IRIS Photos

100 Years as a Federal Depository Library

Anna Korhonen

March 1, 1907—while Jacob Schurman served as Cornell University's third president and George Harris as its second University Librarian, the Cornell Library became one of the forty-three land-grant institution libraries that were designated Federal Depository Libraries under the provisions of the Nelson Amendment to the First (1862) and Second (1890) Morrill Land-Grant Acts. Since then, CUL has been receiving, free of charge, publications and information resources issued by the three branches of the federal government and its numerous agencies.

Depository libraries are responsible for keeping this government information available to the public and providing free access to it whether it is in print, microfiche, CD-ROM, or digital format. The depository dissemination of government information is administered by the Government Printing Office (GPO), considered to be the biggest publisher in the world. Today, there are around 1,250 depository libraries in the U.S. and its possessions, serving the public and keeping America informed also in the twenty-first century about the operations of its government.

In addition to Olin, Mann and Law libraries later became federal depository libraries and hold government documents in their collections. The documents are integrated among other library materials campus wide. International and domestic documents form a large portion, around 8%, of the titles in CUL’s current collections. CUL has over 285,000 federal documents in its online catalog, and most of them have been received from the GPO free of charge as depository materials. Today, this collection is priceless.

Much has changed in these hundred years in the printing and publishing industry, as well as in libraries. In today's world, government information is issued increasingly in electronic format, and our libraries provide computer access and reference services not only to our students, faculty, and researchers, but also to the general public in the 22nd Congressional District and beyond.

What is a government document?

We often use information resources without realizing they are government documents. Some of the frequently used resources are, for example,

  • maps (geographical, city, soil, ocean, and climate maps; nautical charts; etc.)
  • patents and trademarks
  • bills, laws, statutes, U.S. Code
  • congressional reports, documents, committee prints and hearings, and other publications
  • executive documents from the President and the White House
  • statistical information from the Census Bureau
  • health information
  • occupational outlooks, unemployment figures, and Consumer Price Indexes (CPI)
  • social security information
  • tax forms

Since 1994, with the growth of the Internet, more and more information is available online. Today, over 94% of all new government information through the Federal Depository Library Program is issued and available in electronic format. By mid-April, many of us will be desperately accessing the IRS Web site to download an odd tax form necessary to complete our tax returns at the last minute. Some have already sought free medical information from Medline.

When we go back in time to the days of the origins and founding of Cornell, we find that one of the most interesting government documents that CUL has among its holdings is the patent application for Ezra Cornell's invention of "a new and useful Machine for cutting trenches and laying pipes" that eventually led to his prosperity and founding of the university. This document is also on display in the exhibition to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Ezra Cornell's birth that will continue through August 31 in the Hirschland Gallery in Kroch Library.

patent

Patent to Ezra Cornell for "a new and useful Machine for cutting trenches and laying pipes," February 28, 1844. A drawing and detailed description of the machine are attached to the certificate.

illustration

Illustration of the machine

Another example of our historical documents is the commemorative copy of the 13th Amendment that is among many of our legacy documents that have been digitized.

Events planned for the centennial anniversary will take place throughout the year. The GPO presented Olin Library with a beautiful commemorative plaque that is looking for a proper display. Exhibitions of items from our documents collections are planned for late spring and fall.