GPO Welcomes Its First Preservation Librarian

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) is continuing its commitment to preserving the documents of our democracy by establishing the agency's first preservation librarian position. GPO's preservation librarian will be tasked with updating the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) collection management plan for the preservation of Federal Government documents. David Walls will serve as GPO's first preservation librarian; he is a member of the American Library Association (ALA) and comes to the agency from Yale University where he worked as a preservation librarian for 12 years. While at Yale, Walls established practices for the digital conversion of library and special collection materials.

"David's experience and expertise in preservation will be an asset to GPO and its mission of Keeping America Informed. This is an important position for the agency as we work with the library community on the continuing transition to a primarily electronic FDLP and ensure that the content can be migrated in the future to guarantee current and permanent public access to Federal Government information."

- Acting Superintendent of Documents Ric Davis

Digital preservation is an ongoing initiative for GPO. In 2009, the agency launched GPO's Federal Digital System (FDsys), a content management system, preservation repository, and advanced search engine that provides the public with permanent public access to Federal Government information. GPO is also a member of LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe), a worldwide digital preservation alliance that collaborates with libraries and organizations on preservation initiatives.

Listen to the interview with Davis Walls on Federal News Radio (07:22):
{audio}http://media.bonnint.net/wtop/18/1896/189654.mp3{/audio}

Read the Washington Post article "David Walls is overseeing the transition at the GPO to digital archiving":
The article celebrates the U.S. Government Printing Office’s (GPO) 150th anniversary and highlights key initiatives related to preserving access to Federal information in the digital age.

For more information, read the GPO press release.