The federal depository library system: A descriptive analysis

Abstract

It is the intention of the investigators to provide an overall panoramic view of the U.S. Federal Documents Depository system. Basic characteristics of the depository libraries in the system are provided and an attempt made to determine significant relationships among these descriptive variables. Certain sub-populations of the depository libraries are singled out for special attention. These are depository libraries in academic institutions, depositories subscribing to less than 25% of depository item categories, and libraries which had given up their depository status between 1970 and 1976. Perhaps the most significant finding of the study is the relatively low priority given in many depositories to documents as witnessed by the small number of staff assigned to work in this area.