----------------------------Original message---------------------------- The Alternative for Restructuring the Depository Library Program Recommended by the Map and Geographic Information Center of the Homer Babbidge Library, University of Connecticut. Submitted by Patrick McGlamery, Map Librarian October 15, 1993 The Map and Geographic Information Center at the Homer Babbidge Library of the University of Connecticut is a unit of Library's the Research and Information Services Department. Also in the department are the reference and information services, microtext collection, computer based reference services, government documents collection and bibliographic instruction. The Center has been designated by the Connecticut State Library as the repository for cartographic materials distributed to the Connecticut and Rhode Island Regional Depository Libraries. It is not part of a government depository department, though coordinates activities and functions with the Library's depository librarian. The Center serves as a primary spatial information access point for university clients as well as state agencies, private businesses and public users. The Center's online catalog of collections is available in most public libraries in the state through ReQuest, a CD/ROM union catalog of Connecticut's public libraries. The Center circulates materials to users through the Library's Inter-Library Loan Department. Of the alternatives outlined in the discussion paper, _Alternatives for Restructuring the Depository Library Program, a Report to the Superintendent of Documents from the Depository Library Council, April 1993_ the one most suitable to the Center's mission is " G. Build on Existing Strengths to Create a System of Subject- Based Regionals." The text of the paper follws: ====================================================================== G. Build on Existing Strengths to Create a System of Subject- Based Regionals Many current depository libraries - both regional and selective - have developed significant expertise in one or more subject areas. The subject-based regional concept draws upon this developed expertise to provide relief to those regionals having difficulties due to lack of space, staff, and/or funding. Selective depositories with expertise in specific subject areas or those willing to develop expertise in specific subject areas could accept the obligations of comprehensive collection and service in their specialization. The subject-based regional concept would enhance an invigorated effort to bring about closer cooperation between the information creators (agencies), the information disseminators (GPO) and information access points (libraries) to insure that information products are used to their full potential. By having a smaller pool of contacts for specific subjects, these relationships would have an improved chance of developing into a very effective tool for improved communication. Many of the factors important in the Super-Regional concept would be valid here: * Ability of the library to take on an added role * Willingness to accept the responsibilities for training, dissemination, archival functions, and reference assistance within a subject field * Prospects for bringing more "fugitive" documents into the system since fewer copies might be needed for special subject collections Questions to be answered include: * Would current regionals or other large libraries be willing to take on the responsibility of serving a larger area? * What are the incentives for becoming a Subject- based Regional? * How would the Subject-based Regional concept mesh with other components of the Depository program? Would the current regionals disappear? What geographic area would Subject-based Regionals be expected to serve? * How would this system compare in cost with the current system? At what level and by whom will costs be absorbed? * Does it reach all user groups? * Is access for the user quick enough to be useful and is access certain? It should be noted that there may be some significant overlap and blending of possibilities within four of the scenarios, the national library, the super-regional, the subject-based regional, and the electronic depository. For example: * Could a Subject-based Depository for Environmental Protection also be the Electronic Depository as well as serve as the National Collection for this topic? * Could a Super-Regional serve as the National Collection for a particular topic based on geographical area? * With new technologies providing instant access - would an exceptional National Collection library do away with the need for Super Regionals? Would it be a better use of resources to concentrate everything at that level except for selective depositories? ====================================================================== The subject speciality of the Center is geographic information which includes the analog formats: maps, charts, air photos, gazetteers, and atlases and the digital formats: spatial data sets such as DLGs, TIGER Line Files, and image files and spatial databases such as digital cartography linked to census data, water pollution, well sites. surface materials, etc. The analog formats include paper, microfilm, microfiche. The digital formats include CD-ROM, disk, tape casettes, tape reels, fileserver based files, remote files, etc. Recently, as geographic information has begun to expand from traditional paper based maps to digital Geographic Information Systems, the mission of the Center has been inhibited by the Depository Program. For example, census data is received and distributed from the reference desk. When patrons need census data for mapping, the CD-ROM disk must be circulated to the Center. As other geographically referenced data is distributed, questions of appropriate storage and distribution responsibilities will have to be determined. Geographic information is no longer map-based. Libraries will be forced to rethink their comfortable categorization by format. Of the factors important to the Super-Regional concept, most are in place: * The Center has taken on the added role as the repository of cartographic materials for the Federal Regional Depository Libraries of Connecticut and Rhode Island. * The Center currently functions as the primary site for training, dissemination, archiving and reference assistance for geographic information in the State. * The Center is currently working to bring in "fugitive" documents/data on the State level. The Center has made a concerted effort to meet the goals paralleled in this alternative. This alternative would be the must productive to the central mission of the University of Connecticut's Map and Geographic Information Center. ---------------------- PATRICK MCGLAMERY MAP LIBRARIAN U-5M HOMER BABBIDGE LIBRARY UNIV. OF CONNECTICUT STORRS, CT 06268 (203) 486-4589 LIBMAP1@UCONNVM