Louisiana State University: Louisiana And Mississippi Residents Have More Access To Government Information With ...

Press release from Louisiana State University:

November 16, 2021

“This agreement is a prime example of the innovation and shared commitment of the
libraries in our region,” said Dean of LSU Libraries Stanley Wilder. “My congratulations
to the team of visionary librarians who made this happen.” 

This change carries important benefits for students, faculty, and researchers. With
three participating libraries, the Louisiana and Mississippi communities now have
permanent public access to triple the amount of Government materials than they did
previously. Librarians have intimate knowledge of the collections of all three institutions,
making it easier for citizens to quickly find the information they need.

“This agreement puts LSU and Louisiana at the forefront of reimagining what a government
information collection and collaboration can and will be in an effort to better serve
our communities — both academic and public,” said Hayley Johnson, LSU Libraries Head
of Government Documents, who was instrumental in bringing this partnership to fruition.
“This partnership is an example of how libraries can fulfill their mission of information
stewardship through innovative joint efforts.” 

“The partnership will help GPO increase accessibility to a larger audience, a major
step forward in ‘Keeping America Informed,’” said GPO Director Hugh Nathanial Halpern.
“The designation is also beneficial to the libraries. Sharing print and digital resources
is cost-effective and enables libraries to reallocate space. Librarians at Louisiana
State University Libraries, Louisiana Tech University Library, and the University
of Mississippi Libraries have open lines of communication and a synergisticnetwork
to tap into when assisting members of the public.”

This collaboration across state boundaries is only possible with senatorial approval
and designation of shared regionals for the Federal Depository Library Program, in
accordance with section 1912 of title 44, United States Code. GPO received signed
shared regional designations from Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and Senator Roger
F. Wicker (R-MS). 

“Libraries are a vital source of information for their communities, and I am glad
that Mississippians and Louisianans will now benefit from this new partnership,” said
U. S. Senator Roger F. Wicker (R-MS). “I look forward to seeing what this collaboration
will help produce.”

“This is an exciting opportunity,” said U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). “Combining
these three libraries improves public access to information and enhances students’
ability to learn.”

Email libgovdocs@lsu.edu to request access to Government Documents in this regional repository, or access Government Documents online. 

The LSU Libraries supports the academic mission of the university by fostering teaching,
learning, and research. Through its commitment to excellence in collections, services,
and spaces, the libraries serve as an essential intellectual resource for the state
of Louisiana, and to communities worldwide. 

GPO is the Federal Government’s official, digital, secure resource for producing,
procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the
official information products of the U.S. Government. 

or 

Ernie BallardLSU Media Relations225-578-5685eballa1@lsu.edu 

This press release was produced by Louisiana State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.