1. Government Documents and the World Wide Web Kelly M. Wilson kelly.wilson@eagles.usm.edu

2. What are Government Documents? Government Documents are publications issued by both the federal and state governments. These publications are arranged by the SuDoc call number system. The federal government publications are printed, bound, and distributed by the Government Printing Office (GPO). January 8, 2011 2 Computer Applications in Libraries

3. SuDoc “SuDoc” stands for Superintendent of Documents The SuDoc call number system is not a decimal system. The SuDoc call number is divided into two sections that are separated by a colon: The stem is the section to the left of the colon The individual item or book number is the section to the right of the colon. January 8, 2011 3 Computer Applications in Libraries

4. SuDoc The stem of the call number contains the information on the governmental department, sub-agency of the department, and the specific series designation. The individual item or book number is the most specific part of the call number in that it specifies a single item. January 8, 2011 4 Computer Applications in Libraries

5. SuDoc Here is an example of a SuDoc call number: I 19.3:1565 I = the governmental department, in this case “I” stands for the Department of the Interior. 19 = the sub-agency, in this case “19” stands for the United States Geological Survey (USGS). 3: = “3” is indicative of bulletins 1565 = this number is the given book number for the item. January 8, 2011 5 Computer Applications in Libraries

6. GPO Most, if not all, departments and their sub-agencies produce publications through the Government Printing Office (GPO). GPO was created in March of 1861 under President Buchanan. http://www.stanford.edu/group/ic/cgi-bin/drupal2/taxonomy/term/65 January 8, 2011 6 Computer Applications in Libraries

7. FDLP Two forms of Depository Libraries: Regional and Selective. Regional libraries must keep a print version of all materials sent out by the GPO. Selective libraries may keep only a portion of the government materials. This information and more can be found on the FDLP’s website: www.fdlp.gov January 8, 2011 7 Computer Applications in Libraries

8. Government Agencies The following is a list of government agencies and their website. Department of Commerce (includes Census Bureau) http://www.commerce.gov/ Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/index.html Department of the Treasury (includes IRS) http://www.treasury.gov/Pages/default.aspx January 8, 2011 8 Computer Applications in Libraries

9. Government Agencies More agencies: Social Security Administration http://www.ssa.gov/ NASA http://www.nasa.gov/ Department of Homeland Security http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm Department of Justice (Includes FBI) http://www.justice.gov/ January 8, 2011 9 Computer Applications in Libraries

10. On the Web… Today, more and more agencies are making their publications available online. While there are a large quantity of publications still being printed, most can now be found online. January 8, 2011 10 Computer Applications in Libraries

11. Thank You! Does anyone have a question? http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/clip/question.html January 8, 2011 11 Computer Applications in Libraries