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The Government Documents Collection at the Stephen B. Luce Library
The Federal Depository Library Program
The purpose of the Federal Depository Library Program is to provide federal government information to libraries for the free and unimpeded access of the public (44 U.S.C. § 1911). The Stephen B. Luce Library is a selective Federal Depository Library, and adheres to the regulations listed in the Legal requirements & program regulations of the Federal Depository Library Program and procedures established by the regional depository at the New York State Library.
Collection Development
The Library selects government documents in the following areas:
- Maritime history
- United States history
- Maritime navigation
- Nautical charts and general cartographic materials
- Oceanographic and atmospheric science
- Environmental science
- Mechanical and electrical engineering
- Nuclear science and engineering
- Demographic data
- Labor and occupational safety and health statistics
- Energy industry
- Maritime insurance and arbitration
- Shipping and intermodal transportation
- Transportation security and safety
- Library of Congress publications
- Federal legislations, regulations, and case summaries
- Maritime treaties, laws, and regulations
The Collection retains one tangible copy of each item for the minimum retention period or until superseded. Congressional Hearings in tangible formats in areas of science, terrestrial transportation, and history are substituted by electronic format (if available). All tangible documents are periodically reviewed for disposal with the following permanent retention guidelines:
- Code of Federal Regulations Titles 3, 33, 46, 47, 49 and index
- Federal Register
- Congressional Record
- United States Code
- United States Statutes at Large
- United States Reports
- Treaties in Force
- Congressional Hearings in the selected subject areas
- Interstate Commerce Act Annotated
- Interstate Commerce Commission Reports
- Federal Maritime Commission Reports
- National Transportation Safety Board Reports
- National Transportation Safety Board Decisions
- Statistical Abstracts and other statistical summaries
- Tide Tables, Lights, Lists of Lights, Coast Pilots
- Nautical charts for the North American east coast
- Maritime Administration publications
- Technical memoranda, reports, and studies in the selected areas, primarily published by NOAA, USCG, NMRC, DOE, and CAORF
- Port guides
- Coast Guard regulations and manuals
- Other items related to the selected areas, especially in merchant marine industry, maritime history, United States history
Depository materials marked for disposal are de-accessioned following procedures established by the regional depository at the New York State Library.
Bibliographic Control
All government documents received are cataloged at the piece level except for some periodicals for which issues are recorded in the list of periodical issues received. All bibliographic records are searchable through the Library’s online catalog. Retrospective cataloging is ongoing for the small number of uncataloged items received before 2010.
Access
The Government Documents Collection, located on the first floor of the Library. A small number of items are integrated into the Library’s general circulating and reference collections, located in open stacks on the first and second floor. These areas are open for access during the Library’s hours of operation. There are no fees or restrictions of entry into the Library.
Non-reference depository materials circulate to patrons with library privileges except maps, microfiche and electronic media designated for a specific workstation. Certain items may be designated for course reserve upon faculty request, and are available for library use for two hours.
Reference librarians assist with locating and identifying government publications. Reference service is provided during the Library’s hours of operation.
Reading desks with lamps, microform readers, photocopiers, and printing are available for all users. Internet access unrestricted to government information is provided through public access workstations. The Library has appropriate hardware and software to provide access to information provided by the governmental agencies.
Resource Sharing
The Library lends and borrows government publications to/from libraries within the United States and Canada through its interlibrary loan service.
Promotion
Government publications are promoted through bibliographic instruction and via the Library’s web site. Library faculty and professionals participate in continuing education through conference and workshop attendance sponsored by the Government Printing Office, the Government Documents Interest Group of the Metropolitan New York Library Council, and the Government Documents Round Table of the American Libraries Association.
Contact
Kimmy Szeto, FDLP Coordinator
718-409-7233 - kszeto@sunymaritime.edu
Last revised January 3, 2012
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