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