U.S. federal depository for government documents
The WMU-Cooley Law School's Brennan Law Library, Lansing campus, is a selective federal depository library for U.S. Government Documents. Public access to government documents is guaranteed by public law (Title 44 of the U.S.C.). Government documents available via the web can be accessed at any of our campus locations.
The Government Printing Office (GPO) distributes official government information at the Government Information website here. This free website provides access to official authenticated government materials such as: The Code of Federal Regulations, Presidential Documents, The United States Code, The Federal Register, and The Congressional Record. View a complete list of electronic resources available through the GPO.
The two primary methods of locating government documents are via indexes/catalogs and specialized Internet search engines.
Indexes
- The GPO provides a catalog of government publications. Many of the records appearing in this catalog have links to full text material available on the web.
- If you are looking for government documents published before 1976 please contact one of the depository libraries in the state.
Search Engines
- USA.gov is a guide to government information that can be searched by topic or agency.
- When a government agency issues a report you can begin your search by going directly to the agency's page. Search for agency pages.