Government Publishing Office

    Overview

    "The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) is the Federal Government’s official resource for producing, procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the official information products of the U.S. Government. The GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the Federal Government in digital and print formats. GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information through Federal Digital System (FDsys) (www.fdsys.gov). and Govinfo is GPO's beta website that will eventually replace the Federal Digital System (FDsys) public website. GPO has partnerships with approximately 1,200 libraries nationwide who participate in the Federal Depository Library Program." (http://www.gpo.gov/about/)

    Type of Organization
    Alternative Names
    GPO
    Prior Names
    Government Printing Office
    Still in Operation
    Yes
    Main Address

    732 North Capitol Street
    Washington, DC 20401-0001
    United States

    Subject Areas
    Mission Statement

    "Keeping America Informed as the Official, Digital, and Secure source for producing, protecting, preserving, and distributing the official publications and information products of the Federal Government" (http://www.gpo.gov/about/strategicplan.htm,  November 2014)

    History

    The GPO was created in March, 1861. It has been continuously located at the corner of North Capitol and H Streets, in Washington, D.C since that time.  (http://www.gpo.gov/about/gpohistory/). Section 1301 of H.R. 83, the legislation providing consolidated and further continuing appropriations for FY 2015 that was recently passed by Congress and signed into law December 16, 2014 by President Barack Obama, changed the name of the Government Printing Office to the Government Publishing Office. 

    Financial Information

    GPO is a congressionally funded agency of the United States Government, but operates on a "revolving fund" basis.

    Total revenues for FY 2013 were  $718.9 million (http://www.gpo.gov/pdfs/congressional/archives/2013_AnnualReport.pdf). Approximately 14.7 % of GPO’s funding comes from direct appropriation. Appropriated funds are to cover the cost of congressional work (these funds may only be accessed when work is performed as ordered by Congress) and the depository library program and supporting distribution programs. All other revenues to GPO are reimbursements from agencies for work performed or sales of publications to the public.   (http://www.gpo.gov/about/faq.htm#GPO_Funded).

    Total expenses for FY 2013 were were $690.9 million The largest single component of GPO’s annual expenses is procured printing. In FY 2013, the cost of procured printing totaled $277.2 million, or about 40% of total expenses. The second largest component was personnel compensation and benefits. These totaled $202.7 million, or about 29% of all expenses. (http://www.gpo.gov/pdfs/congressional/archives/2013_AnnualReport.pdf)
    Governance: Board / Owners / Parent organization

    The GPO is an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government, but serves all three branches of the federal government.  It is headed by the Public Printer and its distribution and preservation activities are under the direction of the Superintendent of Documents. 

    Technical Information
    The U.S. Government Publishing Office provides GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys), a tool that provides, free online access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government, including the Congressional Record, Hearings and Reports, the US Code and CFR, and the Budget.  FDsys has been built with three goals in mind. An online Content Management System for official Federal Government publications, a preservation repository for long-term preservation and a Search Engine for its content. (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectiontab.action and http://www.gpo.gov/fdsysinfo/aboutfdsys.htm.)
    Access
    Through FDsys, users can search for documents and publications. Among the search features are, the ability to browse for documents and publications by collection, Congressional committee, date, and Government author. Users may also access metadata about documents and publications in standard XML formats.
    FDsys allows users to download documents and publications either as single files or content and metadata packaged together in a compressed file. (http://www.gpo.gov/fdsysinfo/aboutfdsys.htm)
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