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U.S. Government
Information in Libraries
Federal Depository Library Program
Distribution of government information to libraries
is one of the nation's oldest traditions, first established by statute
in 1813. Beginning in 1858, Members of Congress were authorized to
designate individual libraries to receive government publications,
and the Federal Depository Library Program was created.
Today nearly 1,350 depository libraries serve
the American public by providing local, no-fee access to Federal Government
information. Depository libraries are located in all 50 states, nearly
every congressional district, six territories, and the District of
Columbia. Each day people with diverse informational needs utilize
depository collections housed in many types of libraries: public,
academic, state, law, and Federal agency.
Any member of the public can visit any depository
library and use the Federal depository collections. Depository libraries
collect Government information in a variety of formats and they are
filled with information on careers, business opportunities, consumer
information, health and nutrition, legal and regulatory information,
demographics, and countless other subjects.
Search by area code or state to locate
the depository library nearest you.
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP) is the finding tool for electronic and print publications from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. These publications make up the National Bibliography of U.S. Government Publications. The CGP contains descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online.
More than 500,000 records generated since July 1976 are contained in the CGP and it is updated daily. The catalog will grow to include records for publications dating back to the late 1800s, making the CGP the central point for locating new and historical Government publications.
The CGP is the online counterpart of the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications , which dates from the passage of the Printing Act of 1895. At present the Monthly Catalog should be consulted for pre-1976 indexing. The Monthly Catalog and many of the publications indexed in it were distributed through the Federal Depository Library Program.
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