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Federal Depository Library Information Guide

Information on locating and using Government Documents at Trexler Library.

Every day the U.S. Government publishes studies, congressional hearings, bills and laws, regulations, presidential documents, and more on a variety of topics. The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its Government's information. The FDLP is administered by the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO).  Depository libraries play a prominent role in providing Federal Government information to the public.  

Trexler Library has been a Federal Depository Library since 1938.  As a Federal Depository Library, the public has free access to any government publication in Trexler Library.

The major strengths of the FDLP Collection at Trexler Library include:

  • Census and Demographic Information
  • Federal Legislation
  • Education
  • Health and Human Services
  • Military History
  • USGS and Interior Department Maps
  • International Affairs

Most government documents are findable in the Library’s online catalog, Encompass Search. (see link below)

Almost all depository documents are shelved in open stacks on Library level "A" and are available during the Library’s normal service hours.

For more information about access policies, see the Library's Government Documents Access Policy and this guide.

Free vs. Subscription

Note: The terms "Free" and "Subscription" are used to identify access differences for the resources in this guide. 

  • (Free) These resources are freely available to all courtesy of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and Muhlenberg College. See our Access Policy.
  • (Subscription) Online access to these electronic resources is paid for by Muhlenberg College. Access may be available to non-Muhlenberg library "walk-in" visitors but in some cases the vendor's license terms restrict access to Muhlenberg students, faculty, and staff only.