Statistical Abstract of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, Dept. of Health and Human Services: Department of State: American Foreign Policy-Current Documents. Foreign Relations of the U.S. Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States. Treaties in Force. Office of Management and Budget: Budget of the United States Government. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. It has become clear in planning for the transition to a more electronic FDLP that there is a core group of publications which must remain in paper. There are significant socioeconomic and technical impediments to a broad-based public ability to effectively access electronic information. There are other important considerations as well, such as the "official" nature of the information, and issues of long-term access and preservation. These titles contain information which is vital to the democratic process; information critical to an informed electorate. They support the public's right to know about the activities of their government. Maintaining these titles in paper format, whether or not they may be available electronically, is essential to the purpose of the FDLP. GPO will request funding to continue providing these titles to depository libraries in paper format as long as they are published in paper. Question: Can you really accomplish this program by October 1998? That is only 22 years. Response: It appears that an almost complete transition by October, 1998 is too soon. Since its release in December, the Transition Plan has been reviewed extensively by the library community and Federal agency representatives. The Depository Library Council reviewed and commented on the plan. At the Midwinter meeting of the American Library Association (ALA) in San Antonio in January, the Federal Documents Task Force of the Government Documents Round Table dealt almost exclusively with the plan during the four day meeting session. The ALA, in conjunction with the American Association of Law Libraries, the Association of Research Libraries, the Medical Library Association, and the Special Libraries Association provided extensive comments in a letter to the Public Printer dated February 23, 1996. Input from representatives of Federal agencies has been gained during the Congressional Study which is nearing completion. In general, the proposed move to a more electronic Depository Program has been supported. However, all parties have advised that a transition period of only two and one half years is too soon. Based on this advice, we feel that time period was overly optimistic and we concur with the advice that a more realistic transition period is five to seven years. GRANTS TO DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES Mr. PACKARD. I was in charge of local libraries, and we did what was necessary to make our libraries work. They will fund the equipment if they feel that that is the only way they can get and use the information that is sent. But at any rate, I think that that may be where the pressure needs to be. That brings up, however, a question that I think needs to be addressed. You are proposing, I think, $500,000 for grants to help local libraries become capable of receiving, using, and distributing information. I guess all of these questions have led up to the justification for that kind of a grant system. What is your justification for establishing a new grant program? Mr. DIMARIO. Well, I think Mr. Kelley put the plan together with his staff. But I think the underpinning for it is the fact that within the library community itself there is a consensus that there are haves and have-nots of dramatic disproportion and that to a large degree research libraries, the universities, colleges, are the haves and the public institutions are the have-nots. We are attempting to serve the American public and make information available. To the extent that a grant program would allow those who are the have-nots to transition towards the electronic program and benefit everyone so that we move towards a single electronic program, we felt that it was a rational proposal to put into the request. Mr. PACKARD. I will admit, it passed through my mind a year or two ago as we were making this transition, it may be necessary in some instances to help local libraries. I don't know how this would function in terms of picking and choosing winners and losers and the kind of effect it would have on local commitment. If I knew that I had a chance of getting a $25,000 grant or spending $25,000 out of my local budget, I would go for the grant. So it could have an effect of discouraging local commitment is the best way I can put it. Mr. DIMARIO. Yes, sir. [The information follows:] U.S. Government Information... ELECTRONICALLY The Electronic Federal Depository Library Program: Transition Plan, FY 1996 - FY 1998 U.S. Government Printing Office December 14, 1995 Table of Contents Basic Assumptions for the Transition to an Electronic FDLP .. Transition Plan for the Electronic Federal Depository Overview . Information Formats in the Electronic FDLP Managing the Transition: Existing Materials Managing the Transition: Information Not Previously in Eliminating Duplication Legal Changes Which Support the Transition Future of the In-House Distribution Operation Depository Library Service Expectations Technology Grants Training Efforts and Regional Librarians' Conference New Focus for the Inspection Program Promoting GPO Access to Public Libraries Transition Chronology . FDLP System Requirements for Electronic Access General Requirements System Requirements Paper Titles in the FDLP: Core List Technical Assistance To Implement the Transition Plan: Statement of Work 1. Basic Assumptions for the Transition to an Electronic FDLP Based on our direction from Congress, we expect that nearly all of the information provided through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) will be electronic by the end of fiscal year 1998. 2. Typically, the information provided through the FDLP will be electronic, with the exception of a few select titles which must be available in paper as well as electronically. 3. The costs of the transition to the electronic FDLP will be funded by reducing the distribution of paper and microfiche. 4. In an electronic FDLP, the responsibility for ensuring longterm access shifts from the depository libraries to the Superintendent of Documents (SOD). In the electronic FDLP, connections to electronic access services operated under the authority of the SOD replace the geographically-dispersed collections of books and microfiche. This implies new and different tasks and expenses. To provide long-term access to data, SOD assumes such costs as data preparation for mounting, maintenance, storage, and ongoing costs to minimize deterioration and assure technological currency. 5. The GPO Access services (on-line service, storage facility, locator service, and bulletin board) will be the foundation for providing electronic access to Federal information for the FDLP. 6. Direct, no-fee access to Government information will be provided to the public by the GPO Access services as a function of the FDLP, and be funded by the Program. 7. SOD will coordinate with other agencies for depository library access to their electronic data. In the case of some agency databases which must be sold to be self-sustaining, the FDLP may not necessarily provide for direct, no-charge public access. However, depository libraries will be able to provide public access to these databases, either on-site, or by connecting through a gateway. |