[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 101 (Thursday, May 23, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25839-25840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12895]
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
36 CFR Part 701
[Docket No. LOC 96-2]
Acquisition of Library Materials by Non-purchase Means and
Disposition of Surplus Library Materials
AGENCY: Library of Congress.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The Library of Congress is proposing to revise its policy on
the transfer of surplus library materials to reduce the volume and type
of materials it receives from Federal agencies. The Library wishes to
eliminate the transfer of all bound and unbound serials and restrict
all other transfers to certain specific categories.
DATES: Comments should be received on or before June 24, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Ten copies of written comments should be addressed, if sent
by mail to: Library of Congress, Mail Code 1050, Washington, D.C.
20540. If delivered by hand, copies should be brought to: Office of the
General Counsel, James Madison Memorial Building, Room LM-601, First
and Independence Avenue, S.E.,
[[Page 25840]]
Washington, D.C. 20540-1050, (202) 707-6316.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Johnnie M. Barksdale, Regulations
Officer, Office of the General Counsel, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C. 20540-1050. Telephone No. (202) 707-1593.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 2 U.S.C. 131, 136, and 149, the
Librarian of Congress has general and specific authority for the
administration and disposition of Library materials; it pertains to the
organization and handling of duplicate materials and to the exchange
and transfer operations of the Library, sale, donation to domestic
educational institutions and public bodies, and the disposition of
materials not needed for any of these uses. In order to enhance these
operations and to fill gaps in its permanent collections, the Library
of Congress has encouraged libraries and other agencies of the Federal
Government to send to the Library's Exchange and Gift Division all
library materials that are surplus to their needs. For several decades
this program benefitted the Library, the Federal library community and
the general public. Because of reductions in staffing levels, due to
budgetary constraints, and reduced demand in some categories, the
Library can no longer fully utilize these materials. In analyzing the
costs and benefits to the Federal Government, the Library found that
the expenses to administer the current program far outweigh the
benefits. By implementing this regulation, the Library will be able to
redirect its remaining fiscal and human resources to efficiently
administer a reduced, but more focused, program. Other Federal agencies
will achieve considerable savings in labor and postage by not having to
handle and ship unwanted materials to the Library of Congress. The
proposed replacement text for 36 CFR 701.33(a)(4) is revised to set
forth the general policy on the transfer of surplus library materials
to reduce the volume and type of materials it receives from Federal
agencies.
List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 701
Libraries, Seals and insignias.
Proposed Regulations
In consideration of the foregoing the Library of Congress proposes
to amend 36 CFR part 701 as follows:
PART 701--PROCEDURES AND SERVICES
1. The authority citation for part 701 will continue to read as
follows:
Authority: 2 U.S.C. 131, 136 & 149.
2. Section 701.33(a)(4) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 701.33 Acquisition of library materials by non-purchase means and
disposition of surplus library materials.
* * * * *
(4) Transfer. Libraries and other agencies of the Federal
Government are encouraged to send to the Library for disposition soft
or hard-bound books that are surplus to their needs in the following
categories: Novels and Reference works (e.g. encyclopedias,
directories, guides, such as Encyclopedia of Associations, The World of
Learning, The Statesman's Yearbook, Books in Print, etc.) not older
than three years. And not older than five years in: Humanities (art,
music, belles lettres etc.); History and area studies; Social sciences
(economics, politics, etc.); Education; and Science (agriculture,
medicine, computer science, mathematics, physics, etc.). Such
transferred materials are needed to fill gaps in the Library's
holdings, for exchanges, to transfer to other Federal agencies, and to
make available through the Surplus Books Program to qualified
recipients. The Library's Exchange and Gift Division (E&G) requests
notification at the earliest possible date of any government libraries
that are scheduled to close or be substantially reduced. The Library
also requests that shipments of 1,000 pounds or more be cleared with
E&G in advance. The Library does not accept bound and unbound serials.
Federal agencies should dispose of surplus serials, and other surplus
library materials not specified above, in accordance with their
agency's regulations governing the disposal of surplus materials.
* * * * *
Dated: May 16, 1996.
Approved by:
James H. Billington,
The Librarian of Congress.
[FR Doc. 96-12895 Filed 5-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-04-P