What is Government Information?
What is government information?
Government information, sometimes referred to as government documents, describes materials produced by government agencies or departments that describe their programs, actions, and/or findings. These materials are released in a variety of formats, including print, microforms, CD, DVD, and online formats.
What does that mean at USU?
The Government Information Collection includes materials released by the U.S. Government as part of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Since 1907, the department has collected materials from every government agency, from the Department of Agriculture to the War Department.
Currently, the vast majority of materials are released digitally. The Library Catalog provides access to these materials. The Department continues to receive printed materials to supplement our historic collections. Government Information staff are happy to answer any questions you may have about these materials.
Resources by Subject or Category
- Census BasicsVisit this LibGuide for an introduction to U.S. Census resources, tutorials, and links to data resources about population, businesses, and more.
- Data Resources - U.S. GovernmentLinks to commonly used data sources from the U.S. government - including business, economics, education, health, and immigration. It also includes access to Data.gov, a centralized location for open government data.
- Decoding Government CitationsLearn how to read government citations and how to use them to find more information about federal legislation.
- Legislative ProcessVisit this LibGuide for Congressional Resources and a description of the Legislative Process.
- Presidential Records & MaterialsVisit this LibGuide to explore resources related to the U.S. presidency.
- Technical Reports & DataVisit this Libguide for a collection of digital databases related to government technical reports.
- Finding Government InformationEssential links and information about how to access materials produced by U.S. federal agencies, bureaus, and offices.
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FDLP Designation
“This library is a congressionally designated depository for U.S. Government documents. Public access to the government documents collection is guaranteed by public law. (Title 44 United States Code)”
