As a member of the Federal Depository Library Program the Cleveland Public Library houses a wide variety of publications from all agencies of the federal government. Since it began participating in the program in 1886, the library has consistently selected a high percentage of all available publications, making it one of the more comprehensive collections in the Cleveland area.

In a new video produced by the Government Printing Office, "Easy As FDL: Free Information, Dedicated Service, and Limitless Possibilities,” people familiar with this program were interviewed and asked to express their opinions about what makes these depository libraries so unique and essential to the American public. To watch this short video and learn more about the U.S. Government Printing Office, the Federal Depository Library Program please click here:

For more than 140 years, Depository libraries have supported the public’s right to Government information by collecting, organizing, and preserving it, and by providing assistance to users.

Administered by the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) is a network of almost 1,250 libraries representing many different types of libraries (public, academic, law, judicial, state and special, court and Federal agencies). These libraries are located in almost every congressional district, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. GPO provides Federal depository libraries (FDLs) with free access to official U.S. Government information in all formats. In return these libraries agree to provide free access to that information, as well as professional assistance in finding and using that information, to any member of the public.

While many libraries request Federal depository status to benefit their primary users (students, faculty, judges, residents of a particular city or county, etc.), all libraries that receive depository status (except the highest State appellate court libraries) make a legal commitment to provide Federal Government information to all the people of their Congressional District or geographic region. The key concept of no-fee, readily available access to U.S. Government information is a guiding principle of the FDLP. Anyone can visit Federal depository libraries and use the Federal depository collections which are filled with information on careers, business opportunities, consumer information, health and nutrition, legal and regulatory information, demographics, and numerous other subjects.

For more information on the history of this program see: "Snapshots of the Federal Depository Library Program" by Sheila M. McGarr.

Link to video: "Easy As FDL: Free Information, Dedicated Service, and Limitless Possibilities”

Government Document Department at CPL