Final Library Survey Results

The final results of the Depository Library survey have been posted to the FDsys Web site here. In addition to the results, GPO has identified the following next steps:

1. Definitions and clarifications of terms used in the survey that respondents indicated were confusing will be posted by October 21, 2005 to the Library Survey Results page on the FDsys Web site.
2. The survey results indicated areas of interest most important to the library community. Additional interaction with GPO’s library partners is required to validate these findings. GPO will use library focus groups and other means including face-to-face meetings, conference calls, and web conferencing to obtain this input. This initiative will begin in late October 2005.
3. Feedback from library partners is highly encouraged. All appropriate questions and comments submitted to the FDsys blog (http://fdsys.blogspot.com/) or the Office of Innovation and New Technology’s e-mail address (int@gpo.gov) will be promptly answered. INT will also make questions and answers to frequently asked questions available on the FDsys blog.

Clarification of Library Survey Terms

Listed below are definitions for terms used in the FDsys Library survey that some respondents indicated needed additional clarification. Questions regarding this information should be submitted to the Office of Innovation and New Technology at int@gpo.gov.

Push: Intentionally and specifically serving out information to a target recipient(s).
Content is automatically sent (“pushed”) from GPO to a list of interested users. This is analogous to shipping a box of depository documents, only with electronic content instead of tangible copy.

Pull: Downloading content on an as-needed basis.
Content is made available for users to select and retrieve (“pull”) to local servers or computers. For example, currently users may be said to pull documents from GPO Access.

Migration: Preservation of digital content, where the underlying information is retained but older formats and internal structures are replaced by newer.
Migration involves transforming files to ensure that they can be accessed using current hardware and software. The content is retained, but the file format changes as technology changes.
Example: a Microsoft Word 97 file is migrated to a Microsoft Word 2000 file.

Emulation: The imitation of one computing system by another system through the use of software and hardware that allow the latter to run programs written for the former.
Emulation involves re-creating an obsolete operating system or piece of software on an up to date operating system or piece of software. This allows the digital objects associated with the obsolete system to be accessed without changing the file format.
Example: Microsoft Word 97 is emulated on a current system so that files saved in Microsoft Word 97 format can be accessed.

Digital Content System Update

The presentation given by Mike Wash at the Fall Depository Library Conference in Washington, DC is available at the Web site here.