Federal Depository Libraries: Safeguarding Access to Government Information

Homer Babbidge Library Gallery on the Plaza
Curator: Steve Batt and Jane Recchio

Since 1813, the Federal Depository Library Program, administered by the Government Printing Office, has helped safeguard public access to information published by all branches of the Federal Government. One hundred years ago, in 1907, Congress passed the Depository Library Act that dramatically expanded this program by designating the libraries of all land grant colleges, including the Connecticut Agricultural College (now the University of Connecticut) as federal depository libraries.

This exhibit highlights important court decisions, landmark congressional hearings, presidential papers, agency and commission reports, foreign affairs publications, maps and curiosities in the University of Connecticut Libraries' 100-year-old documents collection, comprising a tangible record of United States history against the backdrop of today's predominantly Internet-based government printing program.

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