GPO DIRECTOR APPOINTS TASK FORCE TO STUDY
MAKING GPO LIBRARY PROGRAM ALL-DIGITAL
WASHINGTON —The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) Director Hugh Nathanial
Halpern appointed a task force to study the feasibility of an all-digital Federal Depository
Library Program (FDLP). As 97 percent of Federal publications are born digital, Director
Halpern is charging the Task Force on a Digital Federal Depository Library Program (“Task
Force”) to determine whether an all-digital FDLP is necessary, and if so, define the scope
of an all-digital depository program and make recommendations as to how to implement
and operate such a program. This will include an examination of the current landscape in
Federal depository libraries, of FDLP-related operations at the GPO, and of the
dissemination of publications by Federal agencies.
“Technology has changed since GPO began putting information online in 1994, and so has
our Agency,” said Director Halpern. “It is crucial to our democracy that GPO continue to
adapt and meet our customers where they are. Thank you to the members of the library
community and all of our partners for their commitment to making Government
information even more accessible in the future. I look forward to the Task Force’s
recommendations.”
The Task Force is comprised of 23 members representing the Depository Library Council,
the Depository Library Community, Federal Agencies, and library associations. It will
deliver a final report on the feasibility of a digital FDLP to Director Halpern by December
2022. Member Roster: Task Force on a Digital Federal Depository Library Program | FDLP
“The need for information digitally will only continue to grow,” said GPO Superintendent
of Documents Laurie Hall. “I’m eager for this task force to investigate a new model for the
administration of the FDLP.”
GPO has been working with the library community since the 19th century to provide the
American people free access to Federal Government information. The partnership
continues today with more than 1,100 libraries. Even with digital footprints, GPO’s Preservation Steward partners will continue to preserve rare and valuable print collections of Government information.
GPO is the Federal Government’s official, digital, secure resource for producing,
procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the official
information products of the U.S. Government. The GPO is responsible for the production
and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal
Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official
publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies in digital and print
formats. GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information at
no charge through www.govinfo.gov and partnerships with approximately 1,100 libraries
nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. For more
information, please visit www.gpo.gov.
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