----------------------------Original message----------------------------
THE FOLLOWING IS BEING POSTED ON GOVDOC-L, MAPS-L, AND LAW-LIB.
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| T H E D U P O N T C I R C L E R E P O R T E R |
| |
| An Informal Newsletter for the Federal |
| Depository Library Community |
| May 4, 1993 No. 1 |
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CONTENTS: * Welcome to the Dupont Circle Reporter!
(including reprint of GOVDOC-L postings)
* Members of the Dupont Circle Group
* What Happens Next?
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WELCOME TO THE DUPONT CIRCLE REPORTER!
This is the inaugural issue of the Dupont Circle Reporter.
The intended audience of this newsletter is the federal depository
library community: depository librarians and others with an
interest in access to government information. The newsletter will
appear irregularly, hopefully at least once per week. In addition
to being distributed electronically via selected listservs, printed
copies will be forwarded to federal depository libraries that do
not have Internet/listserv connections. Readers are encouraged to
copy and share the information in this newsletter with any groups
or individuals that have an interest in government information.
The purpose of this newsletter is to share information and
facilitate discussion on the future of the Federal Depository
Library Program.
This newsletter is a communication tool of the Dupont Circle
Group. The DCG is an independent group of depository librarians
that gathered at offices on Dupont Circle in Washington, DC, on the
weekend of April 16-18, 1993. The goal of the group for that
weekend was to begin to develop a document for discussion on the
goals and future of the Federal Depository Library Program. This
newsletter is part of an effort to keep that discussion going and
an attempt to reach as wide an audience as possible.
The following messages were posted on GOVDOC-L in mid-April
and give some background on the creation and activities of the
Dupont Circle Group.
*****************************************************************
GOVDOC-L posting April 16, 1993
Gary Cornwell, Chair
Depository Library Council to the Public Printer
During my remarks (as Chair of the Depository Library Council)
at the ALA Midwinter Conference I referred to a number of
problems currently facing the Depository Library Program. Of
primary concern was the notion that we could no longer assume the
status quo, that changes to the Program were inevitable and it
was up to us to be a voice in those changes. Events during the
intervening months have only served to reinforce that notion that
the Program is in trouble.
At the same time, however, the community's reaction to my
comments has been extremely heartening. A number of people
stepped forward and volunteered to help in any way they could.
Of course, determining how they could help placed the onus of
deciding how to proceed back in my lap. I obviously did not have
all the answers and enlisted the advice of several leaders in the
library and information fields to help determine what course of
action to take. In particular, I worked hand-in-hand with Julie
Wallace (Chair of GODORT) who had recently received a similar
challenge of her own from the Joint Committee on Printing.
Apparent to all concerned was that we (depository librarians) had
to develop a model for a restructured DLP that we could all
support. A model that not only met our criteria for an "ideal"
DLP, but was also more efficient and cost effective. How to
develop this model was not as readily apparent.
If I have learned anything as Chair of the Depository Library
Council, it is that our profession is filled with a number of
intelligent, insightful, and yes, opinionated individuals and the
problem became how to involve all of them in the process. After
considering a number of options, it was decided that the best way
to proceed was to get something down in writing that could be
distributed to the community for their reaction. The problem
then became, how to get the initial report prepared for community
comment. With the Federal Depository Library Conference, the
Spring Council Meeting, and the annual meetings of several
library organizations coming up, time was of the essence and we
needed to move quickly. Consequently, it was decided to put
together a small working group of practicing documents librarians
who were willing to pay their own way to Washington for the sole
purpose of getting an initial concept down on paper that could be
shared with the depository library community for input and
revision.
Determining whom to include in the group was not easy.
Eventually, after consultation with the various library groups,
it was decided to include the practicing librarians from the
Depository Library Council, several past Chairs of GODORT,
members of the first "Focus Group," and representatives of the
various types of libraries in the Program. I know that there are
literally hundreds of documents librarians out there that could
have been included in this group and that each one of them would
have made valuable contributions to the process. Unfortunately,
producing any type of meaningful document with a group of that
size is just not feasible. To all the people who volunteered to
help, I would ask that you examine the work of this group and
provide us with your own unique insight into the Program. The
goal of this group is not to take over the decision making
process for the DLP, rather it is to provide the community with
an avenue for having a voice in its future. I honestly believe
the very future of the Program is at stake and we must all
contribute whatever and whenever opportunities are presented to
us.
The independent group will be meeting prior to the Federal
Depository Conference and will provide draft reports from their
meeting to Conference attendees and ultimately to the entire DLC
community. Copies of the draft Council Report "Alternatives for
Restructuring the Depository Library Program" will also be
available for comment. Throughout the week, members of this
working group as well as members of the Depository Library
Council will be available to discuss the future structure of the
DLP and we are counting on your input and assistance! Obviously,
work from the group will be shared with the Depository Library
Council and the various library organizations for their input,
comments, and revision. Eventually, it is hoped that we can
develop a unified plan that can be shared with member of Congress
and other decision makers in Washington. Together we can help
determine the shape of the DLP in years to come.
