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Federal Government Documents

The Federal Depository Library Program

What is the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP)?

The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress to ensure that the American public has access to its Government's information. As of August 2025, the FDLP is administered by the Government Publishing Office (GPO). The vision of the FDLP is to provide Government Information free of charge when and where it is needed in order to create an informed citizenry and an improved quality of life. In short, the FDLP promotes a culture of transparency between government and the public.

NCCU's Law Library is a Federal Depository Library. As of June 2025, the Law Library will no longer receive new print copies of the Code of Federal Regulations and the Federal Register.  

US Government Document Organization/Classification

How are Government Documents Organized/Classified?

US Government publications are arranged using the Superintendent of Documents classification scheme. This is commonly referred to as the SuDoc (soo-dock) number. The SuDoc classification scheme groups publications together by issuing agency using letters of the alphabet (i.e., D is for Department of Defense, ED is for Department of Education, etc.). 

Sometimes, analyzing SuDoc numbers on a Government publication can be hard. If you'd like some assistance locating the prefixes for a specific US Governmental agency (or governmental agencies), please contact the Law Library's reference librarians. 

Breaking Down the SuDoc Number

SuDoc call numbers look different from those that you'll see on the Law Library's bookshelves. The SuDoc call number A 13.150: W 64 is broken up into the following parts:

  • A: Points to the issuing agency; A represents Department of Agriculture
  • 13: Represents the subordinate office (i.e., specific office within an agency); 13 represents the Forest Service
  • 150: Designates the series or serial title, or category of publication; 150 represents the Southern Research Station: General Publication series.  
  • W 64: Represents the individual publication; W 64 represents the title, Wildflowers of the Savannah River Site. 

Key Online Resources

Getting Started with Government Information Online