Alaska Library Celebrates 100 Years in GPO's Federal Depository Library Program

WASHINGTON —The University of Alaska Fairbanks’ (UAF) Elmer E. Rasmuson Library marks a century of service to GPO and the Federal Government. The library became part of the Federal Depository Library Progam (FDLP) on December 6, 1922. The library serves the university community, as well as interior Alaska and the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Its collection includes materials from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Interior, and Justice, as well as materials from the Census Bureau, Forest Service, NASA, and more.

“A big congratulations to the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library on celebrating 100 years in the FDLP,” said GPO Director Hugh Nathanial Halpern. “We thank this library for a century of helping GPO make Government information accessible to all. The library’s contribution toward an America Informed has been invaluable, and we look forward to our continued partnership with them.”

GPO Superintendent of Documents Scott Matheson joined UAF Chancellor Daniel M. White and members of the UAF community for a ceremony at the library celebrating the anniversary. Matheson studied journalism at the University of Alaska and is 1997 graduate.

“It is an honor to be back at my alma mater to celebrate the Elmer E. Rasmuson Library’s 100th anniversary in the FDLP,” said GPO Superintendent of Documents Scott Matheson. “This library deserves significant recognition for its long-standing commitment to enhancing access to Government information throughout the Fairbanks community.”

“As the land, sea and space grant institution in Alaska, UAF and the Rasmuson Library are honored to serve our patrons by providing access and assistance to a variety of Federal Government publications,” said Director of Libraries Karen Jensen.

Through the FDLP, GPO works with approximately 1,100 libraries nationwide to provide public access to authentic, published information from all three branches of the Federal Government in print and electronic formats. The program's antecedents can be traced back to the act of Congress dated December 27, 1813 (3 Stat. 140), which provided that one copy of the journals and documents of the Senate and House be sent to each university and college and each historical society in each state. GPO has operated the FDLP since 1895.

 

GPO is the Federal Government’s resource for publishing trusted information for the Federal Government to the American people. The GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies in digital and print formats. GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information at no charge through www.govinfo.gov and partnerships with approximately 1,100 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. For more information, please visit www.gpo.gov.

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