Since 1895, the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), administered by the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), has provided no-fee public access to information generated by the U.S. government through a network of libraries. For 200 years, print-on-paper remained the dominant format. By 1978, publications were also distributed in microfiche; CD-ROM products followed in 1988, as well as the development of the GPO Access World Wide Web site for online publications in 1994 and other initiatives to harness government information on the Internet. Opportunities to improve public access exist alongside obstacles to equitable distribution and access. Now over half way through a 5-year transition plan, GPO has defined and established an electronic depository library collection for the new millennium. Problems remain with reform of the underlying legislation, the enforcement of deposit compliance by government authors, and the guaranteed provision of permanent public access. Librarians struggle to keep up with sources, formats, and technology and to shape library services for both traditional and digital environments. (Contains 36 endnotes.) (Author/MES)