The Superintendent of Documents seeks to accommodate regional depository libraries and their need to effectively manage their depository resources and transition to a greater emphasis on digital collections, which requires increased flexibility and the reconsideration of past selection requirements. One way to provide this flexibility is to explore offering “EL” or online as a format selection option for regional depository libraries, without also requiring that they select an equivalent tangible version.
Regional Depository Libraries Online Selections (Superintendent of Documents Draft Public Policy Statement 202X-X) was released in September 2020 to provide the basic framework for this new option. Nothing in the policy prohibits regionals from continuing to select tangible formats along with the online format.
In the fall of 2020, a survey of regional depository library coordinators was conducted in order to:
- Gauge regional depository interest in this option
- Provide GPO with insight into how regional depositories might implement such a practice
- Inform the development of processes for GPO
Regional depository coordinators expressed interest in selecting an online format with no equivalent tangible selection. Survey responses are reported in Regional Depository Libraries Survey Findings (February 16, 2021).
The draft policy was finalized and went into effect August 31, 2021 Regional Depository Libraries Online Selections (Superintendent of Documents Public Policy Statement 2021-1).
Basic Requirements for Regional Online Selection
- Publication eligibility requirements:
- Digital equivalent on govinfo, or from the digital repository of a Digital Preservation Steward or Federal agency partner
- A minimum of 4 geographically-dispersed Print Selectors, who agree to select and retain the print format for a specified period of time
- Authorization for regionals to select a title in online format only is granted by the Superintendent of Documents
Post-implementation Usage Analysis: Congressional Record (Daily) and Federal Register
Two titles meet the requirements of the policy, having a minimum of four geographically-dispersed Print Selectors. In both cases, the titles supersede and the Print Selector retention period align with the Superseded List:
- Congressional Record (Daily) shall be retained until all the bound editions for a volume are issued (dailies and the indexes)
- Federal Register shall be retained for two years
A post-implementation usage analysis is to be conducted for these two titles between September 1, 2021-December 31, 2021. Analysis will assess the impact of the policy and ensure public access is maintained for titles that are made eligible for regionals to select only in EL or online format.
Throughout the analysis period, Print Selectors should maintain statistics on the two titles. Regional depositories that deselect the tangible formats for one or both of the titles should begin and maintain statistics from the time they deselect the tangible format(s) through December 31, 2021.
GPO will evaluate how the policy impacted libraries, and which titles, if any, the policy can be expanded to include.
Download the Regional Online Selections Tracking statistics template.
Download the Regional Depository Libraries Online Selections Policy Post-Implementation Analysis: Final Report.
Print Selectors:
Federal Register:
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Paul M. Herbert Law Center (South region)
- State Library of Ohio (Midwest region)
- State Library of Pennsylvania (Northeast region)
- University of Colorado, Boulder, School of Law Library (West region)
Congressional Record (Daily):
- Augusta University, Reese Library (South region)
- University of South Carolina – Thomas Cooper Library (South region)
- State Library of Ohio (Midwest region)
- State Library of Pennsylvania (Northeast region)
- University of Colorado, Boulder, School of Law Library (West region)
- Vanderbilt University, Central Library (South region)
Presentations and Webinars
- March 30, 2021 Webinar - Draft Policy: Regional Depository Libraries Online Selections
- August 19, 2021 Virtual Meeting
Other Resources