Bibliographical activities of the Arab Countries of North Africa

The kind and size of a library determines the need to collect and the method of controlling government publications. New Zealand libraries tend to handle these publications like any other book with the exception of official records and statistics. As a rule, public, rather than academic libraries, are the designated depositories. In comparing the concept of New Zealand libraries to that of the University of Oregon Library concerning government publications, I found that New Zealand libraries collect and store official and statistical publications and give them partial use; most government publications are integrated into the general collection (use is not known), and few libraries have separate government publication sections with special librarians governing the collection. On the other hand the University of Oregon collects all types of government publications for optimum use; many have been integrated into the general collection (use is not known); and a separate documents section is open to the public with several librarian specialists in attendance. Government publications in the general collection are not, as a rule, recognized as government publications by the public, but those publications are readily accessible. Many government publications at the University of Oregon Library are housed in the general collection, but since 1974 publications of the United States, Canada and many international organizations are shelved in the Documents Section. Use of the various classification schemes has proved successful; however, changes and improvements should be considered frequently to make the government publications collection the best able to serve the public.     

We Are All Librarians: Training in the Ever Evolving Information Commons

The University of Arizona Library opened its Information Commons in January of 2002. The University of Arizona Library developed an in-depth training program to ensure that the individuals staffing the Information Commons Reference Desk were able to support the varied and complex questions that can be asked in a resource and technology rich environment. In this article, the authors describe the development and evolution of the training program that was created at the University of Arizona and share examples of training documents.     

Computerized Access to Government Publications at Colorado State University Libraries

The quality of reference assistance for library users seeking information from government publications has recently been called into question. Concurrently, advances in electronic technology offer means to substantially improve access to government information. Colorado State University Libraries has several computer systems available to access its documents collection, which is separately shelved. These systems include RLIN, CARL, NOTIS, and a number of CD-ROM products. Use of each system is examined, and examples of reference inquiries are given. In general, practice at Colorado State indicates that availability of electronic systems does not improve access to government publications and enables reference staff to successfully negotiate documents queries. Fragmentation and privatization of government files, however, threaten to undo the gains thus achieved.     

The use of government publications: The case of social scientists at the university of botswana

The authors surveyed 101 social scientists at the University of Botswana to determine their use of government publications. Citation studies were also employed as a complement to the survey. The findings reveal that most of the respondents (97.3 percent) used government documents in some fashion. Moreover, most users attached a high importance to the use of government publications for research (89 percent) and teaching (86 percent). The study also suggests that social scientists prefer to borrow government publications from their colleagues and obtain personal copies rather than depend on the University of Botswana Library. It is recommended that government documents be more accessible to the establishment of government publications distribution centers as the inaccessibility of these documents is a national problem. Another recommendation is that the University Library should provide current awareness services on government publications to its users.     

Managing an integrated depository documents collection

This section presents techniques, practices and specific strategies by which documents collections can be made more effective. It also highlights individual documents collections and addresses issues pertinent to forthcoming government policies and regulations.Many law libraries have become selective depository libraries under provision of Public Law 95–261 passed on April 17, 1978. The Law Library at Southern Illinois University is one such selective depository library. The decision about whether to integrate or separate documents is usually based on the local situation, and the decision of this library to integrate depository documents into the collection was made after reviewing local library factors. This article describes the practices of managing an integrated documents collection including technical processing of paper and microfiche documents, collection development and maintenance, and reference service.     

Merged Reference Desks in a Merged Library Environment

Abstract

A new library in San José opened on August 1, 2003. This library is the result of a unique collaboration between San José State University Library and the San José Public Library. The planning for this new library highlighted merging several key areas of operation, including Government Publications. Several years before the two libraries merged, the University Library merged government publications reference functions into the general reference service of the Reference department. Depository library status at the federal and state levels impacted the planning and implementation stages. This paper discusses the background, planning, and implementation of merging the reference service for government publications, first within an academic environment and then in the unique joint library environment.     

Government documents and the online catalog

Prior to planning for implementing the NOTIS system, the Vanderbilt Medical Center Library had not fully cataloged its government publications, and records for these materials were not in machine-readable format. A decision was made that patrons should need to look in only one place for all library materials, including the Health and Human Services Department publications received each year from the central library's Government Documents Unit. Beginning in 1985, these publications were added to the library's database, and the entire 7,200-piece collection is now in the online catalog. Working with these publications has taught the library much about the advantages and disadvantages of cataloging government documents in an online environment. It was found that OCLC cataloging copy is eventually available for most titles, although only about 10% of the records have MeSH headings. Staff time is the major expenditure; problems are caused by documents' irregular nature, frequent format changes, and difficult authority work. Since their addition to the online catalog, documents are used more and the library has better control.     

Partners in Collaborative Cataloging: The U.S. Government Printing Office and the University of Montana

Collaboration is a necessity in the current library environment where time, money, and resources are limited. This is particularly noticeable for institutions housing federal government documents. In addition to keeping up with the influx of current publications, federal depository libraries must address historical documents for which bibliographic records are not readily available. This report discusses how the United States Government Printing Office and the University of Montana Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library are working together to increase access to pre-1976 United States Forest Service publications and gray literature within the same subject area.     

Electronic initiatives of the federal depository library program

The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) is in a period of transition from dissemination of primarily print government publications, to an expanded program including distribution of and access to electronic government information. In an electronic FDLP, the traditional roles of producing, acquiring, and disseminating government publications are expanded with additional roles of providing ongoing, long-term access to selected documents, and increasing the level of services to depository libraries. FDLP has already undertaken the transition with electronic initiatives. Additional projects are being developed which will facilitate access to electronic government documents. A more electronic FDLP implies significant changes for Library Programs Service and depository libraries. The goal of the transition is to improve the depository library program and continue to support public access to government publications.     

Government Periodicals and the Reference Librarian:

Government publications in serial form provide timely, authoritative information on a range of subjects but reference librarians are not always aware of what is available in these sources. In libraries with separate documents departments, reference staffs may abrogate all responsibility for government publications, relying upon commercial sources to fill information needs more appropriately met with government periodicals. Documents librarians and reference librarians can facilitate the incorporation of govemment information in serial form into the general reference process. Benefits will include improved service to library patrons and an expanded user base to support the continued publication and distribution of government periodicals.     

Technical reports and non-depository publications

Documents Librarina, Colorado State University Libraries, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0002. USA There was a significant increase in the number of publications disseminated by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) during 1993. This continues the trend of the past few years. NTIS continues to receive and distribute federally funded research and development reports, which are abstracted in Government Reports Announcements and Index (GRA&I) and related abstracts. In 1993 the way in which government information is disseminated changed, and as a result the role of librarians in this process has been critically examined. The trend toward more information being distributed in electronic format continues. Internet access to legislative information is now available, and many agencies are developing Internet sites to provide access to their data. New rules were published in a January 1994 Federal Register to transfer to NTIS unclassified scientific, technical, and engineering information (STEI) resulting from federally funded research and development activities. In response to comments on the proposed rules, NTIS incorporated into their plan the dissemination of these publications to depository libraries. In June, the Federal Deposiory Library Program proposed an interagency agreement with NTIS that would facilitate the distribution of these documents to the depositories. If this agreement is signed, it would result in a plan that would take advantage of the selection and distribution systems already in place in the Depository Library Program. It would make it much easier for depository libraries to select the STEI that they need and to ensure that the publications are made available to the public. All of the publications reviewed below were published in 1993. Technical reports are available from NTIS, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield. VA 22161, USA; the publications may also be obtained from the issuing agencies. 1 wish to thank Fred C. Schmidt (FCS), Head, Documents Department; Lou E. Anderson (LEA), Documents Librarian; and Awilda Reyes (AR), Documents Librarian, all of Colorado State University Libraries, for reviews contributed to this column.     

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Managing Government Document Collections in a Digital World

An Oregon State University Libraries (OSUL) study group's review of its current policies, practices, and costs provides an illustrative case study of the challenges in managing government documents during this period of transition from print to digital. In its exploration of more aggressive approaches to greatly increasing access to electronic collections and reducing the size of the print footprint, OSUL learned that the current requirements of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) hamper such efforts. This case study provides background on prior internal studies, OSUL's participation in a shared housing agreement, statistics on size and current usage of its government documents, and the costs to receive, process, and provide access to its document collection. It concludes with the recommendations for OSUL to be as proactive as it can be under the current FDLP rules and regulations while bringing projected costs to manage government documents more in line with higher priorities.     

A Virtual Depository

Abstract

The University of Arizona Library, in conjunction with the United States Government Printing Office's Library Programs Service, worked to create a model for a virtual depository by replacing tangible documents with their online counterparts whenever possible. The partnership was achieved by dedicated teamwork: the UA team provided the searching and assessment; the GPO team provided the legal and organizational framework as well as the indexing. At the end of the pilot project's year the program was deemed to be a success and GPO and UA worked to make this process a more permanent one with positivelong-term effects in terms of costs and human and physical resources.     

Working at a Joint-Use Library

ABSTRACT

The St. Lucie West Library, also known as the FAU Treasure Coast Campus Library, is a joint-use library facility, with Florida Atlantic University partnering with Indian River Community College and the St. Lucie County (FL) Library System. This article will discuss the circulation, course reserves, interlibrary loan, and collection management services of the three partners, as well as the training of new employees in this joint-use venture and the methods of managing the St. Lucie West Library. A list of suggestions for improving present and future joint-use libraries is included.     

北京大学图书馆古籍修复工作之思考

北京大学图书馆收藏约150万册古籍,藏量居中国第三、高校之首。但由于种种原因,馆藏古籍破损情况严重,不仅使这些国之瑰宝的传承受到威胁,而且使学校的教学、科研工作受到影响。作者结合工作实践,从典藏条件、经费问题、管理方法以及修复人员培养等方面,分析了造成馆藏古籍破损严重的原因和古籍修复工作所存在的问题,并提出了切合实际的解决办法。     

国图收藏的美国政府出版物及其开发利用研究

介绍了美国政府出版物的出版发行概况，中国国家图书馆国际组织与外国政府出版物组对其的采集、管理及收藏情况。分析了馆藏文献的载体形式特征，重点讨论了其内容特征及重要文献。以便读者更好地利用之。     

U.S. Agricultural statistics on the Internet: Extending the reach of the depository library

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economics and Statistics System is a shared venture between Albert R. Mann Library and the three USDA economic agencies. For almost two years, this successful service has made a growing collection of government-produced agricultural statistics available free of charge via the Internet. The Library provides a value-added service by organizing the data, providing reference support to the information, and preserving the information for future access. Methods for incorporating electronic information into the day-to-day activities of the depository collection are discussed, including staff training, bibliographic control, and reference support. This service is presented as a model to facilitate discussion about a future electronic depository program.     

Vocabulary Mapping of Subject-Headings of Medical and Health-Related Government Documents at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center Library

The University of Massachusetts Medical Center Library is embarking on a project that will identify, integrate and map subject-heading vocabulary of medical and health-related government documents. The vocabulary will be derived from National Library of Medicine, Library of Congress, Government Printing Office and local subject-headings, and including acronyms, initialisms, SU DOC #s and jargon.