This site is designed to create an online, interactive venue for the Federal depository library community. Here, members can share their experiences, expertise, photos, events and anything they want (within the bounds of our site policy). Since the FDL community includes libraries dispersed throughout the United States, we believe this is a great vehicle to allow the community a convenient and cost effective way to communicate with each other in real time.

While the basic content of this site is available for public viewing, registration is restricted to members of the Federal depository library community. As a member, users can log in and unlock various interactive tools. These tools include the following features:

• Community Forum. Community Members are automatically members of our forum and they can start or participate in targeted conversations related to a particular topic of concern. You may post a question, discuss policies, talk about events and conferences, continuing education or anything you would like to post. This is a great place to troubleshoot issues and ask questions.

• Blogging. Members can blog about issues that are important to them and the community. Members can include images, links, videos, and tagging in their blogs. Other features, such as bookmarks, the ability subscribe to an RSS feed of a blog or comments, and trackback are included.

• Commenting. Voice opinions and add to the topic on member blogs. Members have the option of e-mail notification of when someone comments on their blog.

• Member Profiles. Includes an avatar, contact information, biography, and the ability to self-identify expertise. Member profiles include the ability to link and network with other members of the site via the "buddy list".

• Photo Albums. Create photo albums and upload images.

• Web Links. Add links to Web resources on a variety of topics. Members can rank and review the sites posted to Web Links. Those familiar with Browse Topics will find FDLP Community's Web Links feature works the same way.

• Dashboards. There are several dashboards tied into many of the tools to consolidate access to specific features. There is one for the profile, blog, comments, gallery and calendar tools.

• Security. Precautions are built in to insure privacy and to prevent spam. Member profiles are not publicly accessible. Private Messenger is only accessed by members.

• Private Messenging. Members may send private messages to other members in a secure environment.

• Member Search. Based on user profiles, members can search for other users. For example, search for all users from academic libraries in the state of Kansas who are members of ALA or all those that self-identify themselves as experts in Geography & Earth Science.

• Site Search. Members can type in a key word to start a simple search site wide.

• Help/FAQs. If a member has a question about how to use a specific feature, an answer may be found by utilizing our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) list under the help menu. A link to AskGPO is also included if you cannot find the answers there.