Libraries in the 21st Century: A Time for Change? Working Drafts and Related Documentation Draft Outline Revised Draft Outline (051608) Introduction Background Methodology Title 44 and Regionals Regional Depository Library Survey: Summary of Results Comments Received for GPO's Study of Regional Depository Libraries - Letters from: AALL | ACRL/ALCTS/AASL | ARL |  ASERL | CO Alliance | GODORT Regional Librarians' Joint Perspective Regional Study Comments (051908) Congressional Research Service Memorandum Letter from the Honorable Robert Brady Letter from Acting Public Printer William Turri to the Honorable Robert Brady Regional Directors's Letter and Survey Letter to Directors of Selective Depositories Regional Depository Libraries in the 21st Century: A Time for Change? - Original Draft (053008)

Tuesday, 08 April 2008

30. Contacting GPO Staff

GPO staff want you to know that we are available when you need us. Subject matter experts are available through our askGPO service, which is available at . In addition to that service, you may also utilize the Library Services and Content Management (LSCM) Director Contact Form, which was designed to put the community in touch with senior staff within the organization. The form is available at . A drop-down menu provides access to the following contacts: Ric Davis: Director, Library Services & Content Management Laurie Hall: Director, Library Technical Information Services Robin Haun-Mohamed: Director, Collection Management & Preservation Ted Priebe: Director, Library Planning & Development We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Thursday, 03 April 2008

31. New Specifications for FDL Public Access Computers

The 2008 Recommended Specifications for Public Access Computers in Federal Depository Libraries are now available from GPO. The recommended specifications (RS) are intended to assist depository coordinators in making informed purchases that will best achieve the goal of providing public access to Federal Government information in a variety of electronic formats. The RS will become requirements October 1, 2009. The current Minimum Technical Requirements (MTR) will remain in effect until September 30, 2009. When being compiled, the computer retail market is examined as well as agency online publishing formats and trends in library services. These guidelines are aimed at providing reasonably robust workstations that should provide years of service before they become obsolete, but GPO encourages the purchase of equipment that exceeds these specifications if at all economically feasible. Computers with these specifications meet the requirements for accessing and using Federal Digital System (FDSys). The RS can be found on the FDLP Desktop RS page.

Tuesday, 18 March 2008

32. Authenticated Public and Private Laws on GPO Access

GPO is pleased to announce the release of Authenticated Public and Private Laws for the 110th Congress on GPO Access. In May 2007, GPO released a beta version of this database. The unsigned PDF files in the existing database for Public and Private Laws for the 110th Congress will be replaced with the authenticated PDF files previously in the beta application. Search or browse Public and Private Laws. GPO's Authentication initiative focuses on establishing GPO as the trusted information disseminator and providing the assurance that an electronic document has not been altered since GPO disseminated it. The Public and Private Laws application provides authenticated Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files for the 110th Congress only. Authenticated public and private laws within this application contain digitally signed and certified PDF files that contain GPO's Seal of Authenticity. These files have been digitally signed and certified using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology. GPO is using PKI and Digital Signature technologies to verify the authenticity of the electronic U.S. Government documents that it disseminates through the FDLP. GPO's Seal of Authenticity notifies users that a document has not been altered since it was authenticated and disseminated by GPO.

Thursday, 27 March 2008

33. Census Atlas of the United States

The U.S. Census Bureau has published the Census Atlas of the United States. The new Atlas is an authoritative reference work that paints a fascinating and dynamic portrait of the American nation. It includes more than 700 full-color maps derived from 210 years of official Census data. The Atlas interprets population and housing data through maps organized by: States Counties Cities of more than one million Major metropolitan areas of more than 4 million GPO will distribute the Atlas to all libraries in the Federal Depository Library Program. SuDocs class: C 3.205/8-3:29 Item no. 0556-C (All libraries) Shipping List 2008-0017-S Shipping List Date: February 26, 2008 Copies of the Atlas are now available for purchase from the U.S. Government Bookstore. 2007: 314 pp. Illustrated. Stock Number: 003-024-09058-9 ISBN: 9781587690105 Price: $165.00

Thursday, 13 March 2008

34. FDLP Emblem or Signage Requirement

The FDLP emblem or signage on or near depository library buildings is used to demonstrate that Federal depository libraries provide free, public access to U.S. Government information resources. GPO’s ongoing review of the 2007 Biennial Survey of Depository Libraries indicates that dozens of libraries and selective housing sites do not have the emblem or signage posted on or near their library buildings. GPO would like to remind Federal depository libraries of the following: It is important that all depository libraries "post signage or the depository emblem in a prominent location, preferably visible from the exterior of the library, indicating the library is a Federal depository and government information resources are available for use by the general public without charge." Federal Depository Library Handbook, pages 4-8 and 4-15. Also, for depositories with any selective housing agreements, it is important that all selective housing sites “post the depository emblem in a prominent location, preferably visible from the exterior of the library, indicating that government information products can be used by the general public without charge. Your depository library should provide the selective housing site with the free decals.” Federal Depository Library Handbook, pages 9-12 and 9-14. This information is also repeated in the Federal Depository Library Handbook Appendix B: Important for Library Administrators. Please contact GPO if you have any questions. We are always happy to discuss your individual library situation so that we may help you identify ways to fulfill FDLP requirements. Free decals and other promotional materials are available from GPO and may be ordered online. The Depository Library Decal is available with a sticky side on the front or back so that you may place the decal inside or outside a window. You may also affix the decal to an information stand or other non-glass surface outside of the library. If you develop your own signage, it should include the emblem and statutory language that appears on the Depository Library Decals. If you have questions or comments, please use the askGPO help service. When submitting a question, please choose the category "Federal Depository Libraries" and the subcategory “Public Access Issues” in order to ensure that your question is routed to the correct area.

