125 Years of Discovery: The Federal Depository Library Program at Cal

Description:

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the UC Berkeley Library’s official designation as a Federal Depository Library. The Federal Depository Library Program allows us to receive official United States Government publications for free with the understanding that the Library make the publications available to anyone who wants to access them. Currently there are over 1200 federal depository libraries around the country, including many academic and public libraries. Designated in 1884, Berkeley is the second oldest federal depository library in California. Federal depository libraries have been in existence since the early 1800’s. In 1860, the U.S. Government formalized the program with the founding of the Government Printing Office (GPO), which continues to provide libraries across the country with official publications. Many documents from the past are only available in microfiche and paper, though contemporary documents can also be found on agency websites. As publication formats have changed, so has the GPO, and it is continuing its move into the digital age with the first phase of the Federal Digital System (FDSys).More information on current developments can be found on the exhibit’s website.This exhibit celebrates our depository designation by highlighting some of the important, historic and strange documents that the UC Berkeley has received over the last 125 years. U.S. Government documents are authoritative, primary source, historic materials that are perfect for academic research at all levels.Explore this exhibit and its online component to discover some of the materials made available through the FederalDepository Library Program.

Attribution:

Jesse Silva Curator, Librarian for Federal Documents, Political Science, Public Policy and Legal Studies. Glenn Gillespie, Assistant Curator, Reference/Government Information Specialist.

Date:

2009