Jun 1, 2023 | Case Study

Restoring order to bureau library and archive

Business need: Make valuable records and artifacts discoverable

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has a network of geographically distributed libraries and archives. When LAC Federal conducted a current state analysis, it was determined that this resource was in physical and intellectual disarray. Historical records and artifacts were neglected and lacking archival integrity. All the library locations had uncatalogued items and none of them had a current and accurate inventory of resources. Many of the materials that were in the catalog were represented by outdated or inconsistent records. As a result, valuable items and resources could not be found or utilized to answer questions and fulfill requests.

Unorganized shelves
Business solution: Restore inventory order and integrity

LAC Federal was selected to restore order and integrity to the bureau’s network of libraries and archives. Within one calendar year, we were able to:

Update inventory lists for all library locations in Maryland, including monographs, government documents, internal publications, periodicals, technical publications, treatises and multimedia.
Record a list of books currently missing or uncataloged.
Transfer materials to the geographically appropriate location.
Acquire and catalog new books to reflect and respond to evolving user needs.
Solicit and collect items for the archives while completing an inventory of nearly half the rare books, personal papers, reports, publications and correspondence.
These essential projects were completed while fulfilling ongoing responsibilities such as answering reference requests, performing research, cataloging and acquisitions.

Business outcome: Control over high-value, historical content
Cost savings were realized through greater resource control, eliminating redundant replacements and protecting high-value historical archives while reducing and maximizing physical space requirements.
Better institutional knowledge avoids duplication of effort while allowing scholars, legislators and the public to learn from history.
Staff and leadership can find and gain access to what they need, when they need it.
Increased access to information serves the public, enables the agency to fulfill its mission and empowers federal employees to perform at the highest possible level.

FEDLINK Sell Sheet

FEDLINK LIBRARY SUPPORT SERVICES ID/IQ The Federal Library and Information Network (FEDLINK) at the Library of Congress has created a new multi-award Indefinite Duration/Indefinite Quantity contract vehicle open to all federal agencies, tribal governments, the...

Data and Information Services Capability Statement

LAC Federal has been a trusted partner to numerous federal agencies providing data, information, and knowledge management support for nearly 40 years. We are a core library and data management services company led and operated by information professionals with...

Capability Statement

LAC Federal has been a trusted partner to numerous federal agencies providing data, information, and knowledge management support for nearly 40 years. We are a core library and data management services company led and operated by information professionals with...

Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) – Reference

The OSHRC gains legal, business, and technical reference services from LAC Federal for access to regulatory and legislative history and other information in physical and virtual collections.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

LAC Federal supported the BLM National Operations Center Library as part of a larger effort to catalog and digitize BLM publications, providing original cataloging and program management and quality control of catalog records and digital files.

The Wilson Center Library of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

The Wilson Center Library of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars includes the John S.G. Simmons Collection with many 18th to 20th century books related to Russian and Slavonic studies that were never cataloged. LAC Federal librarians supported the...

Library of Congress – Collection Management

At the Library of Congress, LAC Federal provides collections maintenance support across multiple projects: LAC Federal provides Legal Collections Management for the Law Library of Congress with special expertise in legal materials including knowledge of superseded...

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Collection Management

LAC Federal digital asset management staff worked with IT services at NOAA to develop and launch the institutional repository (IR). Bringing together over 20,000 publications, datasets, and other research products produced by NOAA researchers, the IR was built on...

National Library of Medicine (NLM)

Working as subcontractors at the NLM, LAC Federal employees included subject matter experts in health and medical librarianship. LAC Federal’s consumer health librarian was responsible for daily development and maintenance of content on the Library’s MedlinePlus...

National Agricultural Library (NAL)

The lead agricultural law librarian at NAL is from LAC Federal, providing AgLaw reference support, managing an AgLaw web portal, liaising with relevant governmental, academic and professional associations, and representing NAL at conferences.

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