Documents to the People:
100 Years of Keeping You in the Know
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UT Celebrates more than a century of providing government information
From the Declaration of Independence to your great-great grandfather’s military records, from the Civil Rights Act to Woodsy Owl and Smokey Bear's conservation efforts, the United States government produces a tremendous amount of information.
And the UT Libraries has played a major role in making that information available to Tennesseans for more than a century.
In 2007, the University of Tennessee Libraries celebrates some important milestones in its history of providing access to federal and state government information: 110 years as a designated depository library (1897), 100 years as a land-grant depository library (1907), and 90 years as a Tennessee state depository library (1917).
UT Libraries is one of 1,200 Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) libraries in the nation and one of six depositories for state of Tennessee government publications. As a depository, the libraries are a vital link to bringing government information to students, faculty and surrounding communities. Anyone can visit the UT Libraries and use the federal and state depository collections, which are filled with information on careers, business opportunities, consumer information, health and nutrition, legal information, demographics, and many other subjects.
Government publications form a critical component of the University of Tennessee Libraries’ collections. They are rich in primary source materials that provide a window into the history, culture and daily life of the United States for researchers.
Because most users expect and prefer electronic formats, the libraries have transitioned to a digital depository collection, except for maps, reference books and historical series which remain in print. Access to digital editions of many of the U.S. Congress’s wide-ranging documents from 1789 to present are contained in the LexisNexis Congressional database.
Free access to government publications is important to the libraries and a central part of its service philosophy. The UT Libraries will continue to serve as a government information access center and help guide users to information in the digital environment.
To celebrate these important anniversaries, the libraries will highlight different government documents, publications and collections throughout the year.
About Periodicals/Government Documents and Microforms
Phone:865-974-6870;
974-6886
Fax:865-974-3635
120 A Hodges Library
1015 Volunteer Blvd.
Knoxville,TN 37996-1000
Librarian: Janette Prescod