GPO Fact Sheet

GPO keeps America informed. GPO ensures the public's right to access government information by collecting, organizing, maintaining, preserving and disseminating it. For 140 years, the GPO has produced and distributed Federal Government information products. Currently, the GPO captures, stores, authenticates, produces, and disseminates information from Congress and other Federal publishers for the public to access directly and through the Federal Depository Library Program.

ROLE IN GOVERNMENT

The Public Printer, who serves as the GPO's chief executive officer, is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The GPO operates under the authority of the public printing and documents chapters of Title 44 of the U.S. Code and overseen by the congressional Joint Committee on Printing.

Created initially to satisfy the printing needs of Congress, the GPO today is the focal point for printing and information dissemination for the entire Federal community. In addition to Congress and the White House, approximately 130 Federal departments and agencies rely on the GPO's services. Congressional publications, Federal regulations and reports, census and tax forms, and U.S. passports are among the documents produced by or through the GPO. At one time, the GPO's mission was accomplished through the production and procurement of conventional ink-on-paper printing. Today, after more than a generation's experience with electronic printing systems, the GPO is providing Government information in a wide range of formats, including print, microfiche, CD-ROM, and online through GPOAccess (www.gpoaccess.gov).

FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL

Carrying out the GPO's mission today is a skilled and dedicated of a workforce of about 3,000 employees nationwide. Most are based at the GPO's central office facility in the Nation's Capital, making the GPO the largest industrial employer in the District of Columbia. Also located in the National Capital area are a bookstore and a publications warehouse. GPO operates a printing plant in Denver, a technical documentation facility in Atlantic City, NJ, a publication distribution facility in Pueblo, CO, as well as regional and satellite procurement offices throughout the country.

FUNDING

Unlike most Federal agencies, the GPO operates much like a business-it is reimbursed by its customers for the cost of work performed. The GPO also receives two appropriations, one to pay for the cost of congressional printing, and the other to fund the cataloging, indexing, distribution, and online access to Government documents, through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) and as required by law. These funds are provided through the annual legislative branch appropriations bill, and together they comprise about 4% of total legislative branch appropriations. In FY 2002, GPO's revenues totaled $702 million. GPO's finances are audited every year by an independent auditor, and it receives an unqualified (or "clean") opinion every year.

PROCUREMENT SERVICES

Nearly 75% of GPO's printing revenue is from agencies for work procured by GPO from the private sector printing industry. GPO has a long-standing partnership with America's printing industry to provide for the Government's printing needs. Last year, the GPO competitively bought products and services from nearly 2,300 private sector firms in all 50 States. It is one of the Government's most successful procurement programs, assuring the most cost-effective use of the taxpayers' printing dollar.

IN-PLANT OPERATIONS

GPO's in-plant facility provides state-of-the-art electronic information systems and production technologies to support the information product needs of Congress and Federal agencies. GPO produces the Congressional Record overnight when Congress is in session, and bills, hearings, documents, reports, and committee prints in time to support Congress' legislative needs. Also produced in-plant are the Federal Register, the Code of Federal Regulations, and other key Government documents, such as the annual U.S. Budget. In FY 2002 GPO's in-plant operations produced more than 8.7 million U.S. passports for the State Department and nearly 249 million postal cards for the U.S. Postal Service. Paper used by GPO and its contractors meet Federal recycled paper requirements and all GPO printing inks utilize vegetable oil.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Beginning in the 1960's, the GPO was one of the first printing organizations nationwide to pioneer the use of electronic typesetting systems in place of traditional practices. Since then, successive generations of technology have been deployed by the GPO to develop electronic databases of Government information products from which publications in both print and electronic formats are produced. Computer-to-plate technology has further updated the GPO's capabilities. The GPO has also been a leading producer of CD-ROMs of Government information for more than a decade. The GPO uses electronic information technology to increase efficiency in its printing processes, facilitate e-commerce in its printing procurement and documents sales programs, and expand public access to Government information via the Internet.

SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS

Through its Superintendent of Documents' programs, the GPO disseminates the largest volume of U.S. Government publications and information in the world. More than 30.5 million printed publications were distributed in FY 2002 and approximately 372 million Government documents were downloaded from GPOAccess (www.gpoaccess.gov) at a cost of less than a penny per retrieval.

To keep America informed, GPO offers Government publications for sale to the public. Approximately 9,000 titles are available for sale at any given time, including books, CD-ROMs, and other electronic formats. This provides the public with a wide variety of low cost consumer-oriented publications as well as Congressional documents, and executive and judicial publications. Documents can also be ordered through GPO's secure Online Bookstore site at http://bookstore.gpo.gov. Publications are also sold by mail, phone, and fax. Free and low-cost publications are distributed through the Federal Citizen Information Center in Pueblo, CO.

The Federal Depository Library Program is the public's primary source of free access to the published information of the Federal Government. In operation since 1813, this program has been called "America's first freedom of information act." More than 1,200 Federal depository libraries nationwide provide free public access to Government information in both print and electronic formats. Federal depository libraries are designated by Members of Congress or by law. Many are college, university, and academic law libraries, making the FDLP a key component of the Nation's education system. In FY 2002, GPO distributed 5 million copies of over 14,000 tangible products in print, microform, and CD-ROM formats to depository libraries. Every depository library also has access to the vast range of information made available online via GPOAccess.

Superintendent of Documents' programs also catalog and index Government information, distribute publications as required by law, and provide reimbursable distribution services for other Federal agencies. Under the International Exchange Program, which is administered by the Library of Congress, the GPO distributes U.S. Government publications to nearly 70 nations around the world.

GPOAccess

In this age of electronic information technology, the public requires immediate access to official Federal information. To meet this need, GPOAccess (www.gpoaccess.gov) makes online Government information products available to the public in the home, the office, the school, or through the depository libraries with the goal of broad, equitable information dissemination.

GPOAccess is a leading online source of free, official Government information. Its publicly available resources, covering all three branches of the Federal Government, include the Congressional Record, the United States Code, GAO Reports, congressional bills and reports, Public Laws, the Federal Register, and many more. In total, more than 250,000 titles are available on GPO servers. Since 1994, GPOAccess retrievals have exceeded 1.6 billion, and it is currently averaging 31 million retrievals each month. In addition to this, GPOAccess hosts 20 Federal web sites including the web site for Supreme Court. Most electronic documents appear on the day of publication, exactly as they appear in print, and are the official published version. GPO maintains permanent public access to Government information products residing on GPOAccess.

GPOAccess is designed, developed, and implemented for easy access to free online Federal information products and services. The GPO recognizes and accommodates the various special needs and technological capabilities of the public. The GPOAccess User Support Team provides immediate assistance to customers. Finally, Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids is an educational component of GPOAccess that introduces children and adults alike to the basics of government.

In recognition of the growth and accomplishments of the service, GPOAccess has received numerous awards and recognitions, such as the E-Gov 2001 "Trailblazer" award.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

The GPO has begun transforming itself into an information service for the 21^st century - creating, disseminating, and preserving Federal information products. The GPO is engages with customers and stakeholders to identify their needs and to build an ability to meet those needs. The demands of Congress, Federal agencies, and the American public for Government information will guide the GPO in identifying the best technologies to employ in meeting its new requirements.

With the help of the General Accounting Office, the GPO is conducting an in-depth study of Federal information dissemination. This work will provide the basis for GPO's 2004 strategic planning effort. Over the next several years, the transformation of GPO will require investments in its workforce and technology infrastructure. The results will be improved effectiveness and efficiency, and increased value to the customers we serve.