F e d e r a l D e p o s i t o r y L i b r a r y P r o g r a m ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES Newsletter of the Federal Depository Library Program --------------------------------------------------------------------- June 15, 2002 GP 3.16/3-2:23/08 (Vol. 23, no. 08) --------------------------------------------------------------------- READERS EXCHANGE ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY DEPOSITORY CONFERENCE AND GRANT AWARDS FOR DEPOSITORIES By Mike Ragen Illinois State Library The Illinois State Library in Springfield recently hosted a conference for the government depository libraries of the State. Over 50 depository library staff from throughout the State were represented at the conference. There were informative presentations on the U.S. Census, the Illinois State Library's extensive map collection, legal and medical websites and on promoting government depository services to the public. Robin Haun-Mohamed, Chief of Government Printing Office Depository Services, participated in the conference and gave an update on the status of the federal depository program. An important aspect of the conference was to allow fellow depository staff to "network" and discuss common problems and concerns. Many of the depository staff in attendance work in close proximity to other depositories but never really have the opportunity to discuss common concerns and problems. The Illinois State Library offered participating depository libraries a federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant of $1800. The grant funds must be used for technology that can be used by the depositories to access government documents and thereby increase service to the general public. The technology must be purchased from the FDLP "2001 Recommended Specifications for Public Access Workstations in Federal Depository Libraries" . The overall purpose of the conference and the grant offering was to enhance the capabilities of depositories. The evaluations received from the participants gave the conference high marks for innovative presentations. As the result of the success of this conference, the conference will be an annual event. The conference for 2003 is now in the planning stages. For more information contact: Mike Ragen, Chief Deputy Director and Regional Coordinator for the Federal Depository Program, Illinois State Library, 217-524-4200; e-mail: mragen@ilsos.net