About Federal Documents at Northwestern University Library

U.S. Government Information

The Collection

Northwestern University Library (NUL) has been a depository for U.S. government publications since May 26, 1876. The Library was designated a depository by U.S. Senator John A. Logan who represented Illinois at that time. The Library is a selective depository and currently receives about 75 percent of the items distributed by the U.S. Government's Printing Office through its Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) that is administered by the Superintendent of Documents. This large selective depository library is served by the state's regional depository library at the Illinois State Library in Springfield. The State Library receives all publications distributed through the FDLP. It is also possible to purchase government publications through the U.S. Government Online Bookstore.

Most materials received by NUL through this program are in the Library's Government and Geographic Information and Data Services. This department is on Deering Library Level 1, but access is from Level 1 of University Library. In addition to having depository resources, the Library also purchases privately produced online and hard copy materials that support government information identification and retrieval. Collection materials are available in various formats including monographs, maps, periodicals, pamphlets, CD-ROM, and microfiche. An increasing amount of government information, primarily that which is current or recent, is accessible through the World Wide Web.

This diverse, broad and deep collection is intended to help fulfill the research, information, and curricular needs of the general public with priority going to the Northwestern University community. The collection is historical, and has materials dated before NUL became a depository library. The collection is also contemporary, and new materials are added to the collection almost daily.

This collection is a vast, rich information resource. The collection contains information on virtually every topic and of almost every type. In this collection, one can find the expected publications that provide information and statistics about the government and its activities such as federal laws and regulations, official reports and annual reports of the U.S. government. What one may not expect, is that you can also uncover valuable educational and general interest materials on topics like civil rights, small businesses, the population, the economy, health, education and women. Information about U.S. government services is also available. The materials in this collection are produced by various federal agencies, departments and units. In fact, most agencies, past and present, are represented in the collection. These include the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Labor, and War, the U.S. Congress, the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Social Security Administration, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Civil Rights Commission.

Service and Public Access to the Collection

Service for federal documents and government information is primarily provided at the reference desk in the Department. This desk is staffed at all times the department is open. Department staff will be pleased to assist people who visit the department in person. The staff also provides assistance to callers (847-491-3130) and people using email (Govpubs@northwestern.edu).

Parts of the paper Federal Documents Collection is in closed stacks, and the Department's staff will page documents from this collection when necessary. There are also collections of microfiche, posters, and maps. Do not hesitate to ask for assistance with these collections. Most of the materials are arranged using the Superintendent of Documents Classification system, and this system is different than those used in other areas of the library. Staff is able to explain this system and help interpret these probably unfamiliar call numbers.

Public access to the materials in this collection is guaranteed by the federal law that governs the FDLP. People of the general public are encouraged to use this vast and important resource of government information. There are certain times when access to the University Library is restricted to persons affiliated with Northwestern University. During these times (primarily weekends and evenings), it is possible to gain entrance to the University Library to use the government information resources of the Department. At the checkpoint, inform the attendant that you intend to use the depository collection. A sign in and identification is requested for temporary computer passes. When using the Department and the collection all patrons are required to observe the following standards of conduct:

*Users should not disturb or hamper the study/research of others
*Users should not deface or damage the the U.S. Federal Documents Collection and/or Department resources and property.
*Users should not impede the work of Department staff
*Public computer ussage is for the purposes of accessing government information
*Cell phones should be put on silent mode and used outside of the Department
*Backpacks, laptops, purses, or valuables should not be left unattended
*Adherence to all University and Library policies, and rules is required.

While the collection is freely available to the public and persons of Northwestern University, there is a fee for photocopying materials. In the department, there is a copier for paper materials as well as a printer for items in microfiche format. Some, but not all, materials from U.S. Federal Documents Collection circulate.