Search

This article provides information on the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The program operate sunder authority of U.S. Code Title 44 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-130. Chapter 19 of Title 44 gives the Superintendent of Documents responsibility for acquiring, cataloging, and distributing government information to libraries. Title 44 and OMB Circular A-130 require federal agencies to make their publications available for distribution to depository libraries through the Superintendent of Documents. Among the approximately 1,400 depository libraries, 53 regionals receive all publications distributed through the FDLP and are required to retain documents permanently to ensure the availability of archival collections. The FDLP network is in the process of transforming from a tangible collection of print, maps, and microforms to an online collection available to libraries and the public. Funds for the FDLP come from the Superintendent of Documents' budget. Expenditure reports do not specify the portion of this budget used to support the program. The Government Printing Office and the depository libraries are taking steps to increase availability of and access to government information.

The article outlines a series of events in 2005 ensuring that information switched its dominant format from analog to digital. Inspired by Project Gutenberg, Hugh McGuire created LibriVox, a project whereby volunteers record chapters of books in the public domain then transfer those recordings into MP3 files that are available for free on the www.librivox.org. Last November, the Library of Congress announced its creation of the World Digital Library, an online collection of rare books, manuscripts, and other materials that will be freely available for viewing by anyone, anywhere, with Internet access. Each of the events affects libraries in significant ways. From digitization projects to interlibrary loan and from electronic reserves to electronic books, copyright law is having an impact on librarianship.

Reports that as of January, 2001, Innovative Interfaces Inc.'s integration of netLibrary e-books is available to libraries at no charge. How the collections are available to libraries using the company's INNOPAC and Millennium systems; Features that integrate the collection, including search, previews and check-out.

Relates news briefs on digital libraries. A partnership at Cornell University with computer scientists and librarians to develop better strategies for documents and other data; The funding by the United States Department of Education of two projects at Columbia University to make South Asian resources and library collections more available through enhancement and use of the World Wide Web.

This article reports that netLibrary has teamed with Recorded Books LLC to create a new program for delivering audio books to libraries through the World Wide Web. Key elements of the program include an innovative pricing structure, unlimited access, the ability for patrons to download to a range of portable devices, and a technology solution that supports download via broadband or dial-up capabilities. Library users will be able to search for, preview, check out, and listen to audio books via the Internet and the netLibrary platform. They can focus their search on audio titles only or take advantage of search functionality that integrates audio titles with all electronic content their library may have in its netLibrary collection. Web-based collections of Recorded Books titles will be available for purchase through either Recorded Books or netLibrary and will be delivered via the netLibrary interface. Library patrons will be able to search for audio books just as they would for any type of electronic content in their library's netLibrary collection. In addition, libraries can view demonstrations of the program upon request, which will be formally lanced in December 2004.