Skip to Main Content
FDLP Resource Guides
Beginning summer 2023, we are updating our guides. You may notice changes to the look and feel of our existing guides. If you have any questions or experience any issues, please contact askGPO.

FDLP Basic Collection

Core U.S. Government resources made available at all Federal depository libraries

GovInfo

GovInfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.

blue govinfo logo

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

Search U.S. Government Publishing Office’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications for catalog records. Many records link to the full text.

Screenshot of Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP)

Open Educational Resources

All FDLP Resource Guides are open educational resources for anyone to share, copy, and reuse.

Federal Depository Library Program

                                                               FDLP eagle graphic

 

 

 

The United States Government is the largest publisher in the world. Every day the U.S. Government issues congressional bills, laws, regulations, presidential documents, studies, and more on a variety of topics. The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its Government's information. The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) is administered by the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO).

Since 1813, select U.S. Government documents have been made available throughout the United States and its territories to designated libraries. These designated libraries are called Federal depository libraries.

As members of the FDLP, depository libraries play a prominent role in providing Federal Government information to the public.  FDLP libraries collaborate on a local and national level to provide informed access to both historical and current Federal Government resources distributed through the FDLP and deposited in libraries across the country.

Anyone can visit Federal depository libraries and use the Federal depository collections which are filled with information on careers, business opportunities, consumer information, health and nutrition, legal and regulatory information, demographics, and numerous other subjects. 

To identify a library near you, please see the Federal Depository Library Directory.

The authority for the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and the legal obligations of designated Federal depository libraries are found in 44 United States Code §§1901‐1916.