The Essential Titles list was originally created in 1996 as a collection that the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) planned to continue disseminating in tangible format in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The list was comprised of titles of U.S. Government information resources deemed essential to the conduct of government. During the transition to a more electronic FDLP, the list reflected GPO’s commitment to distribute certain titles in tangible format indefinitely. Over time, as agencies transitioned more publications to online-only format, GPO could no longer guarantee tangible printing and distribution of all resources on the list. As a result, the Essential Titles list no longer served its intended purpose.

See the FDLP Basic Collection article for current guidance on key publications in tangible and print formats.