What is a government document?

What is the depository program?

How do libraries receive government documents?

How to Locate Government Documents

Government Document Issues

Background

What is a government document?

http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~standrfr/sec1.html#govdoc

1. Definition of government documents is found in the US Code
2. 44 U.S. Code sec 1901 (1982).
3. Government documents are “informational matter which is published as an
   individual document at government expense or as required by law.”
4. Includes:
   1. statutes
   2. regulations
   3. congressional records and hearings
   4. cases, i.e. Supreme Court, Tax Court
   5. agency publications, i.e. research, data, surveys, statistics, informational
      handouts, tax forms
   6. State depository program
5. Majority of gov docs published by agencies
   1. Federal government is the largest employer of research scientists,
      mathematicians and engineers (42 USC 7381(a)(8))
   2. Employed by agencies where they are creating a wealth of information.
6. Best part:
   1. Because paid by tax dollars, information must be made available to the public
   2. AND it is free through depository programs.

    

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What is the depository program?

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/about.html

1. The Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) was established by Congress
   in 1813.
2. Purpose: to ensure that the American public has access to government info.
   1. informed citizenry essential for democracy
   2. information contributes to economic growth
3. Pierce Library: a selective depository
   1. receives approximately 30% of federal materials
   2. should receive 100% of Oregon materials

    

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How do libraries receive government documents?

http://www.access.gpo.gov

1. The Government Printing Office (GPO) is responsible for collecting, printing and
   distributing the documents in print and electronic format to depository libraries.
2. In 1993, Congress mandated that the GPO use online dissemination as their
   primary method for making publications available to the FDLP
3. Currently, approximately 60% of federal agency materials are online.
4. Libraries receive bibliographic records with URL’s to the federal government
   documents.
   1. Records are downloaded to the online catalog
   2. Searcher can link directly to the document from the catalog
   3. Example under search methods

    

How to Locate Government Documents

1. Locate Documents by Agency

http://gort.ucsd.edu/pcruse/universe/structure.html

1. First step: Know the government structure
   1. Constitution: separation of powers created three branches of government
   2. Executive branch creates most agencies and government documents
      1. Agencies employ the mathematicians, scientists, engineers
      2. Government documents also created by legislative and judicial branches
         and independent agencies, i.e. SBA, SSA, Peace Corps, SEC
2. Second step: Learn subagency organizations
   1. United States Government Manual
      http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/browse-gm-02.html
   2. Examples
      1. Department of Interior: BIA, National Parks, Board of Reclamation
      2. US Department of Agriculture: Forest Service
3. Third Step: use Federal (or State) Agency Locator Websites

   (federal) http://www.washlaw.edu/doclaw/executive5m.html
   Defense Department, Publications, CIA World FactBook, Afghanistan
   But, try Equipment and Weapons: scrubbing websites

   (state) http://www.oregon.gov
   Oregon government website

2. Locate Documents by Search Engine

http://www.firstgov.gov
Key word search: Federal, tax forms, 1040
State, Oregon, business license
Browse Agencies: Federal, All Agencies A-Z
Browse Topics: Passports

3. Locate Documents by Subject

http://www.isu.edu/library/docs/Subjects1.htm

1. Meta subject index takes searcher to individual institution websites
   
   Search: Personal Income in Oregon Counties
   University of New Hampshire
   Statistical Data
   Bureau of Economic Analysis
   Local Area Personal Income
   Search “Per Capita Personal Income” and 2000 and Oregon
   
   
2. Special subject index

   examples---choose any
   
   Government jobs http://www.ajb.dni.us/
   GrantsNet http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/
   IRS Forms http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/formspubs/index.html
   Health http://www.healthfinder.gov/
   Statistics http://www.fedstats.gov/

4. Locate Documents by Catalog

http://pierce.eou.edu

Search: Keyword “cellular telephones”
Internet: Telecommunications, research and regulatory efforts on
mobile phone health issues

1. Catalogs are restricted by terms in bibliographic records
2. Start with more forgiving search engine to gather search terms, if needed
   
   

5. Locate Superintendent of Document Call Numbers

http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~standrfr/sec2.html#sec2-1

1. Issuing department
2. subagency
3. series designation
4. type of publication
5. individual publication number
6. shelving organization
7. differs from subject organization of LC scheme

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Government Document Issues

1. Archives
   1. If agency stops publishing print and puts materials on the web, then stops web
      publication, what record will there be of the publication?
   2. Who will keep records of the removed records to ensure permanent public access
      to electronic government publications?
2. Web Scrubbing: National Security v. Public Access to Government Information

http://www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/213/1/104