Free Government Publications and Educational Materials by Mail

Free government publications by mail are still available through select federal agencies and official distribution programs.

Current options include health brochures, emergency-preparedness guides, tax forms, disability-employment materials, posters, stickers, and specialized educational resources. Print programs change frequently, so this guide separates active ordering sources from programs that are now download-only, restricted, or retired.

1. Ready.gov Emergency-Preparedness Publications

The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers free printed Ready publications through an official Government Publishing Office ordering page. Available subjects may include family emergency plans, preparedness guides, materials for children, and information for older adults or people with disabilities.

Titles and quantities change with inventory. Review each item’s language, audience, and order limit before adding it to the cart.

👉 Order Free Ready Emergency Publications

2. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Materials

SAMHSA and the Government Publishing Office provide free 988 outreach materials to the public. Current items can include posters, wallet cards, stickers, decals, magnets, and safety-plan pads in English or Spanish.

Some products are packaged in sets of 10, 50, or 100 and may be intended for schools, clinics, counselors, community centers, or outreach partners. Order only a quantity you can use responsibly; bulk-order questions should be directed to the program.

👉 Browse Free 988 Print Materials

3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Publications

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states that printed versions of selected publications may be ordered through its Center for Health Information. Topics can include heart, lung, blood, and sleep conditions.

• Phone: 1-877-NHLBI4U (1-877-645-2448)
• Hours: 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Eastern, Monday–Friday, excluding federal holidays
• Mail: NHLBI Center for Health Information, Building 31A, MSC 2480, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-2480

NHLBI warns that publication shipping is currently delayed and arrival dates are not guaranteed. International requests require a prearranged FedEx account number.

👉 Review NHLBI Ordering Information

4. Hearing, Balance, Voice, and Communication Publications

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders offers free publications about hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. All publications are available online, and print copies can be ordered for selected titles.

Bulk requests may require contacting the NIDCD Information Clearinghouse. Availability and print-order buttons vary by publication.

👉 Browse Free NIDCD Publications

5. Free Federal Tax Forms and Instructions by Mail

The IRS provides current tax forms, instructions, and selected publications for free. You can download them, order them online for delivery by U.S. mail, or call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

Order only the tax year and form you need. Delivery takes time, so do not wait until a filing deadline. Libraries and other community locations may also carry common printed forms.

👉 Get Official Federal Tax Forms

6. Disability Employment Publications

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy offers free guides for employers, job seekers, educators, and employment-service providers. Topics may include recruiting and retaining workers with disabilities, workplace inclusion, accommodations, and employment support.

Some materials are designed for organizations or professional use. Check the description and available quantity before ordering.

👉 Order Free Disability Employment Publications

7. FDA Women’s Health Publications

The FDA Office of Women’s Health maintains an official ordering page for selected fact sheets, brochures, posters, and postcards. Materials cover health and medication-safety topics and may be useful for health fairs, classrooms, waiting rooms, and community events.

Not every title or language is available in print. Some listings are download-only, and order quantities depend on current inventory.

👉 Browse FDA Women’s Health Materials

8. PTSD Awareness and Treatment Materials

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Government Publishing Office offer free PTSD educational materials. Current choices may include brochures, booklets, wallet cards, rack cards, posters, and awareness-event materials.

Many resources are offered in specified packs, with larger quantities intended for outreach. Review the audience and quantity menu for each item before ordering.

👉 Order Free PTSD Educational Materials

9. FEMA and U.S. Fire Administration Materials

FEMA’s Distribution Center accepts publication requests using an official order form. The U.S. Fire Administration also offers fire-safety publications, but printed copies are generally reserved for fire and EMS departments or organizations.

• View FEMA Distribution Center instructions
• Browse U.S. Fire Administration publications

Members of the public can still download many USFA materials for free. Do not place an organizational print order if you do not meet the stated eligibility rules.

10. NIH News in Health for Community Organizations

NIH News in Health offers free print copies to offices, clinics, community centers, and libraries within the United States. This is an organizational distribution program rather than a general household subscription.

Eligible organizations can email the program with a mailing address and requested number of copies. Individuals can read the newsletter online for free.

👉 Review NIH News in Health Subscription Options

Programs That No Longer Mail Printed Publications

Older freebie lists often point to government ordering systems that have closed. As of this update:

• CDC On Demand: retired; CDC publications are no longer available through that ordering system.
• NIMH: no longer offers print materials for ordering; digital brochures remain available.
• ED Pubs: discontinued in 2022; Department of Education publications are digital-only.
• CFPB printed publications: discontinued; downloadable financial-education resources remain available.
• NIA print publications: temporarily suspended; PDFs remain available.

A page describing a past ordering program is not proof that mailed copies are still available. Use the agency’s current notice rather than an older blog post or PDF.

Free Digital Alternatives

• NIMH mental-health brochures and fact sheets
• CDC child-development resources
• Department of Education digital-publication notice
• CFPB downloadable financial-education tools
• National Institute on Aging downloadable publications
• ERIC education research library

How to Find More Government Materials

• Use websites ending in .gov for federal ordering programs.
• Look for a current inventory, quantity selector, and shipping notice.
• Search the agency name with “publications,” “order materials,” or “distribution center.”
• Confirm whether the offer is for individuals, professionals, or organizations.
• Choose digital copies when print stock is unavailable.
• Never pay a third party for a publication that the agency provides free.

Helpful Government Publication Resources

• Ready.gov Free Publications
• 988 Lifeline Print Materials
• NIDCD Free Publications
• Disability Employment Publications

Featured Freebies

These sample opportunities are not government programs, but they may be worth checking while you are looking for free items by mail. Eligibility and inventory change, and registering does not guarantee products.