Utah Tech University Library and Open Learning Services has been accepted as a new member of the U.S. Government Publishing Office’s Federal Depository Library Program.
Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) designated the library to be part of the program. The library will provide citizens in St. George and the surrounding area with no-cost access to Federal Government information and will offer electronic Federal publications. Previous to UT’s library joining the program, the nearest depository for St. George area residents was 53 miles away.
“GPO welcomes Utah Tech University Library and Open Learning Services to the FDLP and thanks Congressman Stewart for acknowledging the need for increased access to Government information in southwest Utah,” said GPO Director Hugh Nathanial Halpern. “Each library that is part of the FDLP is helping GPO cultivate an America Informed, and we look forward to collaborating with Utah Tech University on bringing this important resource to the people of Utah.”
Through the FDLP, GPO works with more than 1,100 libraries nationwide to provide public access to authentic, published information from all three branches of the Federal Government in print and electronic formats. Utah Tech University joins a program whose antecedents can be traced back to the act of Congress dated December 27, 1813 (3 Stat. 140), which provided that one copy of the journals and documents of the Senate and House be sent to each university and college and each historical society in each state. GPO has operated the Federal Depository Library Program since 1895.
“I was pleased to designate Utah Tech University’s library as a member of the Federal Depository Library Program,” said Rep. Chris Stewart. “It’s extremely important for Washington County residents, and the entire 2nd Congressional District, to stay informed and have access to the workings of their government.”
GPO is the Federal Government’s resource for publishing trusted information for the Federal Government to the American people.
“Joining the FDLP represents an important achievement for us at the Utah Tech University Library,” said Rob Gray, Associate Dean for the Library and Director of Learning Services. “It is the result of years of work building up our capacity to offer more services to our community. Our University, the City of St. George, and the surrounding region are all growing rapidly, leading to an increased need for government information to support industry, education, and civic involvement. We are very excited to be able to offer these new possibilities to the public.”
The GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies in digital and print formats. GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information at no charge through www.GovInfo.gov and partnerships with approximately 1,100 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. For more information, visit www.gpo.gov.