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Online Item Selection Update Successfully Completed

The fiscal year 1998 Annual Item Selection Update cycle was a great success. Over 1007 libraries submitted amendments to their selection profile using the new online "Amendment to Item Selection" form. The total number of transactions submitted during the Update Cycle from June 2 through July 31 was 64,873.

The months of June and July were very busy for the LPS staff responsible for this new project. Over 500 e-mail messages were answered and hundreds of phone calls were received as this new procedure was implemented.

The overall response from depository libraries was very positive. As with any new online procedure, most problems encountered were related to network communications, browser incompatibility, interpretations of instructions and use of the new form. Only a very small number of libraries were unable to submit their amendments online.

Librarians are reminded that additions to their selection profile made during the Annual Selection Update Cycle remain pending until they are activated on October 1, 1997. Libraries will begin to receive publications under newly selected item numbers with shipping lists dated October 1 and after. Claims for new items listed on shipping lists dated prior to October 1 will not be honored.

Deletions to library profiles can be made throughout the year at the "Amendment to Item Selections" site at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/amendment.html. Deletions are processed within 72 hours of submission to LPS. Since your selection profile will have changed, claims cannot be honored for items appearing on shipping lists dated after the 72-hour period. Please be sure to inform staff responsible for claiming titles of changes in your selection profile.

Libraries are encouraged to verify deletions and additions submitted to LPS by reviewing their item profiles at the Item Lister web site at. http://access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/itemlis.html. Additions will not appear on the Item Lister until the October 1997 upload.

For further information, contact Laurie Hall at:

Council and Partnerships Web Pages Added to GPO Access

The FDLP Administration page on the GPO Access Web site now contains two new sections:

• Council – The Depository Library Council provides the content of these pages. GPO acts as host, as recommended at the fall 1996 Council meeting.

• Partnerships – A Partnerships link provides access to pages containing information about the FDLP Partnership Program.

The FDLP Administration page is located at: http://access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/fdlppro.html.

You Can Help Plan the 1998 Federal Depository Conference

Once again, the Library Programs Service is seeking assistance from the depository community to identify topics, potential agencies, speakers, and information products for the 1998 Federal Depository Conference.

The participants in the 1997 Federal Depository Conference placed the highest value on the Federal agency presentations, especially the latest information on their electronic products and services. The one-hour orientation to the Conference/Council on Sunday afternoon and the three-hour brainstorming session with experienced documents librarians and GPO staff on Monday afternoon were hits as well. There was standing room only for GPO Access and Pathway Services demonstrations. Preservation issues, bibliographic control, and designing Web pages were also hot topics.

Your ideas are needed to create another successful Federal Depository Conference. The 1998 conference, regional meeting, and Depository Library Council will be held in a hotel in the Washington, DC metro area during the week of April 20-23, 1998.

If you would like to volunteer as a speaker or can identify potential speakers or topics, please contact Sheila McGarr by telephone on (202) 512-1119; by fax on (202) 512-1432; or by e-mail on smcgarr@gpo.gov no later than October 10.

The Congressional Directory for the 105th Congress is now available online via GPO Access. The Congressional Directory is prepared by the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP). Documents are available as ASCII text files and as Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

This database will be available through the Web, WAIS client, and SWAIS. Detailed instructions for access follow the database description.

DATABASE DESCRIPTION

Congressional Directory, 105th Congress

Menu Name: Congressional Directory, 105th Congress

Database Name: 105_congressional_directory

Host: wais.access.gpo.gov

Port: 210

Description: (optional)

The Congressional Directory for the 105th Congress was prepared by the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP). Documents are available as ASCII text files and as Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

WORLD WIDE WEB

The database will be accessible from the following URL:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aaces002.html

This database and the Congressional Directory for the 104th Congress are accessible directly through the Congressional Information Web page at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov//congress/cong016.html

TELNET ACCESS : SWAIS

You can connect to GPO Access via Telnet. The address is swais.access.gpo.gov. Type guest (lowercase) at the login prompt (no password is required). You will be using SWAIS. File transfers are by Internet e-mail or screen capture.

DIAL-IN SWAIS

Users without Internet access can dial-in to GPO Access. Use a modem to call 202-512-1661, type swais and login as guest. The modem settings are 8NI, full duplex. You will be using SWAIS. File transfers are by Internet e-mail or screen capture.

WAIS CLIENT ACCESS

If you are using WAIS client software, you will need to create a source file for the new database. Instructions for adding source files to the WinWAIS and MacWAIS client software are available below.

A. Creating a Source File for WinWAIS:

Execute the following steps to create a source file for the new database:

1. Open the WinWAIS software;
2. Pull down the Edit menu and select the Select Sources menu item;
3. Click on the button labeled New;
4. Fill in the name, host and database fields using the information provided above;
5. Fill in the database description (optional);
6. Click the OK button in the Edit WAIS Source Definition Window;
7. Click on the OK button in the Selected WAIS Sources Window.

B. Creating a Source File for MacWAIS:

Execute the following steps to create a source file for the new database:

1. Open the MacWAIS software;
2. Pull down the Sources menu and select the New menu item;
3. Fill in the name, host and database fields using the information provided above;
4. Fill in the database description (optional);
5. Click the OK button.

