Regional depository libraries for U.S. government publications

Abstract

Regional depository libraries for U.S. government publications were officially authorized by the Depository Library Act of 1962. This paper analyzes the interpretation and implementation by the Superintendent of Documents and the regional depositories of key provisions of that landmark legislation which assigns additional responsibilities to certain designated depository libraries in the following areas: disposal of unwanted depository publications, inter-library loan, and reference service. It also discusses the establishment of experimental regional depository libraries in Wisconsin and New York in the 1950's, and the issue of federal financial support for regional depositories. This paper is based on responses by 43 regional depository libraries to either one or both of two detailed questionnaires completed in 1972 and 1974, and on the personal experience of the author as a regional depository librarian since 1967.