Stanislaus State’s J. Burton Vasché Library has been honored with the inaugural excellence award from the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) for its Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) website.
The GPO created the award to recognize libraries that creatively present government information on their websites, making it easily accessible to users. In a release announcing the news, the FDLP lauded the Library’s Federal Government Resources Guide.
“We want showcase how libraries have and are embracing a digital FDLP,” said GPO Superintendent of Documents Scott Matheson. “The Library’s website of plain language, clear organization and easy navigation made them a great choice for this inaugural award. I encourage all FDLP libraries to collaborate and learn from some of the examples we have seen with this year’s winner.”
The guide helps students, faculty, staff and the community access information about the three branches of the federal government. The University Library organized its website with clear categories of government documents, which provides easy navigation for users.
“It’s a double honor, receiving the award and being recognized as the first Federal Depository Library Website of the Year,” said Dean of Library Services Ron Rodriguez. “It is a particularly meaningful honor in the current digital age. Stanislaus State has been a member of the FDLP since 1964 and has transformed from print to primarily online collections alongside the GPO over the last three decades. It is a proud moment for our Library.”
The recognition elevates the status of Stan State’s Library within the California State University (CSU) system and sets a benchmark for academic libraries across the nation.
News of the award is “positively reverberating among the CSU libraries,” according to Rodriguez, who added he has received inquiries from other institutions that want to redirect users to the Library’s award-winning webpage.
Rodriguez credited Depository Coordinator Annie Hor and Metadata Librarian Lauren Hall for their contributions to the site’s success.
The award marks the latest high point for the Library. In 2022, the campus community celebrated the Library’s grand reopening after a $58 million renovation and a successful fundraising initiative that raised $1 million to further support Library technology, sustainable furnishings and innovative guest experiences.
