FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, December 18, 2023
CONTACT:
Nancy Van Der Weide, South Dakota Department of Education,
1-605-773-2593
,
nancy.vanderweide@state.sd.us
South Dakota State Library celebrates 50 years in Federal Depository Library Program
PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota State Library is celebrating 50 years in the U.S. Government Publishing Office's (GPO) Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).
The FDLP ensures the public has free access to federal documents in participating libraries across the nation.
The State Library officially joined the FDLP program on December 18, 1973. The print collection at the library includes census data, publications related to South Dakota, agriculture, education, presidential documents, Code of Federal Regulations, and more. In 2013, the State Library transitioned to an electronic-only depository library, providing online access to federal publications through the library catalog. Special displays will be at the library at 800 Governors Drive in Pierre throughout the month of December.
"The South Dakota State Library is proud to serve as a federal depository library," said State Librarian George Seamon. "The responsibility to offer patrons free public access to government documents is one that we take seriously. We are honored to be celebrating 50 years with the FDLP."
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 both print and electronic formats. The program's roots can be traced back to the act of Congress from 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.
Visit the State Library at 800 Governors Drive in Pierre or online at https://library.sd.gov/ 
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