Federal Documents

The Indiana State Library participates in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), and serves as the Congressionally-designated regional depository of Indiana. As the regional depository, ISL is required to collect all content published by the U.S. Government. The FDLP program originated in the early nineteenth century with a joint resolution of Congress that directed additional copies of the House and Senate Journals, as well as other government documents be printed and distributed to institutions outside the Federal establishment. The Depository Library System has expanded with time, and today there are nearly 1,250 participating libraries (including 32 libraries from Indiana). Government documents cover a breadth of topics, and may be found in a variety of formats including:

• print collections (books, reports, brochures & pamphlets)
• kits (print booklets/three-dimensional objects)
• digital content (i.e. websites, digital collections, etc.)
• microfilm & microfiche
• CDs & DVDs
• Maps
• posters/collections of printed illustrations

For more detailed information about FDLP procedures and guidelines, as well as general information regarding researching government information, visit the Indiana Federal Documents site.

Public access to government documents collections is guaranteed by public law (Title 44 United States Code).

Resources

• Indiana Federal Documents site
• Catalog of U.S. Government Publications  
• GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDSys)
• USA.gov – Official web portal of the US Government
• Information for Indiana Federal Depository Libraries

Contact Information

317-232-3678  Reference Desk
317-232-3732  Federal Documents Coordinator Voicemail
Babercrombie@library.in.gov

• Reference & Government Services Staff
• Ask a Librarian

Hours: The Reference & Government Services Collection is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., closed on Sundays.

FD BA 2-23-2016