Legislative intent and depository library selection practices

Abstract

While the 1962 amendments to the Depository Library Act embody the potential to instigate major improvement in Federal depository library selection practices, little has been written to document any such improvement. This article offers an analysis of the legislative intent of the provisions of section 9 of those amendments. Pertinent documents are examined to determine the intended relationship between depository library selection practices and the 1962 amendments providing for the creation of regional depositories and the disposal of documents. Included are statistical data that suggest that little quantitative change has occured in depository item number selection since the passage of the provisions in 1962.