The Hatfield Library, located in the 6th United States Congressional District of Oregon, was designated a selective Federal Depository Library in 1969. The library participates in the Depository Library Program as outlined in Title 44 in the United States Code, and as administered by the United States Government Printing Office. According to the requirements of this program, the library staff promotes usage and provides access to government information to members of the Willamette University community—its primary user group-- and to residents of the 6th U.S. Congressional District, which was created after the 2020 United States census. The district includes Polk and Yamhill counties, and most of Clackamas, Marion, and Washington counties. The population of the district as of 2023 was 716,584.
Selection
The Associate University Librarian for Access and Technical Services coordinates the selection of government documents and supporting materials. The library’s subject liaison librarians are consulted as necessary. A review of the selection profile with the Federal Depository Library Program is conducted annually.
The library currently selects approximately 29% of the materials available through the Federal Depository Library Program. In general, the following criteria are used to determine the item selection profile:
Scope and Level of Collecting
The primary function of the Government Documents collection at the Hatfield Library is to support the educational mission of Willamette University. Based on size and strength of academic departments, the following subject areas are given high priority when determining item selections: earth science, economics, education, environmental science, health and medicine, history, and politics.
In support of the university’s graduate program in business, government publications in the areas of accounting, business, finance, government, human resources, organizational behavior, public policy, and quantitative methods are selected.
Generally, annual administrative reports of federal executive and administrative agencies, as well as major statistical compilations from statistics producing agencies are comprehensively collected. The library’s selection profile includes significant collections of publications from the following U.S. government agencies:
Additionally, numerous publications are selected from:
Since the Willamette University Law Library maintains major compilations of federal laws, rules and regulations, administrative decisions and rulings, the Hatfield Library does not select these materials. Furthermore, the Hatfield Library generally does not collect maps, posters, or forms.
Because of its relatively recent designation as a depository library, the Hatfield Library does not maintain an extensive historical document collection. The Oregon State Library (OSL) is Oregon’s Regional Federal Depository Library, with a distributed housing arrangement maintained at OSL, Portland State University Library, University of Oregon Library, and Oregon State University Library. Each of these depository libraries is responsible for maintaining historical collections in designated SuDoc classification areas.
Some effort is made to add historical documents to the collection when other depositories in the region offer them. Needs and offers lists and electronic discussion groups are monitored regularly to identify these materials.
Formats
The Library attempts to select government information in formats that are appropriate to content and usage. Formats available include paper, microfiche, and electronic.
Weeding and Retention
The Government Documents collection is evaluated as needed, and within Depository Library Program guidelines. Documents that no longer fit the selection criteria are withdrawn at the discretion of the Associate University Librarian for Access and Technical Services. Withdrawals are done in accordance with depository regulations as stated in the Instructions to Depository Libraries and guidelines established by the regional depository library in Oregon.
Documents that are considered candidates for withdrawal include:
Access
Bibliographic access to the government documents collection is provided via the Hatfield Library Catalog, the Internet, and other reference tools available in the library. Reference assistance is provided by the library’s Reference Librarians during regularly scheduled hours. The Hatfield Library has designated computers for public Internet access. Wireless access is available via the campus public network.