Introduction
The Federal Depository Library Program is a national network of 1,400 libraries that receive and provide free public access to government information produced in a variety of formats, including paper, microfiche, floppy disk, CD-ROM disk, and electronic resources on the Internet. Middlebury College began to receive government publications after Congress passed a resolution in 1813 ordering that extra copies of the House and Senate Journals be printed and distributed "to each university and college in each state." Most of the government publications we have received since then are housed on the main level of the Main Library. Also available in this area are various finding aids, staff offices, and computer workstations to help provide full use of these publications.
The United States government is the largest publisher in the world, with thousands of books and reports being produced each year. These publications provide useful information for a broad range of disciplines in the sciences and social sciences. Any student, faculty member, or Vermont resident will find valuable information on countless subjects among these publications.
