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Al Harris Library Celebrates 65 Years in GPO’s Federal Depository Library Program

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al harris librarySouthwestern Oklahoma State University's Al Harris Library celebrates 65 years in the U.S. Government Publishing Office's (GPO's) Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).

​The FDLP ensures that the public has free access to federal documents in participating libraries across the nation. The libraries, in partnership with GPO, work in support of Keeping America Informed.

Al Harris Library has been an official Federal Depository Library since 1958. In 1994, it became a depository for Oklahoma government publications. In 2001, Oklahoma State Governor Frank Keating proclaimed April 25, 2001, as Al Harris Library Day. This proclamation will be on display on the first floor near the front desk from May to June. 

Through the FDLP, approximately 1,150 libraries nationwide work with GPO to provide public access to authentic, published information from all three branches of the Federal Government in print and electronic formats. The program's antecedents can be traced back to the act of Congress dated December 27, 1813 (3 Stat. 140), which provided that one copy of the journals and documents of the Senate and House be sent to each university and college and each historical society in each state. GPO has operated the FDLP since 1895. 

Librarians at nationwide FDLP  libraries also offer expert assistance in navigating digital copies of many of the historical and current government documents through govinfo and GPO's Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

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