UT celebrates more than a century of providing government information

From the Declaration of Independence to your great-great grandfather’s military records, from the Civil Rights Act to Smokey Bear’s conservation efforts, the United States government produces a tremendous amount of information that influences our daily lives.

And the UT Libraries has played a major role in making that information available to Tennesseans for more than a century.

In 2007, the University of Tennessee Libraries celebrates some important milestones in its history of providing access to federal and state government information: 110 years as a designated depository library (1897), 100 years as a land-grant depository library (1907), and 90 years as a Tennessee state depository library (1917).

UT Libraries is one of 1,200 Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) libraries in the nation and one of six depositories for state of Tennessee government publications. As a depository, the libraries are a vital link to bringing government information to students, faculty and surrounding communities. Anyone can visit the UT Libraries and use the federal and state depository collections, which are filled with information on careers, business opportunities, consumer information, health and nutrition, legal information, demographics, and many other subjects.

Government publications form a critical component of the University of Tennessee Libraries’ collections. They are rich in primary source materials that provide a window into the history, culture and daily life of the United States for researchers. Because users expect and prefer electronic formats, the libraries
now offer government publications in digital format.

Free access to government publications is important to the libraries and a central part of its service philosophy. The UT Libraries will continue to serve as a government information access center and help guide users to information in the digital environment.

To celebrate these important anniversaries, the libraries will highlight different government documents, publications and collections throughout the year. Visit www.lib.utk.edu/refs/govdocs100 for more information.

For assistance with government documents, just AskUsNow! or consult the UT Libraries’ Government Documents and Microforms department, the Pendergrass Agricultural and Veterinary Medicine Library or the Map Library.