The Nevada State Library and Archives is celebrating 150 years with the Federal Depository Library Program. We have been a Federal Depository Library longer than we have been a state.
The Federal Depository Library Program managed by the Government Printing Office, distributes United States Government Publications to over a thousand libraries throughout the United States so that the American people will have free access to government information.
The Government Printing Office recently celebrated their 150th Anniversary. You can read about it in Keeping America informed: the U.S. Government Printing Office: 150 years of service to the nation which is available online or in paper at the Nevada State Library and Archives. We are one of the Nation’s oldest depository libraries.
In the Report of the Territorial Auditor for the year 1863, W. W. Ross wrote “The Territorial Auditor by virtue of his office is Territorial Librarian. During the past year I have had a room fitted with shelves in the rear of my offices, and the books removed thereto. There are about six hundred and fifty volumes, mostly Congressional and State documents, in the library.” This indicates that the State Library has been a depository of both Federal and State documents since we were a territory.
Please come by the Nevada State Library and Archives at 100 North Stewart Street to see our display cases commemorating the event.
For more information, contact Kathy Edwards, Government Publications Librarian, at 775-684-3329 or kedwards@admin.nv.gov.