Read Requirements and Guidance

Your library accepts specific obligations with Program participation. Read the Legal Requirements and Program Regulations of the Federal Depository Library Program and the associated Guidance.

Learn about Item Numbers and How to Modify Your Library’s Selections

• Locate your library’s item selection profile through Item Lister.
• Become familiar with the Item Number System, the List of Classes, and the non-GPO resource Documents Data Miner 2.
• Learn how to amend your library’s selections through the Amending Your Library’s Selection Profile Guidance article.
• Get a quick overview of the three main resources used to manage your selection profile in the Tools to Manage Your Selection Profile – Quick Start

Learn about Your Library’s Depository Operation

Locate or identify:

• Collection housing locations, including selective housing sites.
• Local procedures for collection processing and management.
• How FDLP content in all formats is identified and made accessible at your library. For example, cataloging, a shelflist (card catalog), or combination of the two.
• Information related to library staff involved in the depository operation and their roles.
• How your library promotes and makes depository resources and services visible.
• Documentation relating to your library’s depository collection. FDLP documentation includes Biennial Survey of Depository Libraries submissions, assessment or inspection reports, and any official selective housing site agreements or other memorandum of understanding.

Plan for FDLP Training

GPO offers training through the FDLP Academy to help you learn about the FDLP and U.S. Government information resources. Opportunities include:

• New Depository Librarian’s Institute
• FDLP webinars and webcasts
• Depository Library Council Meeting and Federal Depository Library Conference Proceedings
• Regional depository library consultation and other training
• Local, state, or national library association programming

Feel free to reach out to GPO. We’re happy to be of assistance.

• askGPO
• Outreach & Support
• Library Services and Content Management
• U.S. Government Publishing Office
• Contact Outreach and Support

Other helpful sources of information include:

• Your regional depository library
• Non-GPO listservs, for example, GOVDOC-L or DocTech-L