****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 1, Number 16 December 2, 1992 In this issue: (144 lines) DRASTIC CUTS TO THE DEPOSITORY LIBRARY PROGRAM ANNOUNCED ELECTRONIC CONGRESSIONAL RECORD *************************************************************************** DRASTIC CUTS TO THE DEPOSITORY LIBRARY PROGRAM ANNOUNCED In a November 18 letter, Superintendent of Documents Wayne Kelley informed depository librarians of changes in formats and types of material available to depository libraries that will deny certain publications to most depositories, force them to accept publications in less usable, non- permanent microfiche formats, or force them to buy the publications in paper formats. Kelley cited a projected $3.5 million shortfall for fiscal year 1993 as the reason for the cuts. GPO's reductions would, among other things, deny scientific and technical reports published by the Department of Energy and NASA to all selective depositories. Distribution of the bound _U.S. Congressional Serial Set_ would be restricted to the fifty Regional Depository Libraries, denying the bound version to the other 370 libraries that have selected it. This means that no law libraries, federal libraries (except the Library of Congress, National Archives, and the Senate and House Libraries), and only four public libraries will receive the bound Serial Set. The bound Serial Set is the authoritative record of each Congress and a primary public source for the history of legislative action. The national system of 1,400 regional and selective depository libraries was established by Congress to promote the American public's awareness of the activities of the federal government. Kelley said that GPO could save $2.64 million by the following reductions: * Limiting the distribution of Department of Energy microfiche, National Aeronautics and Space Administration microfiche, and the bound _Treaties and Other International Acts_ to regional depositories. * Distributing the _U.S. Reports, Official Gazette_ (patents and trademarks), Army _Technical Manuals_, House and Senate _Calendars_, slip treaties, and slip Supreme Court opinions in microfiche only. * Using the new ACSIS (Acquisitions, Classification, and Shipment Information System) database to improve accuracy in placing printing requisitions. These savings will include reducing the occurrence of both shortages and overprinting, eliminating the duplicative distribution of reprints and preprints, and allowing discretion in ordering low-content items such as decals. In addition, if shortages do occur, LPS [Library Program Services] will go back to press only for certain core publications. * Limiting claims fulfillment services by allowing claims only from regional depositories for microfiche distributed by LPS and by limiting paper claims from all depositories to certain core publications. * Distributing the bound _U.S. Congressional Serial Set_ only to regional depositories, beginning with the 102nd Congress, 1st Session. In an effort to cut an additional $475,000, Kelley attached a survey to his letter asking depository librarians voluntarily to de-select certain publications or to change selections of publications from paper to microfiche. All depositories must respond to the survey no later than December 4, 1992, or the Library Program Services "will assume that a library is leaving the format to our discretion if there is no response to the survey." By November 30, not many libraries had received the letter and attached survey. GPO's Judy Russell said that an extension until December 11 may be granted on a case-by-case basis from Sheila McGarr, Chief, Depository Services (voice: 202/512-1119; fax: 202/512-1432). Russell said responses received after December 11 will not be used, and format decisions will be made for libraries whose response has not been received by then. ACTION NEEDED: 1) Depository librarians are urged to respond promptly to GPO's survey, and request a delay until at least December 18 so that more depository librarians have an opportunity to respond. 2) Depository librarians, librarians in other types of libraries, and users of government information should call or write to the Government Printing Office, the Joint Committee on Printing [chaired by Rep. Charlie Rose (D- NC)], and the chairs of the House and Senate Legislative Appropriations Subcommittees [respectively Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA) and Sen. Harry Reid (D- NV)]. Ask them to put a hold on GPO's plans announced in Kelley's November 18 letter and to look for alternative solutions to GPO's projected budget shortfall. Depository librarians and users have not had adequate time to study the plan, analyze the effects, suggest alternatives, or estimate the cost to libraries of GPO's decisions. 3) Tell GPO and the key legislators mentioned above of the anticipated effects of these cuts to the depository library program. Explain the impact of these decisions on library users and operations, such as the limitations on claims for missing items. Give illustrations of who uses the documents that would be cut, or available only in microfiche. 4) Urge GPO to request a supplemental appropriation for FY93 to make up the projected budget shortfall. 5) If there is no supplemental, urge GPO to reduce the overhead charged to the Depository Library Program and to transfer funds from GPO's revolving fund to make up the projected shortfall. 6) Urge GPO to consider the potential of depository library electronic access to the GPO Bulletin Board and other federal bulletin boards, thereby allowing GPO to discontinue tracking down, processing, and mailing daily and weekly press releases. This material should be provided later in its more permanent, cumulative version in CD-ROM or other formats. *************************************************************************** ELECTRONIC CONGRESSIONAL RECORD The Government Printing Office has started a $1.16 million project to make the _Congressional Record_ available electronically. The project, aimed at making this government document more accessible to the public, is scheduled for completion in January 1994. An electronic _Congressional Record_ at GPO was a key element of two bills that did not pass the 102nd Congress: S. 2813, the GPO Gateway to Government Act, and H.R. 5983, the Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act. *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** ALAWON is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Editor and List Owner: Fred King. Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363; Bitnet: NU_ALAWASH@CUA; Internet: NU_ALAWASH@CUA.EDU All or part of ALAWON may be redistributed, with appropriate credits. ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. 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