In this module, you will describe how the library processes depository publications and maintains a holdings record to the piece level for tangible publications. There are questions on various aspects of bibliographic control, including piece level accounting, cataloging of tangible and electronic materials, and your library’s policies and procedures. This will help you document how your library provides bibliographic access to depository publications, which helps library public services staff and your library users identify the publications in the library’s collection. These publications should be those that best meet the U.S. Government information needs of the library users.

As a reminder, how your library chooses to address the questions within this module continues to be a local determination, so there may be several different, but perfectly acceptable, answers to the same question. Guidance for evaluating your own responses is highlighted within various sections and also summarized at the end of the module. The questions address situations at many libraries; however, there may be additional or unique bibliographic control situations at your library that you are encouraged to consider in your overall review of the topics covered in the module. Some libraries have different processes for different parts of the collection; therefore, as applicable, please feel free to repeat questions or add additional comments after questions as appropriate to answer questions completely.

Self-Study Module 3: Bibliographic Control

Working with the Module Part in PDF

For technical information on how to work with the PDF portion of the module, please consult the information found in the Introduction to the Self-Study.