Government documents provide essential information from all levels of government that is made available to the public through federal depository libraries. The U.S. Government Printing Office disseminates and provides access to official U.S. government publications through various online platforms and by designating over 1,200 federal depository libraries around the country. These libraries receive, organize, preserve and help users access government information in a variety of formats to serve the public interest and right to know about their government's activities.

1. An Introduction to Government DocumentsbyDaniel Eells & Jerusha Shipstead

2. In 1787, James Wilson, in a debate on publishing the Journals of the House and Senate, stated that The people have a right to know what their Agents are doing or have done, and it should not be in the option of the Legislature to conceal their proceedings. (http://www.gpo.gov/100Years) In 2009, President Obama stated that Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing. Executive departments and agencies should harness new technologies to put information about their operations and decisions online and readily available to the public.(http://www.whitehouse.gov/TransparencyandOpenGovernment)

3. What are Government PublicationsAccording to:ALA ~ Any Publication originating in, or issued with the imprint of, or at the expense and by the authority of, any office or a legally organized government or international organization. Often called government document, public document, and document. (Smith, 1983)FDLP ~ A work of the United States Government, regardless of form or format, which is created or compiled in whole or in part at Government expense, or as required by law. (http://www.fdlp.gov/)

4. Who produces Government PublicationsEvery level of government, from federal agencies to the local municipal authorities publishes. (Cassell & Hiremath, 2009, p. 249)The gathering and publishing of data occurs at all levels of government: local, state, national, and international. (Smith, 2011)

5. For example:FederalExecutive BranchCompilation of Presidential DocumentsJudicial BranchSupreme Court of the United StatesLegislative BranchCongressStateKansasLocalEmporiaInternationalFrance

6. How disseminate The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO)provides publishing and dissemination services for the official and authentic government publications to Congress, Federal agencies, Federal depository libraries, and the American public. (http://www.gpo.gov/about/) is the largest information processing, printing and distribution facility in the worldincreasingly, most publications will be available only online. (Cassell & Hiremath, 2009, p. 250)recently transitioned to FDsys, which enables GPO to manage Government publications that are submitted in digital form, gathered from Federal Web sites, and created by scanning previously printed publications. Through FDsys, GPO is utilizing new technologies and methods for acquiring, authenticating, preserving, and providing access to Government publications in digital form. (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys)

7. How accessFederal Depository Library Program (FDLP)Established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its Government's information. Safeguards the public's right to know by collecting, organizing, maintaining, preserving, and assisting users with information from the Federal Government. Provides Government information at no cost to designated depository libraries throughout the country and territories. These depository libraries, in turn, provide local, no-fee access to Government information in an impartial environment with professional assistance. (http://www.fdlp.gov/home/about)

8. Depository LibrariesThere are over 1,200 depository libraries, selective and regional, around the country that offer:information on topics such as health, business, careers, the military, science, technology, travel, nutrition, and morea variety of formats; books, maps, microfiche, journals, periodicals and morehistorical publications dating back to the early days of the republic. (http://www.gpo.gov/libraries/public)

9. Regional and selective depository librariesEmporia State is a selective depository which may choose to receive only specific categories of publications in a variety of formats to meet local needs of their clientele and Congressional DistrictUniversity of Kansas, Lawrence, has state’s only regional depository which receive all publications distributed through the Program for permanent retention to ensure that archival resource collections of Government documents remain available throughout the United States In return for receiving Government material at no cost, the depository libraries must make the information available to the public, and provide appropriate assistance to users. (McGarr, 1994)

10. Dr. Charles A. Seavey wrote We are moving into an era when every library in the country has the potential to become a depository in the sense that each one could potentially provide users with access to government information at a level previously unavailable. (Cassell & Hiremath, 2009, p. 251)

11. How organizedMost common classification system used is SuDocs, named after the Superintendent of Documents. The GPO assigns call numbers dependent upon which agency produced the document. (Smith, 2011)Other systems can include LCC, DDC, or a mixture of all, depending on local practices.

12. Use in librariesReady ReferenceWhen are my taxes due?http://www.irs.govHow can I apply for financial aid?http://www.fafsa.ed.govWhat is the population of the U.S.?http://www.census.govResearch QuestionsWhat age, race is being affected most by the recession?How has migrations of the American population affected land use over the last 100 years?How many people graduated high school in 1987?

13. Evaluating Government ResourcesBecause government documents are published by a governmental body, they are assumed to provide accurate, reliable, and up-to-date information.However, since some government information is also published by trade publishers, librarians will want to compare the products to see which will be the most useful to their clientele. (Cassell & Hiremath, 2009, p. 262)Evaluation criteria, for both print and electronic resources, to consider include:costquality of contentformatease of use

14. Fee or FreeFee-based or subscription resources include:CQ Encyclopedia of American Government Public Affairs Information Services International database CIS/Index to Publications of the United States Congress Government Periodicals Indexall available through LexisNexisAll listed throughout presentation are free resources including:http://www.gpo.govhttp://www.usa.govhttp://www.ourdocuments.govhttp://www.google/unclesamIn an attempt to cut cost on printing material, GPO is publishing a majority of its materials online. For users and reference librarians this means access to most government publications will be free and accessible anywhere. (Cassell & Hiremath, 2009)

15. ResourcesGPO resourcesCatalog of U.S. Government PublicationsLegislativeExecutiveJudicialResources for KidsBen’s Guide to U.S. Government for KidsKids.gov

16. Other useful resourcesCensus BureauStatistical Abstract of the United StatesLibrary of CongressTHOMASUSA.govUnited NationsWorld Government DataU.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesU.S. Federal Government Information

17. Explore your Government ResourcesToday!

18. ReferencesCassell, K. A., & Hiremath, U. (2009). Reference and information services in the 21st century: An introduction. New York: Neal Schuman.