Number 61                                                                        March 2003

Website http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/govpubs/ilagodort/

Contributed articles are welcome. Contact Barbara Corson, State Library of Iowa, 515-281-4352, fax 515-281-4118, barb.corson@lib.state.ia.us.

WORDS FROM THE CHAIR

The goals for my term as Iowa GODORT Chair are fairly simple.  Communication, communication, communication. There will be several opportunities to talk to one another in the coming year through programs and training opportunities. You may be hearing from me for some newsletter ideas, too. Govdoc-Iowa is a listserv that doesn't see much action, but is an easy way to ask questions and share information. I hope that that you'll consider adding your voice to Iowa GODORT activities. 

Marianne Mason, University of Iowa

GODORT 26th ANNUAL SUMMER WORKSHOP - "PICNIC IN THE PARK"

Wear comfortable clothes to the July 11th, 2003 Iowa GODORT Summer Workshop. We'll meet at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch, IA from 1000 to 330 for a look at government documents that are often out of our reach. Find out more about the Hoover Library at http//hoover.archives.gov/ .  A special presentation by the archivists in the morning, a picnic in a park shelter-house for lunch, guided tours of the museum exhibits and park in the afternoon, followed by a brief GODORT meeting back in the shelter-house will round-out the day.

This is a wonderful venue, not to be missed! West Branch is a charming village with plenty of opportunity to stroll or do a little antiquing. Look for registration information in early June.

WHAT'S GOVDOC-IOWA?

It's a vehicle to ask questions, make announcements, and generally communicate with other Iowans interested in government information issues. It's a listserv that is not restricted to government documents librarians although librarians are its primary users.  If you're like me, the last thing you need is another busy listserv.  Govdoc-Iowa does not fall into that category. However, it is a resource that we could all benefit from through more frequent use. Information about Govdoc-Iowa is available at http//www.lib.uiowa.edu/govpubs/list.html

TIMELINE IN THE LIFE OF A DISPOSAL LIST

It's easy to forget that the material in our depository collections doesn't really belong us, but to GPO. For this reason collections need to be managed according to standards set by the FDLP including the publications that libraries want to remove from their holdings. The sole purpose of the listserv lib-docex is to offer Iowa libraries a means to comply with disposal responsibilities.

Here is the timeline of activities associated with each disposal list:

1. A library identifies material no longer needed in their collection.  Libraries must keep the publication for at least five years as stated in the Instructions to Depository Libraries.

2. The library compiles a list of titles to be withdrawn according to the Guide for Federal Depositories in Iowa in Constructing Document Exchange Lists. Following the guidelines makes it easier for other libraries to check their holdings against the list.

3. The list is sent as an attachment to lib-docex@list.uiowa.edu

4. When the list is posted to lib-docex libraries, the Regional Library checks its holdings against each list. If the title is lacking, thepublication is requested from the offering library.

5. Traditionally, if the Regional Librarian does not respond within 30 days, it is assumed that the offering library may dispose of the material as they see fit.

THEME FROM COUNCIL MEETING

By the time you read this you will have undoubtedly read several detailed accounts and commentaries on the Federal Depository Library Council meeting held in Reno, NV in early April. Here, in a nutshell, is the theme that was clearly conveyed during the meeting. The transition to a primarily electronic FDLP will rapidly accelerate to as much as 95% electronic within five years. The focus of FDLP libraries will shift from the collection to service. We are information providers and the value of our abilities will grow with this change and in the future. Fasten your seatbelts.

THE PLAN

The Iowa State Plan for Federal Depository Libraries is in the mail! One tangible copy of The Plan was sent to each depository library director for approval. An e-mail heralding its arrival was sent to both directors and documents librarians. After The Plan is approved a copy will be sent to GPO for the Superintendent of Documents' records. Thanks to Maeve Clark, Barb Corson, and Joyce Lindstrom for their hard work on bringing The Plan to life. Notice the capital letters in "The Plan". It was darned hard work and certainly deserving of big letters! To see The Plan go to http//www.lib.uiowa.edu/govpubs/iowaplan-rev03.html

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ILA/ACRL Spring Conference

Know Your Rights First Amendment and Academic Libraries

May 2, 2003

University of Dubuque

Interagency Depository Seminar

May 27 - June 4, 2003

Washington, D.C.

GODORT ALA Pre-Conference

Good Enough for Government Work The Digitization of Government

Information

June 18-19, 2003

Toronto, Canada

ALA Annual Conference

June 19 - 25, 2003

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

26th Annual Iowa GODORT Summer Workshop

July 11, 2003

Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum

West Branch, IA

GPO Access Training Seminar

October 15, 2003

The University of Iowa Libraries

Iowa City, IA

ILA Annual Conference

Planting the Seeds Growing Leaders for Tomorrow

October 15-17, 2003

Crowne Plaza & U.S. Cellular Center, Cedar Rapids

Fall Depository Library Conference/Council Meeting

October 19-22, 2003

Arlington (Crystal City), VA

2003 GODORT Officers

Chair Marianne Mason, University of Iowa

Vice-Chair/Chair Elect Barb Corson, State Library of Iowa

Secretary/Treasurer Hank Zaletel, Iowa Department of Transportation

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last updated February 2, 2004