Thursday, 11 December 2008 | 7 hits

35. FDsys Beta Testing

Beta testing for the first release of GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys) will occur in late December. Testing will take place at your computer and require approximately 30 minutes. Beta testers must have a computer and Internet access in order to participate. If you would like to participate, please email pmo@gpo.gov with your contact information. For more information on FDsys click here.

Thursday, 11 December 2008 | 3 hits

36. Metadata Report Now on GPO Access

The Report on the Meeting of Experts on Digital Preservation: Metadata Specifications is available on GPO Access. The Report was originally posted for comments until Monday, March 28, 2005, but because of the limited number of comments received, the deadline for comments has been extended until Friday, April 29, 2005. GPO encourages all to review this important report and provide comments to Judith C. Russell. Background: GPO is working with the library community and others in the information community on a national digitization plan, with the goal of digitizing a complete legacy collection of tangible U.S. Government publications. The objective is to ensure that the digital collection is available, in the public domain, for no-fee permanent public access through the FDLP. The project will ensure that the collection is digitally reformatted for preservation purposes. The digital preservation masters and the associated metadata will be preserved in the GPO electronic archive (in addition to any other places that the materials might be held), and there will be no-fee public access to the content through derivative files on GPO Access. The Report on the Meeting of Experts on Digital Preservation: Metadata Specifications, is a summary of the second of two meetings held to assist GPO in developing specifications for the digitization project. This meeting, focusing on descriptive and preservation metadata, was held at GPO on June 14, 2004. A summary of the overall discussion of the experts and the necessary resources for the metadata package submission are included in the report. Also included is a listing of metadata elements that is not meant to be viewed as a final list of required metadata elements, but a list of metadata elements, based on this discussion and the recommended readings as put forth in the meeting. It provides a common set of elements from which to build for digitization project.

Friday, 15 April 2005

37. 2005 Essential Titles Survey Initial Analysis

GPO is pleased to announce the release of the 2005 Essential Titles Survey initial analysis. You may view these results here. The reports are organized by all respondents and by each library type, as specified in the Federal Depository Library Directory. GPO has completed initial analysis on the original data, which is now available on GPO Access. Duplicate entries that occurred due to variant spacing in the class or item number used in "write in" recommendations have been combined. Where a title has separate item numbers for separate geographic areas, recommendations for all geographic areas have been combined to count as recommendations for the title as a whole, instead of counting each geographic area separately. Recommendations of previous titles have been added into recommendations of the current titles to ensure that recommendations are carried forward with title changes. Further information on how the data was analyzed is provided on the survey web page. The original data is available here. This includes four responses added after the survey closed because the libraries involved experienced technical difficulties during the survey. GPO will utilize this data to further the discussions with the depository community about the Essential Titles list. The discussion of Future Tangible Distribution to Depository Libraries during the Depository Library Council meeting in Albuquerque, NM, on April 18, 2005 will provide yet another opportunity for the depository community to help GPO determine how to move from the survey results to decisions on specific titles for tangible distribution to all or specific types of depository libraries. The data from the 2003 Essential Titles Survey is also now available here. GPO thanks the Federal depository libraries that participated in the survey.

Wednesday, 20 April 2005

38. 2005 Congressional Record Daily Digest Archive Available

A full-document archive of 2005 Congressional Record Daily Digests is now available on GPO Access. The Daily Digest of the Congressional Record serves as a table of contents for the House and Senate actions reported in the issue and for statements published in the Extensions of Remarks of the Congressional Record. The Daily Digest begins with highlights of the day's action, followed by a summary for the Senate and a summary for the House. Each summary includes such items as measures introduced, reported or passed, as well as measures under consideration. Each entry references the Senate or House page number where the item is reported. The Daily Digest also includes a list of Committee meetings held that day and scheduled for the following day; the schedule for the next meeting of each chamber, and a list of Extensions of Remarks inserted in that issue. Pages are numbered equentially throughout the session of Congress.

Wednesday, 20 April 2005

39. OPAL for Everyone: Share Your Knowledge

Depository library staff are encouraged to present educational and training sessions for the benefit of the depository community through OPAL, a Web conferencing service. GPO welcomes proposals on any aspect of U.S. Government information, Federal Depository Library Program issues, or depository library operations and management. Most GPO OPAL sessions are recorded and archived at OPAL online-archives, allowing depository staff who cannot travel to depository conferences the opportunity to share their expertise with a large group of their peers. Two of the most popular OPAL presentations to date include “The Conservation Kitchen: Basic Tools for Any Preservation Recipe,” presented on May 20, 2008 by Diane Hutchins and Marcea Horst from the Washington State Library and “Cooking with Content - Creating Successful OPAL Presentations,” presented in October 2008 by Diane Hutchins from the Washington State Library. Both of these presentations can be viewed in the archive. So if you are already doing training at your library, or if you have an idea for an educational session, let us know! Just fill out the Online Educational Program Proposal Form. For more information on OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries), see OPAL online.

Monday, 08 December 2008 | 3 hits

40. FDLP and C&I Metrics - September 2008

GPO is releasing monthly statistics on the activities of Statistics for September 2008 activites of the FDLP and the Cataloging and Indexing Program have been released.

Thursday, 09 October 2008