Government Documents

Statement of Purpose

UNCW Library was designated as a selective depository for United States government publications in 1965. The depository collection is administered and maintained according to the requirements of Title 44, Chapter 19 of the United States Code; Instructions to Depository Libraries; and Guidelines for the Depository Library System. The library is committed to providing free access to the collection for UNCW students, faculty, staff, and the general public. Services are provided in person, by telephone, mail, email, and chat reference.

Administration

The Government Resources collection is supervised by the Government Information Librarian with the assistance of part-time student employees. The Librarian is responsible for the selection, de-selection and withdrawal of depository items. Suggestions from library staff and library users are encouraged. The library currently selects mainly items in electronic format, with the exception of a few titles in print, all available through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and the Government Publishing Office (GPO). 

Service Area

The Government Resources Collection serves UNCW students, faculty, staff and the general public. As of October 2023, there were 17,987 total students enrolled, with approximately 2,600 faculty and staff. The university offers a wide variety of academic programs designed to meet the diverse needs and interests of our students with 8 colleges that include an Honors College, University College and a graduate school. UNCW offers more than 250 undergraduate and graduate programs, including 6 doctoral degrees.

Wilmington, North Carolina is part of the 7th U.S. Congressional District, which includes Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Pender, Robeson and Sampson counties. We also serve many of our online students and citizens in Onslow County, which is in the 3rd Congressional District). 

The Wilmington community has a wide range of informational needs relating to small businesses, manufacturing, international trade, retirement communities, marine-related trades, travel and tourism, agriculture, retail trade and professional services. According to census.gov as of July 2023, the population of Wilmington, NC was 122,698. The percentage of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher was 43.6%. The median household income was $58,908. The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $318,600.

Selection of Material

The List of Classes is the official listing of publications available for selection by depository libraries participating in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The list is arranged by the Superintendent of Documents (SUDOC) classification numbering system and is designed to group together publications by the same government author. The List of Classes is used at UNCW Library to identify item numbers for potential addition to, or deletion from the library’s item selection profile.

UNCW Library selects and receives all essential titles listed in the FDLP Basic Collection. As of October 2023, Randall Library collects approximately 65% of all available federal publications; of these, 88% are in electronic format.  *(Please note: the North Carolina State print documents are being retained and actively collected, in addition to monthly downloads of NC born digital titles).

Determining Needs

Methods of determining needs:

  1. FDLP Basic Collection. (Required by the FDLP for all depository libraries).
  2. Course descriptions in the UNCW undergraduate and graduate catalogs.
  3. Student, faculty, staff, and general public requests for specific documents and requests for information during research transactions.
  4. The distance from, and size of other U.S. depository collections.
Access

Access to United Stated depository documents at UNCW Library is ensured by:

  1. Posting of the depository logo at the library entrance and in the Documents Collection area along with other appropriate signage.
  2. Arrangement of documents by SUDOC number in their own, separate location within UNCW's Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History.
  3. Access to the collection is available upon request and during open reading room hours in the Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History, currently Monday-Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  4. Provision of research assistance by the Government Information Librarian.
  5. Availability of databases and websites such as the Catalog of Government Publications, Govinfo.gov, Congress.gov, and UNCW library databases such as HeinOnline, ProQuest Congressional and WorldCat-FirstSearch.
  6. Providing adequate equipment required for maintenance and accessibility such as shelving, map cases, computers, and internet access. The library also provides visitor computer workstations available to the public. These workstations are equipped with software that may be required when using government information in some type of electronic format.
  7. Integration of government information resources in information literacy instruction sessions.  This is accomplished by working directly with Research and Instruction Librarians and the Public Services Archivist within the Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History.
  8. Participation in the Catalog Records Distribution Program (CRDP) and (MARCIVE), providing the library with monthly catalog records, based on our Item Selection profile. This also includes providing and maintaining active Internet links to online publications through the online catalog.
Collection Maintenance

The collection is maintained in accordance with the guidelines provided in the Federal Depository Library Program's Instructions to Depository Libraries. The following procedures ensure proper maintenance of the collection:

  1. Procedures manuals are maintained for the Government Information Librarian and student worker assistants.
  2. Holdings of serials and multipart titles are maintained to the piece level in the library's online catalog once the cataloging record is available from the CRDP/MARCIVE monthly record download.
  3. All documents are clearly marked with the depository property stamp and the SUDOC number.
  4. Withdrawn titles are offered to the regional and then to other depositories across the southeastern states before they are discarded. Any publication that is considered to have lasting research value is retained.
  5. Lost and damaged documents are evaluated for replacement or withdrawal. 
  6. The Government Information Librarian regularly reviews FDLP.gov and attends workshops and conferences to keep abreast of new developments concerning the acquisition and processing of government resources and access to government information.
Review and Evaluation of Policies

The UNCW Library Policy Committee reviews all policies and procedures on a regular basis and institutes any changes that are deemed necessary.

Questions about this policy may be addressed to Elisabeth Garner, Government Information Librarian, garnere@uncw.edu