Describes the practice of accreditation in general and considers the role of accreditation in higher education and its impact on academic libraries. Highlights include a history of accreditation; organization and regulation of the accrediting process; the federal government's role in accreditation; and accountability and academic libraries. (LRW)

Addresses perceived problems of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and the Government Printing Office (GPO) relative to a foundering program, electronic capabilities, costs to participating libraries, inefficient service, and accountability requirements. Unfavorable images have resulted and have been used by advocacy groups to bring the…