Communicating Within the FDLP

The FDLP Desktop serves as a centralized resource for the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), which disseminates U.S. Government information to the American public through libraries across the nation. Stay up-to-date with the latest innovations and progress of the Program and utilize various tools in order to enhance public services.

Libraries, log in with your institution's number and internal password to access depository-only content (e.g., order promotional materials).

Home > Tutorials > New Depository Coordinators > Communicating Within the FDLP

Written on Thursday, 26 March 2009
Last Updated on Thursday, 08 October 2009

Please be aware of the many ways to communicate within the FDLP. (See also the What To Do When You Have Depository Management Questions article).

Listed here first are specific mechanisms provided by GPO, but please also contact your regional depository library to learn more about the ways you may communicate with your regional depository library and other selective depositories in your region.

Sign up to FDLP-L. This is currently the official communication channel for GPO to keep depository libraries informed of FDLP news, conferences, and other depository related information. At least one person at each depository library must be subscribed to the listserv. (This was also mentioned in the Getting Started as a New Coordinator article.)

Federal Depository Library Directory (FDLD). Use the Directory to notify GPO of changes in the library’s directory information, including address and library director and coordinator changes. Consider using the Public Notes feature to add short notes for your library users. This site is updated in real-time.

Within the FDLP Desktop:

Sign up for RSS feeds about content posted on the FDLP Desktop.
Communicate through the FDLP Community Forum. This site is designed to create an online, interactive venue to enhance the world of government documents. Each member of the Federal depository library community may create an individual user account. Share your knowledge, experiences, and resources while also benefiting from the expertise of other library professionals from around the country.

Contact your regional librarian for publication disposal instructions and advice. Find out whether there is a state electronic discussion list and how to sign up, and whether there is a government documents group in the state or region and join it. To identify your regional librarian, see the Federal Depository Library Directory, select the link to "Find all Regional Libraries", and look for the depository coordinator in your state. If you are in a state or area without a regional library, you may identify your regional library through information about multi-state regionals in the Federal Depository Library Directory.

Contact neighboring depository library personnel for networking opportunities, cooperative collection development, and promotion possibilities. Visiting the regional or other depository libraries is often a good way to learn more about the Federal depository resources in your area.

Popular non-GPO listservs to participate in are: