Accessing Government Publications: Home

The United States Federal government is the largest publisher in the world!

• The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) is the Federal Government’s resource for producing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving its official information products.
• The GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products for all three branches of the Federal Government. (Source www.gpo.gov/about/)

As a practicing attorney, you will constantly need reliable, factual, statistical information. 

• Does your client need help putting together a business plan to start an almond farm? 
• Does an opposing client claim it snowed on April 1, 2007? 
• Was a malfunctioning baby swing ever recalled by the government? 
• How many people in your client's census block are receiving Social Security Disablity benefits? 
• What's the average age of first arrest of teenagers in the United States? 

ALL of these questions can be answered by government publications.

The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its Government's information. The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) is administered by the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO). As members of the FDLP, depository libraries play a prominent role in providing Federal Government information to the public. FDLP libraries collaborate on a local and national level to provide informed access to both historical and current Federal Government resources distributed through the FDLP and deposited in libraries across the country. There are ten FDLP libraries in New Hampshire including the Dimond Library on the UNH Durham campus, the New Hampshire State Library, and the New Hampshire State Law Library.