Federal Depository Library Program

Established by Congress to ensure the American public has access to its government’s information, the Federal Depository Library Program involves the acquisition, format conversion, and distribution of depository materials to libraries throughout the United States and the coordination of Federal depository libraries in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

The mission of the FDLP is to disseminate information products from all three branches of the Government to about 1,250 libraries nationwide. Libraries that have been designated as Federal depositories maintain these information products as part of their existing collections and are responsible for assuring that the public has free access to the materials provided by the FDLP. The U.S. Government Printing Office administers the FDLP and serves to provide this network of libraries with the tools they need to keep America informed.

Federal Depository Libraries

Where is yours? Visit the Federal Depository Library Directory.

There are three ways you can find a library near you:

• Click on a state, commonwealth or territory on the map.

• Search by keyword.

• Search by specific types of data, such as depository number, ZIP or area code.

What is a Federal depository library?

What are you interested in?

• Health & Nutrition

• Laws, Statistics, & Presidential Materials

• Science & Technology

• Business & Careers

• Education

• History

• World Maps

Your local Federal depository library is ready to help! Explore publications, journals, electronic resources, microfiche, microfilm and more on hundreds of thousands of topics for FREE at Federal depository libraries. Explore all of this with the expert assistance of trained librarians.

Since 1813, depository libraries have safeguarded the public's right to know by collecting, organizing, maintaining, preserving, and assisting users with information from the Federal Government. Depository libraries provide local, no-fee access to Government information in an impartial environment with professional assistance.

Partnerships

GPO has been developing partnerships with Federal depository libraries and other Federal agencies to increase access to electronic Federal information since 1997. With an increasing amount of Federal information available electronically, partnerships ensure permanent public access to electronic content and provide services to assist depositories in providing access to electronic material and in managing their depository collections. These partnerships also allow GPO to take advantage of the expertise of Federal depository librarians and the services they have developed. While FDLP partnerships will vary based on the type of project, partnerships generally fall into three categories. However, partnerships are not limited to these categories, and GPO will consider partnership proposals that fall outside of these categories.

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