The Merger of Government Documents and Reference at a Mid-Size University.

The University of Louisville Libraries merged their Government Documents Department and Reference Department in 1999 to save money and improve efficiency. This was part of a larger trend in the 1990s and early 2000s of merging government documents departments with other library units or reference services. The merger resulted in changes to cataloging, reference services, and staff roles, but also led to a loss of expertise in government documents. While there were some positive outcomes, such as increased collaboration and awareness of government resources, there were also drawbacks, including a decrease in the quality of government documents reference services. The document provides historical perspectives, surveys, case studies, and opinions on the integration of government documents and reference services in academic libraries. [Extracted from the article]