- Home
- Kansans
- Collections & Resources
- Federal Documents
Federal Documents
State of Kansas Federal Depository Library
The State Library of Kansas is a selective depository library for the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The FDLP distributes U.S. Government publications to the nation's communities through libraries. According to the FDLP's website, the dissemination of congressional documents began in 1813, with approximately 1,100 libraries currently involved with providing access to and maintaining federal documents.
The State Library of Kansas is one of 17 selective depositories in Kansas. Selective libraries choose materials which will best serve their patrons. The University of Kansas's Anschutz Library is our regional depository and is responsible for keeping all documents it receives from the Government Printing Office (GPO) and providing guidance to the selective libraries in Kansas.
The size of the State Library's collection numbers more than 100,000 volumes in the library, as well as other tangible materials and online documents. The State Library was designated as a selective depository in 1975, although it started receiving U.S. public documents beginning in 1861.
Many documents are available as an electronic resource and can be found by searching in our catalog, the Catalog of US Government Publications, or on GovInfo.gov.
- Constitution Day 2023
- Access & Circulation
- How to Find Government Info
- Government Branches
- Agencies & Services
- Topics of Interest
Constitution and Citizenship Day
September 17th makes the day the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787. Today, we celebrate the anniversary by learning about how the Constitution came to be and what it means to be a citizen of the United States.
During Constitution Week (September 17th-23, 2023), the State Library will have a display showcasing items in our collection. If you can't come to the library, you can check out the resources below to learn more about the holiday and how you can celebrate!
In the News:
- Presidential Proclamation on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and Constitution Week
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to Celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by Welcoming More Than 6,900 New Citizens
About the Constitution:
- The U.S. Constitution | Constitution Center: In this Interactive Constitution, learn about the text, history, and meaning of the U.S. Constitution from leading scholars of diverse legal and philosophical perspectives.
- Constitution Day - LibGuides at Utah State University: This guide from USU provides information on the Constitution's history, impact, interpretation, and current use. Find interactive links to even more Constitutional fun!
- Celebrate U.S. Constitution Day, September 17 - LibGuides at Rice University: Here is another guide that goes in depth into the origins of the document, its design, and the people who argued for and against it.
About U.S. Citizenship:
- Citizenship Resource Center | USCIS: Find information about educational programs, study materials, and the naturalization process.
- Find A USCIS Office | USCIS: Locate Field, Asylum, International and other offices for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Access and Circulation
The State Library is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the federal document collection is located on the second level of the State Library in open shelves. Photocopies are available for patrons to use for $.10 a page.
Documents are arranged by Superintendent of Documents Classification (SuDoc) number. To help search for documents in the State Library's collection, the State Library of Kansas Catalog can be accessed from the public computers.
Not all federal documents can be checked out, but those that can circulate are available to the general public for a three-week loan period. For non-Topeka residents, Interlibrary Loan (ILL) of our government documents is available through your local library.
Many documents are available as an electronic resource and can be found by searching in our catalog, the Catalog of US Government Publications, or on GovInfo.gov.
-
GovInfo
GovInfo provides free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.
-
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP)
The CGP is the finding tool for federal publications that includes descriptive information for historical and current publications as well as direct links to the full document, when available. Users can search by authoring agency, title, subject, and general keywords.
-
MetaLib by GPO
MetaLib is a federated search engine that searches multiple U.S. Federal government databases, retrieving reports, articles, and citations while providing direct links to selected resources available online.
-
Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL)
HSDL is the nation’s premier collection of documents related to homeland security policy, strategy, and organizational management.
-
Library of Congress Guide to Government Documents
This guide brings together both online and print resources that contain documents created by the U.S. federal government along with related research tools.
The Three Branches of the U.S. Government
General Information
- Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government: Follow along with Ben as he shows you how the U.S. Government works. Great for ages 4+.
- The Constitution of the United States of America: Annotated
- GovInfo: Find documents from all 3 branches of government.
- Video Tutorials for GovInfo: these videos will teach you what's available, how to search, and more.
- United States Government Manual: The official handbook of the Federal Government. Provides information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
Executive Branch
- The White House: Learn more about the current administration, our country’s former presidents, and the official residence.
- Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States
- Compilation of Presidential Documents: The Compilation of Presidential Documents collection consists of the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents and the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents which are the official publications of materials released by the White House Press Secretary.
- Presidential Libraries: The National Archive provides information about former presidents through the Presidential Library and Museum program.
Judicial Branch
- U.S. Federal Court System
- The U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Reports: Reports and opinions from the Supreme Court.
Legislative Branch
- Congress: This is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. The site provides access to accurate, timely, and complete legislative information for Members of Congress, legislative agencies, and the public.
- Congressional Directory
- Congressional Record: The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873 and is still published today.
- United States Code: The consolidation and codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States.
-
Benefits.gov
The official benefits website of the U.S. government.
-
USA.gov
Making government services easier to find. The new USA.gov helps you locate and understand government benefits, programs, and information.
-
Government Benefits
Get information on government programs that may help you pay for food, housing, health care, and other basic living expenses.
- A-Z Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies
-
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
A U.S. government agency dedicated to making sure you are treated fairly by banks, lenders and other financial institutions.
-
The Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR)
The CFR is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
-
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment.
-
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Protecting the public from deceptive or unfair business practices and from unfair methods of competition through law enforcement, advocacy, research, and education.
-
Grants.gov
Learn about and find federal grants.
-
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
-
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Created in 1953, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream.
-
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Social Security provides financial protection for our nation’s people, supporting Americans throughout all of life’s journeys.
Career Info
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- CareerOneStop: Your source for career exploration, training & jobs.
- USAJobs.gov Serves as the central place to find opportunities in hundreds of federal agencies and organizations.
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Created in 1953, the SBA continues to help small business owners and entrepreneurs pursue the American dream.
Census and Statistics
- Census.gov: Main page for the U.S. Census Bureau.
- Decennial Census of Population and Housing: The U.S. census counts each resident of the country, where they live on April 1, every ten years ending in zero.
- Fourteenth Census of the United States-State Compendium Kansas: Statistics of population, occupations, agriculture, irrigation, drainage, manufactures, and mines and quarries for the state, counties and cities, © 1924.
- 1950s Census: National Archives' link to browse census records.
- Training on 1950 Census: This presentation provides an overview of what is and is not included in the 1950 census, what you can expect from NARA’s 1950 census website, and resources that can help librarians answer patron questions about the census.
- American Community Survey (ACS): The ACS helps local officials, community leaders, and businesses understand the changes taking place in their communities. It is the premier source for detailed population and housing information about our nation.
- Economic Census: The Economic Census is the official five-year measure of American businesses providing comprehensive statistics at the national, state, and local levels. It serves as the benchmark for current economic activity, such as the Gross Domestic Product and Producer Price Index.
- Census of Agriculture: The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Current Events
- Drought: United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) page regarding resources and information related to drought
- U.S. Drought Monitor: The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced through a partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It provides weekly updates to U.S. drought conditions down to county level.
- Ready.gov: Ready is a National public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to promote preparedness through public involvement in English and Spanish versions.
Federal Government Budget and Spending
- Budget of the United States Government
- USAspending.gov: The official source for spending data for the U.S. Government.
Frequently Used Labor Laws
- Age Discrimination Act of 1975
- The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- FLSA Regulations
- Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972
Historical Documents
- United States Cornerstone Documents: GPO's collection of government documents that define the society of the United States
- U.S. Founding Documents: a few significant primary source documents from American history.