Government Information

Library Hours / Sims 143 / Contact [email protected] / 985-549-2027

Sims Memorial Library has been a selective depository for Louisiana state government publications since 1948, and for U.S. government publications since 1966. The Library houses several thousand books, periodicals, maps, compact disks, and videos published by state and federal agencies.  Many more government publications are available in full text online and may be accessed via links in the online catalog.

Topics covered by the collection include health care, government benefits, legislation, national parks, and many others. The collection is particularly strong in statistical information.

Federal documents issued from 1976 to the present and Louisiana documents issued from 1999 to the present can be found by searching the Library Catalog. A variety of print and electronic indexes are available in the Reference Room to assist in locating older publications.

Please note: Sims Library discontinued its Louisiana state depository status in 2016.

Other Federal Depository Libraries

• Reference Assistance: Staff are available in the Reference Department to assist the public in locating information within the Library and in online sources. Assistance may also be requested in person, via phone, or by e-mailing the Government Information Librarian.
• User Education: The Government Information Librarian is happy to speak to classes, groups, or individuals about government resources. Please contact her to make an appointment.

• Circulation of Documents
• Access and Service

• Government Publications databases
• Index of Databases
• Websites
  • USA.gov – The official search engine/web portal for federal government information.
  • govinfo.gov – Government Printing Office site with links to many federal resources.
  • Louisiana.gov – Louisiana’s official home page.
  • Government Information Research Guide – Annotated list of federal, state, and international government information sites.

• Government Information Subject Guide
• Government Information Tutorials (videos)
• Government Periodicals
• Community Assessment Sources
• Disease and Epidemiology Information Resources
• Business Information from the Government
• State Public Document Depository Libraries – Laws and Law Web Sites