Changes in Federal Government Web Pages and Resources 

What is the issue? 

With administrative changes in the executive branch, federal agencies may experience changes based on the guiding principles of the new administration. Federal government websites provide a wealth of information that includes information from the average cost of eggs, to directories on family planning health clinics, climate change data, and federal datasets. Although federal government websites and pages change over time, it is the duty of government information librarians to preserve, catalog, and make this information accessible regardless of whether information is a priority of an administration. 

The American Library Association maintains a webpage regarding the Key Principles of Government Information.  

These key principles of government information state that the government has a responsibility to collect, maintain, and disseminate information to the public as well as the government having an obligation to preserve public information from all eras of the country’s history, regardless of form or format. 

The mission of the California State Library is to provide credible information services to all Californians, especially those in state government and the Legislature, libraries, academia, and persons with disabilities. 

It is the State Library’s job to make information available so you as a researcher, a citizen, a student can make informed decisions. 

Why is it of concern? 

As a federal depository library, and the Regional federal depository library in California the State Library has been collecting and cataloging federal documents since 1890. Formats have changed over time from print to microfiche to CD to online to electronic resources. Providing information electronically allows the federal government to share information in a cost-effective manner to create an informed citizenry. Most federal government documents are no longer printed in paper format. Electronic is the main format to reach and inform citizens. By removing access, it makes it that much more difficult to find information to make informed decisions. 

What are we doing? 

The California State Library is keeping track of organizations and institutions that are archiving and preserving federal government information and submitting unreported publications directly to the Government Publishing Office. The State Library preserves and retains all federal government documents in the collection, in print and other formats. The State Library is digitizing federal government documents relating to California and subjects important to California’s history. 

I am not finding documents or federal resources that I believe were taken down. 

If you can’t find a document or resource, contact the California State Library with any questions. Subject matter experts can help you locate federal resources whether they may be in print, archived webpages, or in other formats. You may reach us directly at cslgps@library.ca.gov. You may also use the End of Term Web Archive to search for federal government websites that have been archived. 

What can you do? 

As an informed citizen, you may submit unreported federal government documents directly to the Government Publishing Office. You may save federal government websites or webpages that you believe are vulnerable. You may donate to institutions or organizations that are preserving federal government documents. 

What are some examples of organizations or institutions that are preserving and archiving federal government digital resources?