ABOUT KELLEY CENTER
The Kelley Center is the central location on Rice campus supporting Roce faculty, staff, and students as well as the general public primarily from the Congressional District #7 to search, access and use official U.S. Federal and Texas State government publications, official patent and trademark resources, as well as a large tangible maps and atlases collection, Fondren Library's large research collection of microform materials, and a large, uncataloged set of Atomic Energy Commission/Department of Energy’s technical reports, comprising of governmental and non-governmental sources, no matter for research, instruction, innovation, business, community service, civic engagement, or personal life. The possibilities are endless.
What is Government Information?
It is a term used to categorize any information disseminated by a government agency. As such, material produced by government bodies at the local, state, federal, and international level, in addition to government-funded institutions and organizations, are all considered government documents. They range from data and statistics, books, maps, articles, databases, laws and regulations, patents and trademarks, to current and historical publications dating to the formation of the United States. They are published in all formats - paper, microform, and electronic.
U.S. Code (44 U.S.C. 1901) defines a government document as "...informational matter which is published as an individual document at government expense or as required by law.” Every governmental division produces documents, images, or artifacts that belong to the citizens of the United States and can be accessed through a variety of means online, by written request, through the Freedom of Information Act [FOIA], or by walking into many institutions and using their libraries or other resource station.
SERVICES
Federal Depository Library Program
fdlp.gov
The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) is a national program established in 1813 authorized by 44 U.S.C. § 19, with
- the mission of “keeping America informed” AND “ensuring that the American public has free equal and permanent access to government information”
- the vision of "providing Government information when and where it is needed in order to create informed citizenry and an improved quality of life." (More: FDLP Mission, Vision, & Values)
Fondren Library is a selective federal depository library (0608C) designated by the U.S. Congress in 1967. We are committed to the above FDLP mission and vision. The program has evolved with changes in information technology, but the mission and the vision stay the same. Today, the Kelley Center keeps working closely with the U.S. Government Publishing Office and a national network of 1000+ Federal depository libraries, as well as strategic partners at local, regional, and national levels to provide comprehensive services.
Patent and Trademark Resource Center
Fondren was designated a patent depository library in July 1977; since then, the program has changed with advances in technology and the needs of innovators and entrepreneurs. Today, we are a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC), located in and managed by the Kelley Center. The PTRC Program, supported by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, is a national network of designated libraries authorized by 35 U.S.C. § 12 to:
- Disseminate patent and trademark information, and
- Support diverse intellectual property needs of the public.
Microforms and Maps
The Kelley Center assists research and instructional needs of the Rice and Houston community by providing access to and assistance with the Library's large collection of microform materials, physical atlases and maps, and a large, uncataloged set of AEC/Department of Energy documents. These microforms and maps are a mix of government and non-government publications.
Kelley Center Visitors
What do you need to plan before your visit? Please read the information at https://library.rice.edu/content/kelley-center-visitors
| Weekday | Time slot | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Sun: | Closed | |
| Mon - Thu: | 10:00 am-8:00 pm | 12-1pm lunch break |
| Fri: | 10:00 am-5:00 pm | 12-1pm lunch break |
| Sat: | closed |
Contact Information
Email: govhelp@rice.edu
Phone: (713) 348-5483
Fondren Library's basement.
Staff
- Kelley Center staff, Office Suite B38.
- Kelley Center student staff, Information Desk.
Mailing Address:
Kelley Center for Government Information
Fondren Library - MS 225
Rice University
6100 Main Street
Houston, TX 77005-1827
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Kelley Center staff are implementing practices to address harmful or offensive language included as part of legacy description work. This is a work in progress; however, if you encounter harmful language in our website, research guides, finding aids or catalogs, please contact us with details about the item at govhelp@rice.edu or this webform for expeditious action.