Developing and Managing the Brown University Library Collections
Collection Policy: Government Documents

The Government Documents Collections at the Brown University Library consist primarily of documents and publications obtained through depository arrangements with the U.S. Government Printing Office (for U.S. federal documents), the Rhode Island State Publications Clearinghouse (for Rhode Island state documents), and the Secretariat of the United Nations (for United Nations documents and publications). The Library also acquires publications from numerous international governmental organizations and other sources to complement these depository collections.

Collection Levels:

Brown University Library is a selective depository for United States federal government documents through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). Administered by the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), the FDLP provides depository libraries with copies of or access to government publications in all media/formats from agencies of all branches of government.

Brown is one of the oldest federal depository libraries in Rhode Island (Senate designation prior to 1878) and serves the citizens of the First Congressional District and the State of Rhode Island. The Library receives publications from all branches and agencies of the federal government.

Selection of United States federal government publications is based on:

• the needs and interests of the Brown University students, faculty, and staff;
• the curricular needs of the University and the courses offered at Brown;
• the research programs and centers established by the University;
• the needs of the medical facilities associated with the University;
• the needs and interests of the citizens of Rhode Island, especially those in close proximity to the University (e.g., state officials, the Providence business community).

The Brown University Library Collection Development Policy is the primary guide for selection of federal depository items. Appropriate subject specialists and selectors are consulted as necessary.

Notable subject areas of collection strength include, but are not limited to: Congress; demography and population; economics; geographic information systems (GIS) data; health and vital statistics; international relations; public policy; social sciences data and statistics.

In selecting depository publications, Brown University Library considers the interests and resources of other federal depository libraries within the state and region. The CRIARL Government Documents Committee promotes and facilitates cooperation in selection among Rhode Island’s federal depository libraries.

To support the collection development areas of the Brown University Library and the federal documents collection, publications of the following agencies are collected at the following levels (partial/selected list):

Bureau of Labor Statistics	Research
Census Bureau	Research
Congress	Comprehensive
Executive Office of the President	Research
Geological Survey	Research
National Cancer Institute	Research
National Center for Health Statistics	Research
National Institute on Aging	Research
National Library of Medicine	Research
President	Comprehensive
State Department	Research

 

Brown University Library is a partial depository for United Nations documents and official publications. As such, the Library receives the official records from the main organs of the United Nations, including the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board. The Library also receives most UN sales publications printed in English. Brown is the only UN depository library in Rhode Island (designated in 1947). Brown also was a League of Nations depository and has a complete collection of these documents as well.

Brown University Library is a full depository for Rhode Island State government documents. The Library receives copies of state documents distributed by the RI State Publications Clearinghouse at the State Library. Brown is one of 24 state depository libraries in Rhode Island.