(want an easy printable format?)

Learning about

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

doesn't have to be boring...

sooo have some coffee candy,

see what you think,

and........................(click)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  (click)

USES AND CHARACTERISTICS OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

"Gov Docs" are a separate area of reference resources

because they have their own:

• classification schemes (su docs)
• departments and librarians (often)
• publishing company (the Government Printing Office (GPO) and other government entities, like the State of Kansas)

YET THIS INFORMATION IS USED BY EVERYONE

• It's authoritative
• It's comprehensive
• It's inexpensive (most websites are free!)
• It's easy to obtain (depository libraries) (click)

Structure of Government

A Crash Course in American Government

Organization of Documents

or

SU DOCS! (Superintendent of Documents Systems)

don't be blue, it's not that bad

The Superintendent of Documentation System is assigned by the GPO.

It uses the ISSUING AGENCY as its starting point (Dewey Decimal classifies by SUBJECT).

For instance:

C3/134/2:C83/2/998

C (Department of Commerce) + 3 (Bureau of the Census)

=C3. The ISSUING AGENCY is the Census Bureau, which is located in the Department of Commerce.

134 = title (Statistical Abstract of the United States)

2: = supplement

C83/2/ = refinement of title (County and City Data Book)

998 = 1998 edition

A Su Doc Primer: http://www.lib.msu.edu/publ_ser/docs/student/Manual/quizes/sudocsbasics1.html

(click)

Important General Sources

The best source for GPO output: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html

A good site for (federal) legislative information: http://thomas.loc.gov/

The Federal Library: http://www.loc.gov/

Agency Websites

Government Websites for All

Guides

Print:

Morehead, J. (1999). Introduction to United States Government Information Services, (6th ed.). Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc.

• Revised every four years
• Easy to read and use
• Clear explanations of departments and agencies

Schwarzkopf, L. (1972 to date). Government Reference Books. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc.

• Published every two years
• Arranged by broad subject, then author and title

American Library Associations Government Documents Round Table (GODORT)

• Selective list of government documents for small- to medium-sized libraries
• Published annual in May in Library Journal

Electronic

• GOVDOCS-L listserv, discussion about government documents and the Federal Depository program

Catalogs and Bibliographies

Online:

GPO Access

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

While a print version still exists, its arrangement is by classification number. It's much easier to use the online version and search by keyword, subject, or author. Two thousand titles are added monthly.

GPO Bookstore, for ordering materials

Search Strategies

1. Use website search engines
2. Email or telephone (consult print or Web agency directory for specialist in field)
3. Contact Legislator's office (not most expedient method)
4. Visit Depository libraries

Note: All Original Artwork by Dian Hauser.

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Created by Heather Braum, Dian Hauser, Jan Brooks, and Joleen Kapka, for LI 813 at Emporia State University, School of Library Information Management, Spring 2007, contact with questions at govdocsli813@mac.com.