Federal Depository Library

The USA Marx Library has been a member of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) since 1968 and is one of 21 depository libraries in the state of Alabama. Our primary mission is to serve the needs of the faculty, students and staff at the University of South Alabama. We also serve the needs of the citizens of the 2nd Congressional District of Alabama, with emphasis on Mobile and Baldwin counties. This library is a congressionally-designated depository for U.S. Government documents. Public access to the government documents collection is guaranteed by public law. (Title 44 United States Code)

Marx Library University of South Alabama 5901 USA Drive North Mobile, AL 36688 Ph: (251) 460-7028webref@southalabama.edu

Government Documents

America 250 Display (1776-2026)

How did everyday citizens first read the Declaration of Independence? Long before breaking news flashed across screens, the ideas of liberty, democracy, and independence were spread through the power of the printing press.

In celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial (250th anniversary), experience our nation's foundational milestones through the eyes of the people who lived them. By pairing America’s core founding documents with historic newspapers, broadsides, and primary sources from various government agencies, we trace the "first draft of history." Step back in time to see how the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights were first typeset, read aloud in town squares, and debated in local columns. Discover how ink and paper fueled a revolution and continue to shape the American story today.

We invite you to browse some of our department’s resources and commemorative display, which can be found at Marx Library on 2nd Floor South, with a 5-page bibliography for additional information.

U.S. Flag Day, June 14th

On June 14, 1777, the 2nd Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing the first official American flag. It declared that the flag should feature 13 stripes, alternating red and white, with 13 white stars on a blue background, representing a new constellation. The arrangement of the stars varied over the years. The overall design has been updated 27 times as new states joined the union, which ultimately resulted in today’s 50-star version. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1916, issued a proclamation officially designating June 14th as Flag Day. In 1949, Congress approved the official national observance, with President Harry Truman signed it into law, establishing Flag Day as an annual national holiday. While not a federal holiday (meaning offices and banks are usually open), it is widely celebrated with parades, essay contests, and flag-burning ceremonies to respectfully retire old flags.

In observance of this year's Flag Day, there is a display on the 2nd Floor South of the Marx Library with a selection of government documents, including a poster showing how to respectfully display the American flag as well as how NOT to display it. As part of the display, there is a companion 6-page bibliography of materials from within our library collection as well as materials available online.