Our library is one of nearly 1250 federal depository libraries that exist throughout the United States and its territories. Congress established the Federal Depository Library Program based on three principles:

These depositories are housed in congressionally designated academic, law, and public libraries. Each depository library gives its surrounding community free access to government information.

About Oklahoma Documents

Created by legislation in 1978, the Publications Clearinghouse of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries was charged with the responsibility "to establish an Oklahoma government publications depository library system for the use of the citizens of the State of Oklahoma; to collect state publications from every state agency and to retain and preserve permanently... copies of all such publications." Publications received by the Clearinghouse from state government agencies are distributed to a network of fifteen depository libraries located throughout Oklahoma, as well as the U.S. Library of Congress.

In 1985, the Oklahoma Department of Libraries initiated a program to microfilm state government publications. This program enabled all depository libraries within the Oklahoma State Depository Library System to receive copies of all available publications. Prior to 1985, only six libraries were designated as total depositories within the OPC system, and as such, received copies of all available publications. Microfiche documents represent approximately 40% of the items now distributed to depository libraries.

All depository libraries provide reference assistance and participate in interlibrary loan. For additional information on the Oklahoma Publications Clearinghouse and the state's depository library program, try the webpage for Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

About Us

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University J. W. Martin Library became a Federal depository in 1907. It serves the government information needs of the 31 counties in the 3rd U.S. Congressional District of Oklahoma. The Government Documents Collection is staffed by one full-time professional librarian, one paraprofessional, and student assistants. The Documents area is on the second floor, southwest, of the main library.

Currently, the item selection rate is maintained at some 45 percent for federal documents, and 100 percent for Oklahoma government publications.  According to the collection development policy for Government Documents, these selections are based on supporting the curriculum of Northwestern and the information needs of the region. Subject concentrations are in education, agriculture, and health.

The Government Documents Collection is accessible to anyone during regular hours of the Martin Library. Documents may be checked out by these library patrons: all NWOSU students, all NWOSU faculty and staff, and residents of the Third Congressional District. As with the regular library collection, we do not allow circulation to anyone but in the categories above. The Documents Librarian may make exceptions on an individual basis. In the librarian's absence, consult the library director.