Perry Library
at Old Dominion University is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a
federal depository with lobby and web exhibits and a reception. The
lobby exhibit of materials from the collection
will open on September 1, 2003 and continue through fall semester. The
reception,
to be held September 15, 2003 at 3:00 pm, will feature the presentation
of a certificate from the Government Printing
Office and our recent nomination as "Depository
Library of the Year."
- The
library became a depository for materials from the Atomic Energy
Commission in 1963 Beginnings
- The
federal documents collection now totals approximately half a million
pieces Collection
- There
are over 12,000 maps and thousands of Internet publications Collection
- Soil
Surveys are the most frequently checked out publications Usage
- The
School of Health Sciences are our most frequent users Usage
- There
are web sites for parents and children Collection
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"A
popular government without popular information, or the means of
acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps,
both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who
mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power
which knowledge gives."
--
James Madison
Letter to W.T. Barry, August 4, 1822
In Fulfilling Madison's Vision, p. vii
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In
the fall of 1963, Professor C.L.
Adams of the Physics Department of Old Dominion College proposed
that Hughes Library become a depository for Atomic Energy Commission
materials. University Librarian William C. Pollard, in a memo
to President
Lewis W. Webb, Jr., indicated that becoming a "depository
for Atomic Energy Commission documents should put us in line for
becoming one of the research centers Governor Harrison is considering
establishing in the future." Pollard and Webb solicited sponsorship
for the effort from Congressman Porter Hardy, Jr.
After
several months of research and negotiations, the library was designated
by Congressman Hardy and GPO as a federal depository for the 2nd
Congressional district and a depository for Atomic Energy Commission
materials.
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The lobby exhibit showcases some of the more unique materials
from our collection:
-
publications on nuclear research from our early beginnings as
an Atomic Energy Commission depository
- Census
records from 1790-2000, showing the dynamic changes in gathering
statistical information
- NASA
photographs, CD-ROMs and books, spotlighting the shuttle program,
MIR space station and Apollo projects
- military
histories of Hampton Roads, as well as international engagements,
demonstrating our area's military contributions
- materials
on the Chesapeake Bay, presidential documents, women's health
materials, CIA maps, and the children's corner, highlighting
the variety of the collection
- see
full list of materials on exhibit
Today,
the library’s documents collection contains approximately
half a million items in many formats:
- 155,391
printed materials (books, hearings, legal materials)
- 250
periodicals (journals)
- 314,039
microforms
- 2,111
CD-ROMs and DVDs
- 38
videos
- 12,033
maps
- 8,999
Internet publications (and growing daily)
By 2005, the Government Printing Office predicts that 90% of new
titles will be online only.
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Bookmarks
and other handouts are available in the Perry Library lobby
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Statistics
are kept for the usage of government publications at Perry Library.
Here are some examples of our top ten items:
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Most
frequently used print documents include:
- Soil Surveys (all counties)
- Statistical
Abstract of the United States
- Federal Register
- Code
of Federal Regulations
- USGS
Professional Papers
- Foreign
Relations of the United States
Top
users of federal publications:
- The College of Health Sciences
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Most
frequently visited Web sites include:
- STAT-USA
- Statistical
Abstract of the United States
- Congressional Universe
- American
FactFinder (create customized Census Reports)
- FedStats
- PubMed
- GPO Access
- CIA
World Factbook
- Dept. of Health & Human Services (all health related agencies)
- World
News Connection (online FBIS)
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Perry
Library has been nominated for the first annual Depository Library of
the Year award. The nomination cites:
- Promotion
efforts (e.g., women's
health exhibit)
- Collaborative
instruction (e.g., library element of Health sciences/dental hygiene
research course)
- Numerous
training workshops and presentations at VLA
- Articles
and reviews in Virginia Libraries
- Work
with the American Library Association's Government Documents Roundtable
- Efforts
to improve cataloging and workflow
Finalists
will be notified in August and the winner will receive a plaque, etc.
at the Fall Depository Conference in Crystal City in October.
- Perry
Library's Guide to Government Web Pages -- http://www.lib.odu.edu/govinfo/
- GPO Access
(find materials by branch of government e.g., legislative, executive
or judicial, or by database, e.g. Budget of the United States) -- http://www.gpoaccess.gov/multidb.html
- Core Documents
of Democracy (e.g. Declaration of Independence, Gettysburg Address)
-- http://www.gpoaccess.gov/coredocs.html
- Census
Bureau (population, mapping and more) -- http://www.census.gov
- American
FactFinder (create customized Census reports) -- http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet
- NASA (space
exploration, research and development, educational programs) -- http://www.nasa.gov
- United
States Geological Survey (water resources, biology, geology, geography,
mapping and more) -- http://www.usgs.gov
- Dept.
of Health and Human Resources (cancer research, Centers for Disease
Control, clinical trials and medical research) -- http://www.os.dhhs.gov
- FirstGov
(practical information for citizens, businesses and local governments)
-- http://firstgov.gov
- Specialized
Collection of Full Text Information (permanent online access to core
documents, scientific R&D, and more…) -- http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/ec/scfti.html
- FirstGov
for Kids (for kids, parents and teachers) -- http://www.kids.gov
- Ben's
Guide to Government Information for Kids (K-12) -- http://bensguide.gpo.gov
- Janet
Justis, Government Information Reference Librarian, Old Dominion University
Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529 (757) 683-4169 jjustis@odu.edu
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