Government Publications

The Government Publications Section assists California state employees and supports State and Federal Depository Libraries in California in providing the public with free and open access to government information. Providing a central hub for government documents and information assistance improves government efficiency. Coordinating the efforts of depository libraries in collecting, organizing, preserving, and making available information from the California and U.S. federal governments strengthens a democratic tradition of open government and free access to public information.

Our Services

We help government employees and members of the public find and access government-disseminated information; preserve government information in print, digital, and other available formats; and provide one-on-one patent and trademark information consultations by appointment.

Our Collections

The California State Library’s government publications collection is the only regional depository of federal government information in California, a full depository for California state government publications, and a Patent and Trademark Resource Center. Our collections include:

• All federal publications distributed by the United States Superintendent of Documents to depository libraries;
• All California state publications distributed under the Library Distribution Act;
• Digitally archived websites of California government agencies, bureaus, commissions, and other state government entities;
• Selected Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) produced as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);
• Selected publications by California local governments, other U.S. state governments, and foreign governments.

Some older materials and special-format collections are not listed in the Library’s online catalog. These include many pre-1976 federal publications, individual U.S. patent and trademark files, and National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) reports on microfiche. Please contact the Government Publications Section for assistance locating these materials.