FDLP Coordinator Calendar: February

Remember to make sure you are signed up for FDLP News & Events Announcements.  Coordinators have to be; for everyone else, it’s just interesting and useful!  

Need to know what the weather was on the day you were born or another significant day? Climate Data Online from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information provides free access to an extensive archive of historical weather and climate data. 

For example, on February 11, 1986 (the day of Public Law 99-244, creating National Black (Afro-American) History Month) it was snowing in various places in the U.S.: 

Penguin gathering on top of iceberg. 
Photo credit: Lieutenant Philip Hall, NOAA Corps. 

From the NOAA Photo Library

What's your cataloging situation?

Depository libraries are required to have a "piece level inventory" of their depository collection. That means, do you know about every piece of material in the collection - that you have it, what it is, and where it is?  Scenarios might include:

• Everything is fully cataloged in your OPAC.  You have check-in records for all the serials, all the microfiche and maps/map indexes are in there, and  it's retrospective. Clap your hands, you're done!
• Some or most is cataloged in the OPAC, but some isn't (very common situation).  You have in-house inventories or a shelflist for some or all of the material that isn't in the catalog.
• Some is in the OPAC, but a lot is not.  There may or may not be any shelflist or other inventory of the collection.

Take some time to evaluate where all the bibliographic records are for your depository collection, and what your methods have been over time.  If you have material that is completely uncataloged, start to plan for how you can get that material cataloged or inventoried in a database or spreadsheet.

Commerce Department    

The Commerce Department was formed in 1913 when the existing Department of Commerce and Labor split in two. Now, the department does...a lot, as their description in the U.S. Government Manual indicates: "The Department of Commerce promotes the Nation's domestic and international trade, economic growth, and technological advancement by fostering free enterprise worldwide, supporting fair trade, compiling social and economic statistics, protecting Earth's physical resources, granting patents and registering trademarks, and assisting small and minority-owned businesses."

Within the Commerce Department are:

• Bureau of Industry and Security
• Economic Development Administration
• Economics and Statistics Administration
  • includes the Bureau of the Census
• International Trade Administration
• Minority Business Development Agency
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • includes the National Weather Service
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• National Technical Information Service
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Webcast on Cataloging & Indexing at GPO

Did you know NOAA has a database of Wrecks and Obstructions that appear on their nautical charts?  

The Census Bureau provides interesting ready-made infographics and data visualizations.

10 Black history facts you may not know

President's Day (3rd Monday)

Valentine's Day (February 14)

African American History Month

American Heart Month

Similar to the FDLP, Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) are a nationwide network of libraries. These centers help the public with trademark and patent assistance.