place in GPO authority and responsibility to archive
public information that has been held traditionally
in Regional Depository Libraries;
23 January 1996
The Government Documents Round Table (GODORT) of the American Library Association (ALA) was pleased to have had the opportunity to review "The Electronic Federal Depository Library Program: Transition Plan, FY 1996 - FY 1998." The GODORT applauds the Government Printing Office for proposing this innovative and thought provoking plan to lead the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) into a more electronic environment and which will provide the foundation for increased public access to government information by offering new opportunities and mechanisms for the Federal government to share electronic information with the American public.
More than 100 depository librarians and other
information professionals from around the
country and representing various types of
libraries participated in discussions
regarding the Plan at the ALA Midwinter
meeting in San Antonio, Texas, (19 - 23
January 1996). The following summarizes comments
voiced during these discussions. Although
the plan contains many positive and far-reaching
elements, many librarians had reservations.
These concerns were also expressed in the
"Resolution Regarding a Transition to a More
Electronic Federal Information System" that was
approved by the ALA Council.
TIME FRAME
Many in the discussion groups felt that the
plan had a better chance of success if it
were given five to seven years for
implementation. GODORT endorses the concept of a
time line but is concerned that the 1998 time
frame called for in the Transition Plan is
not realistic.
Change to the FDLP has implications for all FDLP partners, including the Superintendent of Documents (SOD), the FDLP libraries, federal government agencies, and the American public. The two-year framework outlined in the Plan provides insufficient time for libraries to plan and solicit at the local level for the necessary budgets adequate to acquire equipment, software, network connectivity, and personnel training that will be required to accommodate the changes to FDLP information delivery brought about by the implementation of the Plan. Similarly, the two-year transition period assumes that the American public is currently capable of using information in multiple electronic formats. Though we agree that information can be very useful in electronic formats, we question whether the preponderance of the public will acquire the requisite skills to use electronic information over the next two years effectively. Recent surveys indicate that fewer Americans are using the Internet than initially reported.
GODORT is also concerned that legislative
initiatives identified in the Plan may not be
enacted within the two-year time frame.
Legislative change is essential to guarantee
that federal information presently available
through depository libraries will not be lost
during or after the transition phase.
Similarly, we are concerned that the two-year
time frame may be insufficient for the
development of inter-agency arrangements
between the Superintendent of Documents and
federal agencies to guarantee Federal
Depository Libraries access to agency
electronic information resources. It is also
questionable whether standards for
information formats necessary to provide
efficient and effective public access to
electronic federal information can quickly be
agreed to.
FUNDING
To accomplish the Transition Plan's necessary
stated goal of disseminating critical federal
information to the American public, it is
vital that Congress appropriate funds for the
FDLP at a level sufficient to ensure the
Plan's success. GODORT applauds the Transition
Plan's innovative re-allocation of existing
SOD resources and the use of technology
grants to fund depository library needs in a
primarily electronic environment. GODORT
believes that the current level of funding
during the period of transition is critical
to ensure continued public access to all
public federal information currently
available through the FDLP. However,
librarians are concerned that under the
Transition Plan depository libraries and end
users of public information will incur
significant additional costs associated with
information management, downloading, and
printing. Furthermore, no empirical studies
have been undertaken to estimate the extent
of these additional costs nor to assess the
fiscal ability of FDLP libraries to produce
the requisite funds.
ACCESS TO AND FORMAT OF MATERIALS
No-fee public access to government
information has always been the FDLP's
singular most significant contribution to the
equitable distribution of federal information
throughout the country. Every effort should
be made to ensure that this important
contribution of the program remains as
Congress and Executive offices struggle with
the changing nature of cost recovery
mechanisms in an electronic environment.
GODORT is pleased that the Transition Plan recognizes that a variety of formats, including paper, are appropriate for the most effective use of federal information distributed to FDLP libraries. While GODORT recognizes the need for a balance between cost and usability, from the perspective of librarians and end users, usability is the most important factor in determining format. Appropriate methods of access are also vital to the successful use of government information. By extending its traditional provision of bibliographic access to government information to include electronic formats also, the SOD will ensure that this information continues to remain accessible to users. Through contact with the library user community, librarians are in a unique position to determine which format and modes of access will be most appropriate for specific information resources. GODORT encourages the SOD to continue an ongoing dialog with the library community regarding information formats.
Statutory guidance must be provided, with
adequate enforcement mechanisms, that will
instruct agencies that usually charge for
access to their public information resources
(44 U.S.C. §1902), or make their
information available through third parties
that charge for access, to arrange with the
SOD for no-fee access to their information
through FDLP libraries.
PRESERVATION
Many discussion group participants found
several of the Transition Plan's essential
arguments only reinforced the federal
government's responsibility and ability to
archive properly and preserve government
information in electronic formats for
long-term access.
To minimize data loss in a dynamic electronic environment, GPO must have a legislative agenda that includes revision of the United States Code to:
While it is the responsibility of the NARA to preserve government information in perpetuity, many depository libraries have preserving, archiving, and migrating public information to useable formats as part of their mission. Their ability to do this, and thereby ensuring no-fee public access, should not be inhibited by agency restrictions on downloading or secondary distribution of data files.
Mirror sites for information in the custody
of the SOD for long-term access must be
established through partnerships or
cooperative agreements with depository
libraries, libraries, state agencies,
research institutions, and regional networks.
The contractual agreements that establish the
partnerships should specify no-fee access for
federal depository libraries and provisions
for transfer of the information to the SOD
should the partnership dissolve.
SUMMATION
GODORT approves of the general direction, if not
the pace and all the details, of the
Transition Plan. GODORT and GPO share the same
goals of no-fee public access and fair,
efficient, and equitable dissemination of
government information for the citizenry.
Working together we can realize these goals
in the more electronic Federal Depository Library Program.
Go to: Resources of
Use to Government Documents Librarians