The Jerome Hall Law Library at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law is expanding its preservation of U.S. government documents in print, one of several dozen Federal Depository Libraries across the country stepping up to ensure public access to vital records of American history.
Of the more than 1,100 FDLs nationwide, only 63 serve as Preservation Stewards, a national program launched by the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) in 2016 to support the long-term preservation of federal government publications. The Jerome Hall Law Library is one of them.
“We were eager to contribute to preserving legacy print collections that continue to serve Law School faculty and students, the broader IU academic community, and researchers throughout the Midwest,” said Jennifer Morgan, the Library’s Government Information Librarian. “Our participation as a Preservation Steward makes the Jerome Hall Law Library an essential part of the National Collection of U.S. Government Public Information—a coordinated, government-wide initiative to ensure the long-term preservation and accessibility of federal publications.”
The Law Library maintains collections of superseded laws such as the United States Code and the Code of Federal Regulations, preserving historical statutes and regulations in order to provide a critical context for understanding the country’s legal landscape at any given time. The Library also preserves the Congressional Record and the U.S. Congressional Serial Set, two critical publications that ensure continued access to legislative history, government accountability, and historical research.
“These records document congressional debates, reports, and proceedings, supporting legal interpretation, policy analysis, and public transparency while offering valuable insight into U.S. lawmaking and government decisions,” Morgan said. “They are an important resource for anyone interested in how laws were made and how the U.S. government has addressed major issues throughout its history.”
Preserving the documents involves many steps, including processing, cataloging, and inventorying—work carried out by Amy Cheek, government documents cataloger in the Law Library. The turnaround time depends on the size and condition of each collection—a relatively small collection in good condition can typically be inventoried in about a week.
The Congressional Record can take several months to inventory due to how large the collection is, Morgan said, and because volumes may require repair work, which is handled by Katy Bull, the Law Library’s archives and digital preservation specialist. The Jerome Hall Law Library signed its original agreement with the GPO to preserve 11 collections, a number that has now expanded to 31.
“We’re proud to expand our work as a Preservation Steward and be part of the team of libraries preserving and providing access to these historic documents,” said Law Library Director Susan deMaine. “Ensuring perpetual access to our nation’s laws and history is a mission we hold dear.”