Administrative Notes: Newsletter of the FDLP

Vol. 25, no. 10 GP 3.16/3 - 2:25/10 September 15, 2004

Weather Limitations Affecting FDLP Shipments

If inclement weather or other emergency has caused a Depository library to close, it is imperative GPO be notified as soon as possible. The Instructions to Depository Libraries (page 20) states, “in the event of a natural disaster, arson, flood, etc., the library must immediately inform the Superintendent of Documents in writing.” If you are unable to notify the Managing Director of Information Dissemination (Superintendent of Documents) immediately in writing, please contact the GPO Customer Contact Center so staff can provide immediate assistance.

To contact the GPO Customer Contact Center regarding depository shipments or other issues, please visit our Web site at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/help or contact the GPO Customer Contact Center at (866) 512-1800 (Toll free) or (202) 512-1800 (Washington Metropolitan Area), Monday through Friday, 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, EST.

During an emergency, FDLP libraries have the option of:

  • Having GPO hold all future shipments until further notice;
  • Having GPO intercede with microfiche contractors to send us your shipments on a temporary basis; and,
  • Having GPO send your shipments to a temporary alternative mailing address for regular mail and an alternative physical delivery address for courier shipments.

At the conclusion of the emergency, GPO will forward all shipments to your library when you are able to start accepting deliveries again. This also includes any shipments returned to GPO as undeliverable. The GPO Customer Contact Center will assist you so the normal claim process will not be used .

If all or part of your current depository library collection is destroyed or needs to be supplemented, please use the national Needs and Offers List, GPO’s partnership with the University of North Dakota, at http://www.und.edu/fdlp/. It’s an extremely helpful collection development resource that allows you to view lists of titles other libraries have been authorized to discard, and to post lists of titles you need. You may request any listed title for your library.

Again, for more information, please see page 20 of the Instructions to Depository Libraries. This information may also be found on our Website at: <http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/pubs/instructions/in_ch4.html#B>.

Together, through the FDLP, we can make a difference.