Impact of Providing Government Documents to the Public Solely in Electronic Format

Electronic dissemination of government documents offers the opportunity to reduce the costs of dissemination and make government information more usable and accessible. Feasibility of Transfer of the Depository Library Program to the Library of Congress

Both advantages and disadvantages are associated with transferring the depository library program to the Library. In studies conducted in 1993 and 1994, the Library concluded that the depository library program is not inconsistent with the mission and functions of the Library and that it might be appropriate for the Library to have responsibility for a program established to acquire government documents and distribute them to depository libraries. However, the Public Printer stated that the Library is not an appropriate home for the depository library program because the Library’s mission is inconsistent with a large-scale information dissemination program. These disadvantages included potential negative effects on public access to information and concern about the availability of funds to maintain the current program. If a decision is made to transfer the program, transition planning would be critical to determining how and when such a transfer should occur.
What GAO Found

Electronic dissemination of government documents can reduce distribution costs and make government information more usable and accessible. However, the transition to a paperless environment will require that several challenges be overcome. Transferring the depository library program to the Library of Congress entails both advantages and disadvantages. In studies done in 1993 and 1994, the Library concluded that the depository library program was not inconsistent with the mission and functions of the Library and that it might be appropriate for the Library to oversee this program. However, the Government Printing Office (GPO) believes that the Library is not an appropriate home for the depository library program because the Library's mission and operations are inconsistent with a large-scale information dissemination program. In addition, the studies and librarian organizations raised concerns about the potential negative effects of the transfer on public access to information and the availability of funds to maintain the current program. If a decision is made to transfer the depository library program, the concerns raised by library organizations and employee unions should be addressed. One option for addressing these issues is to form a GPO/Library transition team to develop appropriate strategies.