This study describes regional depository institutions, the organization of their document collections, the staffing of their documents departments, and factors relevant to their providing access to electronic government information. Surveys were sent to 53 regional depository libraries in March 1995. Forty-one of the 53 libraries responded (77% response rate). A description of the basic characteristics of all 41 responding libraries was compiled by: library type; budget size for materials acquisition; full-time professionals; part-time professionals; and professional time spent on machine readable depository collection. Since public access to machine readable information is influenced by many factors, the survey considered the following factors: bibliographic control, availability of equipment, staff training, bibliographic instruction, promotional and outreach programs, peer connection, and librarian attitude. The data generated by this survey suggests that there is not much difference between academic Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and non-ARL regional depository libraries in their provision of public access to depository machine readable information. ARL regional libraries are more apt to serve larger populations and have larger materials budgets. Eighty percent of the reporting ARL regionals with OPACS include depository machine readable information in the OPAC, compared to 50% of the non-ARL regionals. Both types are equipped with public access workstations. A slightly higher percentage of non-ARL libraries provide public Internet access. Government Printing Office (GPO) access is equally provided, but ARL libraries are more likely to serve as gateways to GPO access. A majority of both types are engaged in various methods of staff training and bibliographic instruction. Examination also reveals little difference in state agencies, public, and historical society libraries. Data is illustrated in 36 tables, and an appendix provides the "Regional Depository Electronic Access Survey." (Contains 21 references and a 34-item bibliography.) (MAS)