The GPO's library programs service: The way it is

Abstract

The United States Government Printing Office originally prepared this description of the Library Programs Service's (LPS) current receiving, processing, and depository distribution operations as supplemental documentation for a draft plan for a “Federal Documents Data Base.” The editors of Government Publications Review felt that nowhere else had they seen as detailed and comprehensive a description of LPS activities. It is our hope that this overview will enhance the understanding within the federal documents community, especially by depository librarians, of the broad scope and complicated nature of Library Programs Service activity. In the past, LPS received much of the depository library criticism directed at the Government Printing Office. The insight provided herein may help transform critical complaints into constructive suggestions, thereby allowing the relationship between documents librarians and the Library Programs Service to become proactive rather than reactive. Part A describes the workflow of depository materials through the Library Programs Service. Part B is an annotated list of numerous files and data bases utilized by the Service. Part C is essentially a “System Overview” of the operations of LPS or a summary of Part A.