About Government Documents at the University of Alabama

Staff

Services and Hours

Reference assistance with Government Documents may be obtained at the Information Desk on the 1st floor of Gorgas Library.

Telephone:

(205) 348-6047

Information Desk Hours:

Government documents are available for borrowing through Interlibrary Loan.

Collection

The University Libraries receives United States federal government publications through participation in the Federal Depository Library Program. The University has been a federal depository since 1860 and a Regional depository since 1965. The Libraries government documents collection currently numbers over 1.5 million pieces. A majority of the documents received from 1976 to the present are housed in Gorgas Library. Some documents, when they are specific to a subject area, are sent to departmental libraries such as the Bruno Business Library or Rodgers Science and Engineering Library. Our documents collection contains information in a variety of formats including printed volumes, microfiche, maps, posters, pamphlets, and CD-ROMs. In addition to executive, judicial, and legislative documents, government publications are an unparalleled source of information about all aspects of public policy, from business, communications, and defense to health, education, and social welfare.

Access

As a public institution and a Federal Depository Library, the government documents collection is open to everyone.  The majority of materials are allowed to be checked out just like other library materials.  Users who are not affiliated with the University of Alabama may view, scan, or photocopy documents within the library building.  There is also an option to purchase a Borrower’s Card for $25/year. Records for government documents have been added to the Libraries catalog since May 1996. While we are actively adding records for older materials, not all of them are represented in the catalog at this time. Patrons or librarians wishing to determine whether or not we have a particular document may ask for reference assistance at the Information Desk or “Ask-A-Librarian” via email or chat.

Items in Remote Storage

Some government documents are housed in the Libraries Archival Facility.  UA students, faculty, and staff can make requests electronically through the Libraries catalog. Visitors can request items to be retrieved from the Archival Facility by making an in-person request at the Circulation Desk in Gorgas Library or by emailing Ryan McIver. If you will be visiting campus and would like your government information materials retrieved from the Archival Facility beforehand, please contact Le White, indicating when you will be on campus and which items you would like retrieved.