[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