Gary Cornwell
Chair, Depository Library Council
--------------------------------------------------------------
GARY CORNWELL PHONE: (904) 392-0366
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LIBRARIES FAX: (904) 392-7251
DOCUMENTS DEPARTMENT BITNET: GARCORN@NERVM
LIBRARY WEST INTERNET: [log in to unmask]
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA 32611
*****************************************************************
GOVDOC-L posting April 17, 1993
Julia Wallace, Chair
ALA/Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT)
Documents librarians who were at the ALA Midwinter Conference
heard a lot of discussion of the Federal Depository Library
Program, including reactions to the Superintendent of Documents
letter of 11/18, and a very interesting "challenge" from the
Chair of the Joint Committee on Printing. The challenge was for
librarians to acknowledge a downward trend in funding and to
identify cost-saving alternatives for the program. The challenge
was rather complex, as was GODORT's response -- a full report was
posted on GOVDOC-L shortly after the conference. In addition,
Depository Library Council chair Gary Cornwell also challenged
depository librarians to join in working for the future of the
program, or face losing it.
Since Midwinter the budget scene in Washington has become even
more austere as both the legislative and executive branches try
to meet goals for reducing their expenditures. Relating to the
challenge, several things have happened. The GODORT Steering
Committee has been consulted along the way, as have the leaders
in other documents organizations. This message is to alert those
of you coming to Washington for the depository conference to be
prepared to contribute constructively to the planning for a new
depository program. The really challenging discussions at the
conference will take place outside of the official agenda, and
you will want to be alert for them.
In brief, the leadership in the Joint Committee on Printing
has changed, and the challenge as it was framed by then-chair
Charlie Rose is no longer in effect. However, GODORT and
Depository Council leadership have taken up the challenge
anyway, and have formed a small group which is working right now
to help frame the questions and present possible scenarios. We
hope to have some reports ready to distribute at the conference,
to generate discussion there and into the summer conferences of
the associations. Those who wish to have their views represented
need to be ready to spend some time in reading, pondering, and
discussing.
There has been a great deal written about the depository
program and possible future scenarios. I would recommend that
you seek out the new issue of Government Publications Review for
an article by several of our colleagues. Read it and see where
you agree, where you disagree, what you would add. Then to set
the issue in the current political context, come to the
Legislative Update on Monday evening, April 19, at 6:00 at the
U.S. Department of Labor.
This is a difficult time for the depository program, but the
stakes are high and we must take the threats seriously. Those of
us at the conference will have a head start on the discussion.
We will then need to find ways to bring all other depository
librarians, and other stakeholders, into the discussion too.
Perhaps GOVDOC-L will be one vehicle for that.
See you in DC. Incidentally, I am on my way out the door, so
e-mail sent by the time you see this will not reach me before the
conference. But I hope many readers will want to join in
planning for a viable future for the depository program, at the
conference, at GODORT meetings this summer, and beyond.
Julie Wallace, Chair, Government Documents Round Table (GODORT)
American Library Association
---------------------------------------------------------------
Julia F. Wallace, Gov. Pubs. Library Voice: (612) 626-7520
409 Wilson Library, U of MN FAX: (612) 626-9353
309 19th Avenue South Bitnet: J-WALL@UMINN1
Minneapolis, MN 55455 Internet: [log in to unmask]
***************************************************************
The members of the Dupont Circle Group are:
Gary Cornwell, University of Florida, and Chair,
Depository Library Council
[log in to unmask]
Julia Wallace, University of Minnesota, and Chair,
ALA Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT)
[log in to unmask]
Duncan Aldrich, University of Nevada, Reno
[log in to unmask]
Tom Andersen, California State Library
[log in to unmask]
Diane Gardner, Harvard University
[log in to unmask]
Carol Gordon, Milwaukee Public Library
[log in to unmask]
Steve Hayes, Notre Dame University
[log in to unmask]
Sally Holterhoff, Valparaiso University School of Law
[log in to unmask]
Linda Kennedy, University of California, Davis
[log in to unmask]
Ridley Kessler, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
[log in to unmask]
Melissa Lamont, University of Connecticut
[log in to unmask]
Sandee McAninch, University of Kentucky
[log in to unmask]
Kay Melvin, Patent and Trademark Office
703-308-4472
Daniel O'Mahony, Brown University
[log in to unmask]
John Shuler, Colgate University
[log in to unmask]
Jack Sulzer, Pennsylvania State University
[log in to unmask]
Susan Tulis, American Association of Law Libraries
[log in to unmask]
Carol Watts, NOAA/National Envir. Satellite & Data Info. Services
[log in to unmask]
******************************************************************
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
In the rapidly changing electronic environment of today, the
means by which government information is disseminated and made
available to the public are becoming increasingly diverse. Whether
or how the Federal Depository Library Program remains a part of the
emerging national information infrastructure rests squarely with
the depository library community. It is our collective
responsibility to articulate the needs and benefits of the program
and to participate in making the necessary changes if it is to be
a viable program in an electronic world. As the stewards of the
public's right to know for the past century, it is up to us to
ensure this right for the next century.
Future issues of this newsletter will include the draft
documents prepared by the Dupont Circle Group. These were designed
to focus discussion on the issues facing the depository program.
It is our hope and intent that these documents will be shared and
discussed with the entire depository community throughout the
upcoming summer -- at local, state, regional and national meetings.
(Plans are underway to include discussion sessions at the upcoming
meetings or conferences of the Depository Library Council,
Special Library Association, American Library Association/GODORT,
and the American Association of Law Libraries.) Reports from
these meetings and other input on these issues will also be
included in future issues of the newsletter. Our overall plan is
to produce a final report by mid-October with recommendations
for the future direction of the Federal Depository Library Program.
Comments and input relating to the issues presented in this
newsletter or inquiries for further information can be addressed to
any member of the Dupont Circle Group. Thank you.
Dupont Circle Reporter/Number 1/May 4, 1993
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