Government Resources

Mission Statement:

            Indiana State University Depository is located in the Indiana 8^th U.S. Congressional District and was designated as a federal depository in 1906. The Indiana State University Library (ISUL) was also designated a state depository in 1974 for documents originating from the state of Indiana. The primary mission of the Documents Depository is to support the general collecting activities of the ISUL for its faculty, staff, and students. The mission of ISUL is to provide and promote access to information in all formats to support educational programs, scholarly research, and recreational interest; and to provide timely services that meet the needs of the faculty, administration, students and staff. Also, this depository strives to serve the government information needs of all the residents in the Indiana 8^th Congressional District.

Check out the various tabs for more government resources!

The FDLP was established in 1813 by Congress to ensure that the American public can access government information throughout the United States and its territories through, what are called, designated libraries. Indiana State University Library (ISUL) is one of those designated libraries.

FDLP libraries play a prominent role in providing Federal Government information to the public and provide access to both historical and current resources. Anyone can visit a Federal Depository library.

The authority for the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and the legal obligations of designated Federal depository libraries are found in 44 United States Code §§1901‐1916.

For more information visit https://www.fdlp.gov/.

GPO uses the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) classification system to classify Federal Government publications. The SuDocs Classification Guidelines describe how to apply that system to classify and organize Federal Government publications. The purpose of these guidelines is to convey the current policies for assigning SuDocs classification numbers. The principles of the SuDocs system apply to all U.S. Government publications, regardless of format.

At Indiana State University Library the U.S. Government Documents are located on the Lower Level. The documents are shelved according to the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) classification which groups publications via publication agency. For example, A is for the Department of Agriculture, D is for the Department of Defense, and I is for the Department of Interior. Publications starting with X or Y are exceptions to this because these are specifically used for various Congressional publications.

A Superintendent of Documents classification number begins with a capital letter or letters representing a Government department or agency.

            Example: A (Department of Agriculture)

 The letters are followed by a number representing the agency as a whole, or a subordinate office. This is followed by a period.

            Example: A 13. (13 represents the Forest Service within the Department of Agriculture) 

After the period, there is a number designating the series or serial title, or category of the publication, followed by a colon.

            Example: A 13.150: (.150 represents the Southern Research Station: General Publications).

The letters and numbers after the colon represent the individual publication.

            Example: A 13.150:W 64 (W 64 represents Wildflowers of the Savannah River Site) 

To learn more about SuDocs classification click: https://www.fdlp.gov/cataloging-and-classification/classification-guidelines. 

A-Z index of U.S. government departments and agencies

Browse the Constitution Annotated Here you can look a each of the Articles and Amendments of the Constitution in detail.

DATA.GOV Here you will find data, tools, and resources to conduct research, develop web and mobile applications, design data visualizations, and more.

FDLP resource Guides These guides provide information about the Federal Government and the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

GovInfo GovInfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.

Protocol Reference The proper honorifics, titles, and spellings of names are very important when addressing guests. 

Science.gov An official website of the U.S. government providing ready access to the massive stores of federally funded scientific research results, without needing to know which agency funded the research.

USA.Gov Creates and organizes timely, needed government information and services and makes them accessible anytime, anywhere, via your channel of choice.

U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) Was established by Congress in 1990 to coordinate federal research and investments in understanding the forces shaping the global environment, both human and natural, and their impacts on society. 

United States Government Manual Provides information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies; international organizations in which the United States participates; and boards, commissions, and committees.