Hewes Library: Library Home: Government Documents

History of Our Government Document Depository

Hewes 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).

There are approximately 1,100 Federal Depository Libraries throughout the United States and its territories, at least one in almost every Congressional District. Hewes Library at Monmouth College serves the 17th Congressional District of Illinois.

We provide free public access to a wide variety of Federal government information resources in both print and electronic formats, and have expert staff available to assist users.

Monmouth College was designated a depository in 1860 and we currently select roughly 16% of all documents published by the Government Printing Office (GPO). Today, many items are received electronically and are available freely via the Hewes Library Catalog. Government Documents are located on the Lower Level of the Hewes Library. Please feel free to visit the Library or contact a librarian with any questions regarding government documents: reference@monmouthcollege.edu.

Government Documents at Hewes Library

Where to find government publications in Hewes Library

Physical items are located on the Lower Level, on the shelving with the tan endpanels.
Online documents may be accessed from any of the Library's computing facilities, or for that matter, from any internet-accessible computer.

Accessing government publications in print

Some Items published before 1994 can best be found with our print shelflist, located in the wooden card catalog on the Lower Level, near the end of the Government Documents Collection.
Items published since 1994 can best be found with the Hewes Library Catalog.

All government publications

Items published before 1976 can best be found with a catalog or index of government publications. Hewes Library has several such items, each with its own specialty. Please ask a librarian for assistance in locating and using any of the following:
- Monthly catalog of U.S. public documents (1923-1975) SuDoc: GP 3.8
- Documents catalog (1774-1940) SuDoc: GP 3.6
- Documents index (1895-1980) SuDoc: GP 3.7/2
Items published since 1976 can best be found with the online database GPO Monthly Catalog.

Government Information Online

Today, most government bodies produce documents electronically and are available to the general public for free online. If you need more information, please contact a librarian at reference@monmouthcollege.edu.

Popular Government Resources - Electronically Accessible

govinfo: U.S. Government Information This link opens in a new window
Provides public access to government information submitted by Congress and Federal agencies.
Congressional Record This link opens in a new window
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. Coverage: since 1995. Updated daily.
Congress.gov This link opens in a new window
Official website for U.S. federal legislative information. Provides complete legislative information, searchable by keyword, law number, and other filters. Congress.gov supersedes THOMAS system. Coverage: 1973-present. Congressional documents from the first 100 years of the U.S. Congress (1774-1875) can be accessed through A Century of Lawmaking.
Federal Register This link opens in a new window
The Federal Register, published daily, contains the rules, proposed rules, and notices of U.S. Federal agencies and organizations, executive orders and other documents produced from the Office of the President.
GPO Monthly Catalog (U.S. Government Printing Office) This link opens in a new window
Indexes all print publications of the United States Government Printing Office (GPO). Coverage: since 1976. Updated monthly. Also available freely on the web.
U.S. Code This link opens in a new window
The United States Code is the codification of the permanent laws of the United States by subject matter.

Statistical Abstract of the United States (1889-2012)
Online, freely accessible compendia of statistics from Federal Government Agencies. The U.S. Census Bureau terminated publication of this series, and the last online volume available is 2012.