GPO Names Indiana University, Bloomington Library as 2020 Library of the Year

From the Government Publishing Office:

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) names Indiana University, Bloomington’s Herman B Wells Library as the 2020 Federal Depository Library of the Year. The library was selected for its efforts to promote the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and for its success showcasing Government resources during the coronavirus pandemic. Herman B Wells Library became a member of the FDLP in 1881.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Herman B Wells Library hosted virtual events that highlighted Government resources anyone could access from their home. Through its Preservation Lab, the library takes exceptional care and preservation of its depository collection. The library’s Government Information team closely followed FDLP’s guidance on preserving depository materials during the pandemic.

This year, Herman B Wells Library promoted the FDLP through social media, blog posts, exhibits, and presentations at its local public library. The staff worked closely with public libraries in eleven counties to spread the mission and resources of the FDLP to a wide audience. The library conducts workshops that encourage all subject librarians to use Federal materials. In 2020, Herman B Wells Library launched Government Info Alerts, a service that provides library members with suggested Federal publications tailored to members’ interests.

“I congratulate Herman B Wells Library on being named the 2020 Federal Depository Library of the Year,” said GPO Superintendent of Documents Laurie Hall. “We applaud the library for educating the public about how they can access Government resources from their home during the coronavirus pandemic.”

“Indiana University Libraries is honored to be recognized as a leader in an area essential to our mission,” said Carolyn Walters, Ruth Lilly Dean of University Libraries. “There are more than 1,000 United States depository libraries, and together we ensure Government publications are available, even in the midst of a global pandemic. We believe an informed citizenry is necessary to robust democracy, and IU Libraries would like to take this opportunity to celebrate every librarian — past, present, and future — dedicated to these goals and to the Federal Depository Library Program.”

Filed under: Libraries, News, Preservation, Public Libraries, Publishing