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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9198 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9198 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 23, 2010 Page 1 of 1 a SUBJECT: FORT WORTH PUBLIC LIBRARY FEDERAL DOCUMENTS 7 rsts The purpose of this Informal Report is to inform Council about the Library's plans to de-accession the federal documents collection. Weeding or de-accessioning materials is a standard operating procedure in libraries of all types. Specifically regarding the de-accessioning of the federal documents, the criteria applied are use, accessibility, budget, and material duplication. As the Library responds to changing community dynamics and continuing budget challenges, we look for every opportunity to avoid duplication of effort by partnering with area institutions and organizations that provide the same or similar service. The Fort Worth Library federal documents get little use, likely because most federal documents are currently available online via the website of the U.S. Government Printing Office and are therefore available from any computer, at home or at the library. The Library intends to transfer its collection to the University of North Texas (UNT) because both Texas Christian University and the University of Texas at Arlington have extensive and older federal depository collections which are open to and accessible by the public. Avoiding this duplication with two other collections in the city has helped the Library save money by allowing it to eliminate the position devoted to maintaining the federal documents collection. Also, because the collection was little used, the Library has not had a dedicated government documents librarian in over ten years. Basically, we have been a warehouse for a collection of materials more conveniently available online and elsewhere. The agreement with UNT stipulates that materials requested by Fort Worth will be scanned and made available on request. Note also that the depository federal documents collection is owned by the U. S. government, not by the Fort Worth Library. We are unable to sell items from the collection even though they are housed at the Fort Worth Library, and even if they are duplicated in our own collection. The Fort Worth Public Library Foundation proposes to enhance, expand and renovate the Library's Genealogy/Local History Unit. As a result, they have grave concerns about de-accessioning historical materials. We share that concern and have no intention of removing materials related to Fort Worth's history. However, there is a significant difference between the federal documents on deposit with the Library and the Library's genealogy and local history materials. Very few federal documents relate to Fort Worth. As we de-accession the federal documents collection, we plan to look for valuable materials that might add value to our own collection and that are aligned with the Library's collection development policy, which was approved by the Library Advisory Board. In the event we find such materials, they will be added to the Library's collection. UNT and the administrator of the Federal Documents Depository Program have agreed to this arrangement. Should you have questions or need more information about the Library's plans, please contact Library Director Gleniece A. Robinson at 817-871-7707 or via city email. Dale A. Fis r, P.E. City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS