The European community depository library system in North America

Abstract

This article describes the history and nature of the European Community's (EC) system of depository libraries after first briefly outlining the structure of the EC itself and the character of its publications and documents. The focus of the article is the EC's Depository Libraries, European Documentation Centres and European Reference Centres in North America. In order to develop a group picture of these depositories, the author sent to each European Community depository in the United States and Canada a 24-question survey in March of 1985. The questions were designed to allow the depositories to present as much information as they desired about the way in which they handle EC publications, about their problems and about changes they would like to have instituted in the EC depository system. Among the most important of the findings is that most depositories in North America believe they need more information about EC publications and their roles and that they would like to participate in conferences and associations designed to assist them. A suggestion is made regarding the most effective way in which EC depositories in North America could organize for self-help.