On August 8, 2026, Loyola University Chicago Libraries celebrates an important milestone: 60 years as a member of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).
Since joining the program on August 8, 1966, the University Libraries has provided Loyola students, faculty, researchers, and members of the community with access to information published by the United States Government. This anniversary recognizes both the historical significance of our Government Documents Collection and the Libraries’ continuing commitment to public access, civic learning, and informed research.
What is the Federal Depository Library Program?
Administered by the U.S. Government Publishing Office, the Federal Depository Library Program helps ensure that members of the public can access information produced by their government.1 Participating libraries provide access to federal publications and help users locate, understand, and use government information in both print and digital formats.
For Loyola University Chicago Libraries, participation in the FDLP reflects our mission to make information accessible to the University community and the public. Government publications offer valuable evidence for understanding how policies are created, how institutions operate, and how political and social issues have been discussed over time.
Discovering History through Government Documents
The Government Documents Collection includes materials that support research across history, political science, law, public policy, education, health, international relations, environmental studies, and many other disciplines.
Some of the fascinating items found in Loyola’s collection include:
Congressional Investigations and Political History
Government hearings provide firsthand evidence of the questions, anxieties, and political debates that shaped historical moments. Loyola’s holdings include a 1920 Senate hearing titled Russian Propaganda, a 1954 hearing on Communist Propaganda, and 1963 hearings investigating the Fair Play for Cuba Committee.
Foundational Documents and Civic History
The Government Documents Collection extends beyond congressional hearings. It includes a large-format reproduction and historical explanation of the Emancipation Proclamation, allowing researchers and visitors to examine one of the most consequential documents in United States history.
Resources such as The Supreme Court of the United States: Its Beginnings and Its Justices, 1790–1991 support the study of constitutional history, the judiciary, and the individuals who have shaped the Court.
Materials from Ben’s Guide to the U.S. Government demonstrate another important role of federal information: helping young learners understand civic institutions and participate in public life.
Maps and Geographic Information
Government publications also document the changing physical and political landscape of the country. An Atlas of Early Maps of the American Midwest brings together historical representations of the Great Lakes, Mississippi River Valley, and surrounding regions.
More than a Collection
Being a Federal Depository Library involves more than preserving publications. It also means helping people discover and interpret government information.
Celebrating the Past and Looking Ahead
For 60 years, Loyola University Chicago Libraries has helped make government information available to our community. The Government Documents Collection chronicles moments of national achievement, political conflict, social change, and public debate. It also reminds us that meaningful access requires preservation, knowledgeable assistance, and opportunities to engage critically with the historical record.
When Loyola joined the FDLP in 1966, participation largely meant receiving, organizing, preserving, and providing access to printed publications and microforms. Today, much of the program operates digitally. Government information can be discovered and used online from almost anywhere, while depository libraries help users navigate complex federal resources, preserve historical print collections, and ensure that government publications remain freely accessible even as websites and technologies change. The format has evolved, but the central purpose of the FDLP—connecting the public with trustworthy government information—remains the same.
Happy 60th anniversary to Loyola University Chicago Libraries’ Federal Depository Library Program! Check our events page for further celebrations this Fall!
