The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) honors E.S. Bird Library at Syracuse University with the best website in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) for 2024.
Government Publications at Syracuse University
The government documents collection includes all types of government publications in all formats. This includes digital documents from government internet sites and from tangible sources as we transition toward an all-digital collection. The Syracuse University Libraries is the second oldest depository library in New York State and has been a part of the Federal Depository Library Program for more than 140 years when it was designated by US Congressional Representative Frank Hiscock on Feb 7, 1878. We currently select 62% of documents available to depository libraries. We also collect publications from the State of New York State, City of Syracuse and Onondaga County.
The collection includes over 500,000 paper items, thousands of items in electronic format, over 4,000 CD-DVDs, and over 2 million microfiche. Materials are located on the 3rd floor of Bird Library. Most government publications can be searched for by using the Libraries online catalog.
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)
For Visitors:
All are welcome to use the Government Documents Collection when ever the library is open to the public Monday through Friday 8am to 8pm. Before coming to the Library please familiarize yourself with the "Use and Conduct" and the "Computer Use" links on the Library Policies page as well as other information on using any of the Libraries equipment and online catalog and databases.
For federal documents information on CD and DVD there is a stand-alone computer with a CD/DVD player available for use. Just ask at the 3rd floor service desk.
For federal documents information on microfilm/fiche, there is a fiche/film reader scanner available for viewing and saving documents to a flash or thumb drive. Please bring one with you as these will not be provided.
USB access keys are available for patrons who wish to use the computers to access government information from the databases. Ask for assistance at the 3rd floor service desk.
The government documents collection at Syracuse encompasses all subject areas and are available in different formats. The vast majority of our collection is in the traditional print format, which is what you will see on the shelves when you visit the collection on the 3rd floor of Bird Library. Government documents are also available in our collection on microfiche and on CD/DVDs as well as digital access to documents from numerous websites and databases and the Library's online catalog.
Our collection holdings:
The Microfiche collection is divided into four sections:
Sec. 1 Cabinets 1 - 15
U.S. Federal Depository Microfiche collection: 1980’s - 2010
Contains depository documents from all three branches of the Federal Government; Agencies, Executive, the Courts and from Congress, and are arranged in the cabinets by SuDoc call number. (A1.1: – Y10: ) Documents on fiche can be found in the Library’s online catalog.
Sec. 2 Cabinets 16 - 26
U.S. Federal Non-Depository Microfiche collection: 1981-1991
Contains non-depository documents from all three branches of the Federal Government; Agencies, Executive, the Courts and from Congress, and are arranged by U.S. Monthly Catalog number. To find documents in this collection you will need to download the PDF Document below and use the Hein Online database through the Library’s catalog to search the Monthly Catalog. The documents in this collection are from 1981 – 1991 ONLY!
Sec. 3 Cabinets 27 - 40
Sec. 4 Cabinets 41 – 52
Syracuse University Library has entered into a Preservation Stewardship agreement with the US Government Publishing Office (GPO). The Libraries will be one of four geographically dispersed locations around the country to permanently preserve and retain the print volumes of the United States Statutes at Large, United States Code, Statistical Abstract if the U.S., The American State Papers, and the Code of Federal Regulations: Title 3 - The President.
Librarians at Syracuse University can not provide any legal advice to patrons who are seeking resolutions to any current, pending or possible litigation but can refer them to a list of attorneys and other legal council the patron may seek.
Any other legal research needs can be fulfilled by contacting the Syracuse University College of Law Library.