List of Classes

  • Last Updated: June 06, 2025
  • Published: June 06, 2025

About

The List of Classes of United States Government Publications Available for Selection by Depository Libraries is the official listing of publications available for selection by depository libraries participating in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).

The List of Classes is arranged by the Superintendent of Documents classification numbering system and is designed to group together publications by the same Government author. Use the List of Classes to work with and identify item numbers that your depository may want to select or deselect from your item selection profile. Some entries in the List of Classes are actively used to catalog and disseminate content, while other entries in the List of Classes were used once upon creation and have had little use since creation.

The List of Classes data files are ASCII text files that are used primarily in database applications and tools such as FDLP Data Manager (FDM). 

The Enhanced List of Classes (formerly named the Modified List of Classes) is a List of Classes file in Excel format that has additional fields including Sort by SuDoc, Agency, and Sub-Agency. Additionally, a field named PDT List indicates if the entry is in the Print Distribution Titles List. The PDT Quantity field lists:

  • 20 = 20 copies are being deposited in Federal depository libraries
  • 50 = 50 copies are being deposited in Federal depository libraries
  • UNL = Unlimited distribution: There are no limits to how many Federal depository libraries may select it.

Update Cycle 

The List of Classes files are updated twice a month to reflect newly activated and inactivated entries, as well as changes to titles and formats. The updates are made available on the first business day on or after the 1st and 15th of every month.

List of Classes Format Designations 

The List of Classes includes the FDLP format for Government information products. Currently materials are distributed in either P (paper) or EL (online) formats.

Historically, the formats were listed as: 

  • (P) for paper
  • (MF) for microfiche
  • (E) for tangible electronic products (miscellaneous/format unknown)
  • (EL) for online (Electronic Library) format
  • (CD) for CD-ROM
  • (DVD) for optical/recordable discs
  • (FL) for floppy diskettes
  • Blank or UNK for unknown or unspecified formats 

In the past, blended formats were used to indicate that the publication could be disseminated in either format. For example, (P/EL) meant that the content could be distributed in paper format, in online format, or both.

List of Classes Data Files 

The following files are used by various depository tools to reflect the names of agencies, bureaus, and committees, as well as active and inactive item numbers and SuDoc numbers. Inactive item numbers and inactive SuDoc class stems are for content no longer available for selection by depository libraries. The files are in ASCII text format.

  • Inactive Item Numbers: Cumulative list of inactive item numbers no longer available for selection by libraries (formerly entitled, "Inactive or Discontinued Items").
  • List of Active Items and Class Stems: List of active item numbers and SuDoc class stems.
  • List of Classes: The listing of publications available for selection by depository libraries. The file does not contain column headers. The columns report:
    • SuDoc Stem
    • Title
    • Geography
    • Frequency
    • Format
    • Item number
  • Inactive SuDoc Class Stems: Cumulative list of inactive SuDoc class stems. An item number associated with an inactive SuDoc class stem may still be available for selection if the item number is active and has alternative active SuDoc class stem(s) associated with it. This file was formerly entitled, "Classes No Longer Active, List of Classes, Appendix II."
  • Alphabetic Listing of Government Authors 

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