Public Beta of New GPO System Open for Testing

The US Government Printing Office (GPO) has opened the beta version of its new FDsys system for testing by the public.   FDsys is short for Federal Digital System, the planned replacement for GPO Access.   FDsys provides public access to government information submitted by Congress and Federal agencies and preserved as technology changes.

• It will contain information gathered through three methods:
• Files submitted by Congress and Federal agencies;
• Information gathered from Federal agencies’ web sites (often referred to as “harvesting” information);
• Digital files created by scanning previously printed publications.

Some of the main functions of the system include:

• Publishing — The U.S. Congress and Federal agencies will be able to submit files and orders electronically to GPO for printing and publishing services, electronic distribution, and inclusion in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP);
• Searching for information — Government information will reach a wider audience by providing authentic; published Government information to the public through an internet based system;
• Preserving information — The preservation function of FDsys will ensure public access to government information even as technology changes;
• Version control — Multiple versions of published information are common;  FDsys will provide version control for government information.

To use the public beta, go to http://fdsys.gpo.gov/.