§1909 — Title 44 Public Printing and Documents | U.S. Code

Summary

Only libraries that can safely hold and serve government documents, that are located where they best meet public needs, and that are not in areas already well served may be named as depository libraries. Senators, Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, the Commissioner of the District of Columbia, or the Governors of Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands can make the designation. Depository libraries must report to the Superintendent of Documents at least every two years. The Superintendent will investigate problems as needed and include findings in his annual report. If a library has fewer than 10,000 non‑government books, stops being accessible to the public, or does not properly care for government publications, the Superintendent will remove it unless the library fixes the problems within six months. The law then requires notifying the official who named the library (or the local official above), who may pick another qualifying library in the same area, as long as the total number of depositories does not exceed the legal limit for that State, district, territory, or Puerto Rico.

Title 44, §1909

Public Printing and Documents — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Only a library able to provide custody and service for depository materials and located in an area where it can best serve the public need, and within an area not already adequately served by existing depository libraries may be designated by Senators, Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, the Commissioner of the District of Columbia,11 See Transfer of Functions note below. or the Governors of Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands as a depository of Government publications. The designated depository libraries shall report to the Superintendent of Documents at least every two years concerning their condition. The Superintendent of Documents shall make firsthand investigation of conditions for which need is indicated and include the results of investigations in his annual report. When he ascertains that the number of books in a depository library is below ten thousand, other than Government publications, or it has ceased to be maintained so as to be accessible to the public, or that the Government publications which have been furnished the library have not been properly maintained, he shall delete the library from the list of depository libraries if the library fails to correct the unsatisfactory conditions within six months. The Representative or the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico in whose area the library is located or the Senator who made the designation, or a successor of the Senator, and, in the case of a library in the District of Columbia, the Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and, in the case of a library in Guam, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands, the Governor, shall be notified and shall then be authorized to designate another library within the area served by him, which shall meet the conditions herein required, but which may not be in excess of the number of depository libraries authorized by laws within the State, district, territory, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as the case may be.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on 44 U.S. Code, 1964 ed., § 86 (Jan. 12, 1895, ch. 23, § 70, 28 Stat. 612; Aug. 9, 1962, Pub. L. 87–579, § 6, 76 Stat. 354).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Office of Commissioner of District of Columbia, as established under Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1967, eff. Nov. 3, 1967 (in part), 32 F.R. 11669, 81 Stat. 948, abolished as of noon Jan. 2, 1975, by Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, § 711, Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 818, and replaced by office of Mayor of District of Columbia by section 421 of Pub. L. 93–198.

§1909 Requirements of Depository Libraries; Reports on Conditions; Investigations; Termination; Replacement