Government Publications: United States

Tisch Library at Tufts University was designated a Federal Depository Library on December 20, 1899. It is the depository library for the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts. The Government Printing Office (GPO), through the Federal Depository Library Program, distributes publications issued by hundreds of departments and agencies throughout the three branches of the Federal Government. Tufts is a selective depository and has ceased selecting publications in print. The Boston Public Library is the regional depository library for the state of Massachusetts and has a comprehensive collection.

Government publications can be a treasure trove of information, covering all different disciplines in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and all the sciences. You can find publications from the Smithsonian Institution and the Department of Defense to the Department of Agriculture and Education. Here is an overview of the types of publications you can find in our collection.

Selected government publications are shelved with books and periodicals throughout the Tufts Libraries. These holdings do appear in JumboSearch. Most of the documents may be checked out, to Tufts users. Some of the more popular publications, such as the census, budget, and other statistical sources, are available online via this guide.