For further assistance, contact the GPO Access User Support Team:

Browse Electronic Titles (BET) has a new look! The changes are designed to minimize the download time of the page and to maximize the content of the page.

Browse Electronic Titles is a service of GPO Access, providing direct access to individual publications located on servers at official Federal agency World Wide Web sites. BET is located at:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/dpos/btitles.html

LPS has made these changes because once Browse Electronic Titles grew to more than 150,000 bytes, download time for the file became excessive. Breaking the page up into a series of smaller interrelated files allows users to go to the New Additions, the most popular component of the page, without having to download the entire file. This move offers another opportunity: smaller files mean that LPS can include more information. LPS is now working on re-capturing older monographic titles that had been dropped from the list after the 90-day period specified as the lifetime for monographic publications.

A "What's New?" page now provides hypertext links to the current and retrospective New Additions pages. The retrospective pages cover the previous 3 weeks.

The Agency Index is being expanded to include Government publishers of older titles being reactivated on the Browse Electronic Titles page. Additions to the Agency Index page are marked with a red flag and will remain so marked until the New Additions page that introduced the agencies' titles is rotated off the What's New? page.

Links listed for some of the older titles now on the page may have changed. LPS is working on routines that will check the links and alert us to those that have changed or been discontinued by the agencies. In the meantime, librarians are asked to be patient as we work to further improve this product.

Tips for Retrieving the Online List of Classes

Technical staff at LPS have discovered an anomaly that occurs when the List of Classes on the Web interface of the Federal Bulletin Board is downloaded to a Netscape browser. Major portions of the file, which is located at ftp://fedbbs.access.gpo.gov/gpo_bbs/class/listclas.txt, may appear to be missing. If you have encountered this situation while using Netscape, the following instructions may help to download the entire file:

1. Select the Options pull-down menu and select: General Preferences.

2. Go to Helpers.

3. Highlight File type text/plain.

4. In Action select Save to Disk.

5. Click on OK, and then download.

The file is converted into ASCII comma-delimited format to allow its retrieval in a database application.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the opening of the Headquarters Information Resources Center (IRC). The IRC integrates the Public Information Center, the Headquarters Library and INFOTERRA into a one-stop shop for seamless, improved access to EPA information. The IRC is located in Room M2904 of the EPA Headquarters building at 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC, and is open to the public on a walk-in basis.

Services provided by the IRC include:

• Research assistance on a wide range of environmental and related subjects. Questions may be submitted via phone, fax, mail, or e-mail.

• Referrals to other EPA information sources.

• Access to collections, including thousands of EPA reports.

• Assistance in locating materials on EPA’s World Wide Web site.

• Assistance to international clients with referrals to environmental experts within the U.S.

• Coordination with the National Center for Environmental Publications and Information (NCEPI) for distributing and mailing EPA documents.

Contact information:

EPA Headquarters Information Resources Center
Room M2904, Mail Code 3404
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday
Telephone: (202) 260-5922
Fax: (202) 260-6257
E-mail: library-hq@epamail.epa.gov
WWW: http://www.epa.gov/natlibra/hqirc/

Register for Fall 1997 Depository Library Council Meeting

Name Telephone (include area code)

Library Programs Service Directory Revised August 1997
	Voice	Fax	E-mail
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
James Young	202-512-2332	202-512-1432	jyoung@gpo.gov
William Thompson	202-512-1114	202-512-1432	wthompson@gpo.gov
LIBRARY DIVISION
Gil Baldwin	202-512-1002	202-512-1432	ebaldwin@gpo.gov
DEPOSITORY ADMINISTRATION BRANCH
Robin Haun-Mohamed	202-512-1071	202-512-1636	rhaun-mohamed@gpo.gov
Mike Clark	202-512-1619	202-512-1636	mclark@gpo.gov
Laurie Hall	202-512-1062	202-512-1636	lhall@gpo.gov
Michele Harris	202-512-1060	202-512-1636	mharris@gpo.gov
Earl Lewter	202-512-1129	202-512-1636	elewter@gpo.gov
DEPOSITORY SERVICES STAFF
Sheila McGarr	202-512-1119	202-512-1432	smcgarr@gpo.gov
Gail Snider	202-512-1119	202-512-1432	bsnider@gpo.gov
John Tate	202-512-1119	202-512-1432	jtate@gpo.gov
CATALOGING BRANCH
Tad Downing	202-512-1121	202-512-1432	tdowning@gpo.gov
ELECTRONIC TRANSITION STAFF
George Barnum	202-512-1071	202-512-1636	gbarnum@gpo.gov
Lee Morey	202-512-1698	202-512-1636	dmorey@gpo.gov
Joe Paskoski	202-512-1698	202-512-1636	jpaskoski@gpo.gov
Sandy Schwalb	202-512-1698	202-512-1636	smorton-schwalb@gpo.gov
DEPOSITORY DISTRIBUTION DIVISION
Vicki Barber	202-512-1014	202-512-1432	vbarber@gpo.gov
Colleen Davis	202-512-1007	202-512-1429 (claims) 202-512-1432 (other) 202-512-1636 (backup)	cdavis@gpo.gov