Central Library has been a Federal Government Depository Library, opens a new window since 1880 and, while it was established to serve the U.S. Fifth District of Georgia, it is open by law to all. It has been in the process of conversion to a mostly-electronic collection since 2018. It covers nearly every agency of the government, including some agencies no longer in existence, and contains fascinating history on just about every facet of American life. One section, the Civil Rights Commission, was moved to the Auburn Avenue Research Library when Central closed in 2018 for renovation, but many of those publications are digitized and can be found in the library catalog. Newer publications can be searched in the catalog, and older ones are constantly being added retrospectively.
Central Library does not have every publication of the Federal government. The Regional Depository for the state of Georgia, opens a new window, which is located at the Map and Government Information Library at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., is tasked with retaining one copy of every publication received since it became a depository in 1907, though it also has many older publications.
Many government publications that have been around for decades are now websites. Links to these can be found below, and in Central Library's regular government documents blog postings, opens a new window. Government documents are frequently the source of news stories. Please contact Central Library via the Ask a Librarian, opens a new window service if you cannot find them on your own. We will be glad to help!
Business, opens a new window
Data and Statistics, opens a new window
Elections, opens a new window
Emergency Assistance, opens a new window
Grants and Loans, opens a new window
Health Topics, opens a new window
Laws and Governance, opens a new window
New Publications, opens a new window
