From GARCORN@nervm.nerdc.ufl.eduTue Mar 12 15:20:45 1996
Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 12:17:34 -0600
From: Gary Cornwell 
Reply to: Discussion of Government Document Issues 
To: Multiple recipients of list GOVDOC-L 
Subject: Resolution on GPO Transition

   RESOLUTION REGARDING A TRANSITION TO A MORE ELECTRONIC
                 FEDERAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

WHEREAS,   The American Library Association has a long
           standing record of support for a more electronic
           Federal Depository Library Program; and

WHEREAS,   The Government Printing Office (GPO), under
           Congressional direction, has prepared The
           Electronic Federal Depository Library Program:
           Transition Plan, FY 1996-FY 1998, an innovative
           and thought provoking proposal to lead the FDLP
           to a more electronic environment; and

WHEREAS,   The Transition Plan provides the foundation for
           increased public access to government
           information by offering new opportunities and
           mechanisms for the Federal government to share
           electronic information with the American public;
           and

WHEREAS,   In accordance with ALA policy, the practical
           experience of its member librarians, and the
           belief that public access to government
           information during the transition to a more
           electronic FDLP must be preserved, changes to
           the FDLP must ensure that:

             *citizens are ready for and able to use
             government information predominately in
             electronic format, and

             *providing information predominately in
             electronic format does not place undue
             technical, logistical, and economic burdens on
             the public nor on depository and other
             libraries that serve the general public, and

             *Federal agencies are capable of supplying
             information in electronic format or that the
             GPO is in a position to convert all agency
             information to electronic formats, and

             *the technological infrastructure is
             sufficiently developed to support a
             predominately electronic FDLP; and

WHEREAS,   The time-frame for a transition to a more
           electronic FDLP must be reasonable and not
           impose barriers to public access to government
           information; and

WHEREAS,   At this time, there are no empirical data to
           suggest that a predominately electronic FDLP
           will result in cost-savings and preserve public
           access to government information; and

WHEREAS,   Implementation of the Transition Plan requires
           substantial statutory changes to existing
           Federal information policy; now, therefore, be
           it

RESOLVED,  That the American Library Association urge
           Congress to continue efforts to move the FDLP
           toward a more electronic information and
           dissemination program by adopting a 5-7 year
           timeframe for the transition, and be it further

RESOLVED,  That the American Library Association urge
           Congress to reaffirm the Government's
           responsibility to provide Federal information in
           a format most appropriate to the public needs
           by:

             *supporting and funding the FDLP throughout
             the transition period at a level necessary to
             carry out a successful transition, and

             *disseminating information in media
             appropriate to the information's content, use
             and audience, and

             *ensuring no-fee public access to government
             information through depository libraries
             regardless of the agencies' cost recovery
             practices, and

             *affirming the government's responsibility and
             strengthening its ability to archive and
             preserve government information for long-term
             access; and be it further

RESOLVED,  That ALA urge Congress to hold public hearings
           by both authorizing and appropriating committees
           prior to implementing the Transition Plan and to
           enact the necessary statutory changes to USC
           Title 44 in order to implement the Plan; and be
           it further



Adopted by the Council of the American Library Association
American Library Association
San Antonio, Texas
January 14, 1996
(Council Document 20.4)


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GARY CORNWELL                                   PHONE:     (352) 392-4919
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LIBRARIES                 FAX:       (352) 392-7251
HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES SERVICES DEPARTMENT
LIBRARY WEST
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA  32611