http://library.brooklyn.cuny.edu/about_library/govdocs.htm
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/library/cramer/top2.htm
"Despite the best efforts of the movers to keep the collection in order, many items were out of sequence, or sections of call numbers were found in various sections of the collection. Given the various splits and moves of recent years, this was not entirely surprising, but it has proven to be a difficult, lengthy, tedious and sometimes baffling process--as well as a process of discovering how much we really have to offer." Jane Cramer, Periodicals, Government Publications, & Microforms Librarian
Because the collections that make up Periodicals, Government Publications, and Microforms were housed in multiple locations during our three years in temporary quarters, reuniting these thousands--millions, in the case of microforms--of items was no mean task. Once again in 2003-2004 staff worked in teams pulling items off the shelves, putting each section in order, making repairs, and replacing illegible or missing call numbers as they went.
http://library.brooklyn.cuny.edu/electronic_resources/govdocs.htm
http://library.brooklyn.cuny.edu/electronic_resources/law.html
"The future ... I have no idea, but we can't go back so we might as well look forward to it. More materials will be available online either in electronic format only or in dual formats, and this will require ever increasing guidance in the form of guides, Web pages, bibliographic instruction, and consultation. Our users like online materials; however, they forget that online does not in most cases mean instantaneous." Jane Cramer, Periodicals, Government Publications, & Microforms Librarian
Brooklyn College has the largest Federal depository in the borough of Brooklyn--much larger than the public library's. Keeping the Government Publications Web page updated is especially challenging as more and more agencies shift their publishing from print to online, and this year many new subject-specific links and government information finding tools were added to both the docs and the law pages, among the more impressive Library subject pages. Fortunately GovDoc-L, the depository library listserv, brings important new pages to our attention. There are now subject sections on the documents' page for Iraq, Terrorism, and the Patriot Act.
In Administrative Notes 10/15/03 (GP3.16/3-2:24-2. V. 24, No. 12) the Government Printing Office outlined its plans:
Transition to a More Electronic Federal Depository Library Program: The transition to a more electronic Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) continued to progress during FY 2003. The percentage of online titles in the FDLP increased to 65% in FY 2003. This Congressionally mandated transition should continue, with the percentage of online information expected to approach 95% by 2005. [Emphasis added.] Through its commitment to ensuring permanent public access to the FDLP Electronic Collection, GPO is transforming the FDLP into a program that can continue to provide public access in the 21st century and beyond."The Documents community has seen entire Web sites vanish overnight, owing to ‘security' concerns and administrative policy shifts. Thus I do not think it too cautious to want the bird in the hand as well as the one in the ether, so long as these matters remain unresolved." Jane Cramer, Periodicals, Government Publications, & Microforms Librarian
We are taking advantage of online access to federal documents, at the same time exercising caution about moving entirely to electronic resources. In many cases tangible (i.e., print) materials are still available, and many users prefer tangible formats. While it is nice to be able to call up Statistical Abstracts from home to check a table, it is quite another thing to wait for the PDF to load and to attempt to search it. Hearings can also be quite challenging to use online, although other items such as the Supreme Court Reports, various small publications and pamphlets from agencies, and the Code of Federal Regulations are wonderful additions to our online resources.
Disappearing Web sites have become a recurring subject header on the GovDoc-L list. There is a movement within the community to use the LOCKSS approach (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) which involves libraries' and educational organizations' hosting local copies of material. More information on this is available at http://lockss.stanford.edu/projectdescbrief.htm The list of essential titles is still being hotly debated in government information circles, as are the provisions for archival versions of materials that will no longer exist in hard copy.
"The debate will continue, and I worry that we will find ourselves buying items that are too unwieldy to be practical online, or simply to have an archival copy. On the other hand, having the option to download tables from the Economic Report of the President in Excel is a great option. And that's what it comes down to in the end. Users want options, and we are losing many of them." Jane Cramer, Periodicals, Government Publications, & Microforms Librarian