Subject:        Shrinking Number of Maps received through FDLP
Date:   Fri, 5 Nov 2004 12:01:23 -0800
From:   Kathy Stroud <[log in to unmask]>




Hi all,



I was talking with some other librarians the other day about the
implications, for map libraries, of the Federal Depository Library
Program going digital and I got to thinking. Since our library is a
selective depository library, we receive many maps through the
depository program.  There have been noticeably fewer maps received this
year. I went to the GPO Monthly Catalog database and did an expert
search dt = “maps” and limited it by this year (2004).  The search
retrieved 254 items.  I also did a search for previous years (see below).



1997                 2346 items

1998                 1941 items

1999                 1216 items

2000                 1780 items

2001                 1398 items

2002                 1532 items

2003                 1219 items

2004                 254 items



What I found was a continuing trend of fewer maps in the FDLP each
year.  This was no surprise.  However, this year’s numbers were quite
surprising to me. I realize that the year is not over yet, but are there
really 75% to 80% fewer maps this year or is it just that many maps
published in 2004 haven’t been distributed yet?  Am I overlooking
something in my search strategy?



If we’re only receiving 200 maps a year through the depository program
rather than 1,000, the movement away from print materials is already
significantly impacting our collections and operations.  Any thoughts?



Kathy Stroud, Map/GIS Librarian
Government Information and Maps
Peter J. Shields Library
100 NW Quad
Davis, California 95616-5292
(530) 752-5248