The Hesburgh Libraries, as a member of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), have been a selective depository for U.S. government publications since 1883. The U.S. government is the world's largest publisher, producing information on a broad spectrum of subjects useful for both academic research and public interest.

The FDLP, as administered by the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), distributes this information to the American public through over 1,200 federal depository libraries nationwide. Governmental information at the local, state, federal, and international levels is freely available online and in print to the Notre Dame community, and to any resident of the Congressional District IN-2 for federal publications.

All materials received prior to 1968 are held in the Hesburgh Library collections. The Documents Center collection on the lower level of Hesburgh Library has received more than 800,000 publications since Jan. 1, 1968. These materials are arranged by the Superintendent of Documents classification scheme. Formats include print, CD, microfiche, and online resources.