Oregon Documents Depository Program
The Oregon State Library serves as a resource for Oregonians seeking government information. A guiding principle is this phrase from Oregon Revised Statute 357.001:
"It is a basic right of citizens to know about the activities of their government, to benefit from the information
developed at public expense and to have permanent access to the information published by state agencies."
The State Library runs the Oregon Documents Depository Program, which disseminates state publications throughout Oregon, and participates in the Federal Depository Library Program, which ensures that the American public has access to federal government information.
In 1907, the Oregon State Library began collecting publications of Oregon state government and distributing them to designated depository libraries around the state. Today, the Oregon Documents Depository Program collects and preserves born-digital Oregon government publications through the Oregon Government Publications collection, and continues to collect and distribute physical publications.
All depository libraries are required to make their Oregon documents accessible to the public free of charge. Depositories must retain all depository documents for a minimum of five years, except that superseded publications may be replaced by the newer edition.
As the official archive for Oregon public documents, the State Library will retain all titles permanently.
Shipping lists, bibliographic records, and other tools.
Information for State Agencies
What is an Oregon Government Document?
The official definition is an "informational matter produced for public distribution or access regardless of format, medium, source or copyright, originating in or produced with the imprint of, by the authority of or at the total or partial expense of any state agency" (ORS 357.004 (3)(a)) and exempts some types of public records, including correspondence and interoffice memos.
Here are some common items:
| DOCUMENTS |
NOT DOCUMENTS |
| Annual or biennial reports |
Agendas and minutes |
| Audits |
Announcements |
| Brochures or pamphlets |
Contracts |
| Directories |
Correspondence |
| Drafts of plans (published for public review) |
Forms, stationery, etc. |
| Environmental impact statements (draft and final) |
Grant proposals, bids, RFPs, etc. |
| Financials reports |
Job announcements |
| Handbooks, guides, and manuals |
Memoranda |
| Journals and magazines |
News or press releases |
| Maps |
Notices of proposed rule adoption |
| Newsletters |
Personnel manuals |
| Planning and evaluation reports |
Reprints of journal articles by state employees |
| Posters |
Transcripts of hearings |
| Research reports and studies |
Any publication intended only for use inside your agency |
| Rules and regulations |
| Standards |
| State or strategic plans |
| Statistical compilations |
For more information:
503-930-3438