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FACT SHEET: The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)

3/10/95

PARTNERSHIP:

The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) is operated by the Government Printing Office (GPO) and its partnership network of 1,391 private, state, and Federal libraries located throughout the United States and its Territories. This network of libraries, each staffed by professional librarians knowledgeable about Government information, provides a Government information infrastructure for the nation.

  • The FDLP is a partnership between the Federal Government and libraries funded by state or local government or private institutions to serve the public in their local communities.

  • Depository libraries ensure equitable access to government information, an essential function in a democracy.

  • Depository libraries are designated by members of Congress and located in public, academic, federal and private libraries in all parts of the country.

  • The nearly 1,400 depository libraries contribute at least three times the value of the documents they receive, by providing cataloging records, storage and work space, microform and computer equipment, and professional staff with expertise in government information to assist the public.

  • During the period of transition to electronic delivery, depository libraries must also continue to service the historical paper and microfiche collections of Government documents while expanding their capability to handle electronic information.

  • Depositories will also help the public find Federal electronic information and provide access to the information via electronic gateways.

  • Depository libraries have been one of the most important factors in preservation of the historical record of the Government of the United States of America, by acquiring, cataloging and preserving federal government information.

  • Depository libraries take a significant burden from the Government by making its information accessible to the public, and preserving it for future use.

ELECTRONIC INFORMATION:

The FDLP is expanding the electronic delivery of Federal information through depository libraries, but a thoughtful transition period is needed. Electronic delivery, in either image or full text format, offers potential future economies for both libraries and the Government.

  • Depository libraries already provide access to a wide variety of government information in electronic formats distributed by GPO. In addition, there are a growing number of online electronic services from government agencies. HOWEVER, the vast majority of government information is still available only in PRINT.

  • Of the over 64,000 titles distributed through the FDLP in FY 1994, less than 0.5% were even available electronically.

  • Access to electronic information is still limited to a minority of the population:
    • The majority of citizens are not computer users and require assistance in using both printed and electronic information.

    • Estimates vary as to how many people actually use the Internet. According to the National Journal (1/21/95), 36 percent of U.S. households own computers, but few of these are high-end machines that can fully access the Internet. In 1993, only 22% of schools had computers with modems (1994 Statistical Abstract).

    • Even at that level of use, many popular sites are not available at peak periods.

  • The electronic form of a publication is not recognized as a legal citation.

WHY THE FDLP WORKS SO WELL:

  • Congress created a centralized Government Printing Office in 1861 to end mismanagement in printing procurement. In 1895 Congress recognized the advantage of linking the FDLP with the GPO's printing function, and reassigned responsibility for the FDLP to GPO.

  • More than 75 percent of GPO's printing is already contracted out to the private sector. The remaining 25 percent, printed at GPO's facilities, is primarily for Congress and key executive products with special printing requirements.

  • The FDLP is efficient because it consolidates the printing and distribution of publications of many agencies into one system of printing, selection, cataloging and classification, and distribution to libraries all over the country, thus realizing enormous economies of scale.

  • The FDLP provides a selection mechanism for depository libraries to customize its selection of publications according to the needs of its user community. GPO "rides" agency print orders by adding the requisite number of copies for selecting libraries, keeping production costs to a minimum.

  • The FDLP has cost-effective procurement contracts to convert paper publications to microfiche when appropriate, saving millions of dollars in printing and distribution costs. GPO's distribution network provides a cost effective mechanism for consolidating and shipping publications.

  • GPO's distribution provides depository libraries a mechanism to request publications which have not been received and to answer queries, relieving the publishing agencies of this responsibility.

COSTS:

  • The cost to the taxpayer for the FDLP and the Cataloging and Indexing Program is approximately $28 million per year, out of a Superintendent of Documents appropriation of $32 million. This represents less than one percent of the Legislative Branch appropriation, or about 0.002 percent of the entire federal budget. In other words, the annual cost of this critical national resource is less than 11 cents per person.

  • In FY 1994, Federal depository libraries received more than 20 million copies of over 64,000 individual documents, at a cost to the taxpayer of just over $1 per copy.

  • This level of efficiency is achieved through the centralization and specialization of the FDLP. If operated on a decentralized basis, its costs could triple, and coverage of Government information would decline.

Government Documents Round Table, American Library Association March 10, 1995