Government Documents

The Wake Forest University Law Library has been a selective U.S. government depository library since May 4, 1990. Members of the public may use the U.S. Government Documents as part of our responsibilities as a selective Federal Depository Library.

The Wake Forest University Law Library is a private graduate school library:

  • It primarily serves the School of Law.
  • It is available to the other faculty, students and staff of Wake Forest University for use of materials housed in this library.
  • The library is open to the general public for full access to the United States government documents acquired by the Library through its membership in the Federal Depository Library Program, including both print and digital documents.

For depository library users:

  • Access to depository documents is available during the hours indicated for “all other users”.
  • Users of the documents collection must call to schedule an appointment prior to coming to the library.
  • Government documents users are encouraged to search the online catalog or call the Reference Department (336) 758-4520 to verify that the Wake Forest University Law Library has the materials needed before coming to the library.
  • Please note that this library selects to receive primarily only those materials that support the curricula of our graduate programs: that is, materials that are legislative, regulatory, or judicial in nature.
  • For any other questions regarding the Depository Library Program or hours, please contact the Reference Department at (336) 758-4520.

About the Depository Collection:

  • We receive approximately 10% of the materials distributed by the U.S. Government Publishing Office as part of the Federal Depository Library Program.
  • Most of the tangible government documents, e.g. print and microform, are located in the Documents area on the 2nd floor and classified by Superintendent of Documents call number; the remainder are integrated by Library of Congress call number throughout the collection.
  • Note that more than 90% of government documents are now distributed in electronic form. You can use the Library catalog (to find the URL for the document you select.
  • No materials in this collection circulate.

The Z. Smith Reynolds Library is also a selective federal government document depository that receives about 42% of GPO materials.

The Library’s government documents depository collection is coordinated by the government documents librarian, Kate Irwin-Smiler.