"A popular government without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both."
--James Madison
Coordinated by government documents librarian, Barbara Bridges, the documents collection is located on the fifth floor. A selective government depository since 1965, the Library receives approximately 28% of the documents distributed by the Government Printing Office. Tarlton's Government Documents Department collects all Congressional publications and other law-related titles as well as selected titles from all major federal agencies. Holdings for major sets such as the Congressional Record, Federal Register, and administrative decisions are complete from volume one. Documents are received in paper, microfiche, CD-ROM, and on-line.
The Federal Depository Library Program had its origins in a joint resolution passed by Congress in the early 1800's directing copies of House and Senate Journals and other documents be printed and distributed to libraries outside the federal government. Since that early date, this program has been one of the government's major means of keeping its citizens informed of the workings of their government. Tarlton has been a Federal Depository Library since 1965. As one of over 1,300 such officially-designated libraries located throughout the country, it serves as a major source for anyone who has need of federal information. Since one of Tarlton's responsibilities as a depository library is to ensure free public access to our depository collection, you will find citizens from all walks of life using our materials.
Access to the collection is facilitated by the use of the government documents shelf list, an extensive array of indexes located in the Documents Index Room, and TALLONS (for most documents received since 1976). Most documents are arranged by Superintendent of Documents classification number.
| Phone: (512)232-3805 Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday. |
Location: 5th floor of the library Government Documents Office: Room 5.201 |
When the office is closed, the Reference Librarian on the main floor can help you during their regularly scheduled reference hours. The Documents Index Room, the Media Center, and government documents in the open stacks are available for use during all Library hours.