BASIC INFORMATION ON U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS What is a U.S. government publication? A government publication is printed or produced by or for a United States governmental body. These publications are often referred to as "documents." Many but not all government publications are produced by the Government Printing Office (GPO) located in Washington, D.C. GPO is the world's largest publisher, producing 1.9 billion items in 1990. Government publications come in a wide variety of formats including brochures, posters, periodicals, books, microfilm, microfiche, CD-ROM, floppy discs, and various electronic formats. Why does Milner Library have government publications? Since 1877 Illinois State University has been a selective depository for federal government publications. As one of over 1400 depository libraries nationwide, Milner Library receives selected documents free of charge on a continuing basis. Currently Milner's collection includes approximately 388,000 paper documents, 535,000 microforms, and 382 electronic products. How do I find a government publication in Milner Library? The second, or main, floor of Milner Library houses the U.S. Government documents collection. Depending upon the nature of the item, government publications can be found in separate locations on the floor, including Reference, Desk Reference, Stacks, Document Periodicals, Pamphlet File, and Documents Microfiche Cabinets. Access to Milner's government documents collection is available selectively through the library's Online Catalog. GPO publishes the Monthly Catalog which indexes many government publications. Patrons can consult this on CD-ROM (MARCIVE GPO CAT-PAC) or in paper. How are the government publications arranged? Milner Library's government publications use the Superintendent of Documents (or SuDocs) classification system. Unlike the Library of Congress or Dewey Decimal classification systems which are used in other parts of the library, the SuDocs system is not based upon the subject of a work but rather on the agency which is responsible for its creation. As a result, the SuDocs classification number begins with a letter or letters to designate the agency issuing the document. For example, "A" designates the Department of Agriculture as the issuing agency for the item with the SuDocs number "A1.77:86." Because federal agencies often change with an administration, the SuDocs may change as well. In the Online Catalog, government document titles can be recognized by "DOC" at the beginning of the SuDocs classification number. Can I check out government publications? Many items in Milner's government documents collection circulate and can be checked out at the library's main Circulation Desk. Proper identification is required to check out library materials. Documents Reference and Desk Reference items can be used only in the library but may be photocopied. INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS: Departments and Agencies of the U.S. Government The U.S. Government Manual (DOC.AE2.108/2:), published annually, summarizes the authorization and responsibilities of each agency or department and includes organizational charts and names of principal officers. A current edition is kept at the General Reference and Documents (GRD) Desk. Census Materials The United States government takes a census of population at ten year intervals, dating back to 1790. In addition to holding these decennial census volumes, Milner Library has a fairly complete collection of United States census materials including volumes dealing with housing, business, transportation, government, and agriculture. Most of these statistical titles are housed in a separate area labeled "Census" near the Documents Reference area. Milner also has the Summary Tape Files (STF's), detailed 1990 census data which is accessible on CD-ROMs. These discs are located at the GRD Desk. Congress Members of Congress are identified in the Official Congressional Directory (DOC.Y4.P93/1:) for each session since 1809. Copies of the latest edition are located at both the GRD Desk and the Information Desk on Floor Four. The Directory includes brief biographies, addresses, committee assignments, and locations of consular offices. The Congressional Record (DOC.X series) provides a transcript of proceedings during House and Senate floor sessions. Indexes are available at two-week intervals but do not cumulate for two or three years after adjournment. Much of the work of Congress is done in committees. Congressional Information Service (CIS) catalogs and abstracts Congressional committee publications issued during the previous month. CIS is located on the Index Tables in GRD. Milner Library owns the corresponding microfiche collection for all entries in the CIS index. Paper copies of selected committee hearing and reports can be found in the Documents Stacks. The United States Congressional Serial Set, commonly called the Serial Set, includes a variety of historical information covering the last two centuries. The 15th to 33rd Congresses (1817-1855) and 37th to 40th Congresses (1861-1869) are on microcard. Coverage from the 34th Congress (1855) to the present is available in paper. Since the 96th Congress (1979), the Serial Set has included House and Senate reports and documents, Senate treaty documents, and executive reports. Prior to this, the Serial Set included non-congressional material such as reports from agencies in the executive branch, investigative and background studies, directories, and audits. An early set covering 1832 to 1861, known as the American State Papers, is located at the beginning of the area housing the Congressional Record. Both the Serial Set and the American State Papers can be accessed by the U.S. Serial Set Index published by CIS, located near the Index Tables in GRD. Presidents of the United States Public Papers of the Presidents (REF DOC.AE2.114:) are available in paper copy for all presidents from Herbert Hoover (1929) to the present, with the exception of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. FDR's papers were not published by the GPO but are available on Milner's Third Floor (E806.R749). Presidential papers prior to Hoover are available on microfilm (DOC.LC4.7X:) and are housed in green boxes in Documents Reference. The Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents (REF DOC.AE2.109:) includes addresses, announcements, appointments, and other communications by the President from 1965 to the present. The annual budget of the United States is proposed each year by the President. The last two years of the U.S. Budget (DOC.PrEx2.8:) and related information are kept at the GRD Desk. Older editions, dating from 1962, are located in the Documents Stacks. Laws and Supreme Court Decisions Copies of recently enacted laws, commonly known as Slip Laws, are available in the Documents Reference area (DOC.AE 2.110:). Laws from each session of Congress from 1893 to the present are bound chronologically in the U. S. Statutes at Large (REF DOC.GS 4.111:). The U.S. Code (REF DOC.Y1.2/5:) arranges by subject all general and permanent laws in force. The U.S. Code is revised every six years and supplemented each year. An important aid for locating laws is Shepard's Acts and Cases by Popular Names (REF KF90.S52, DESK). The official decisions of the Supreme Court are reported in the United States Reports (REF DOC.Ju6.8:). Milner Library's holdings of the United States Reports begin with volume 329 (1946) and continue to the present. For earlier decisions consult the Supreme Court Reporter (KF141.A322, Floor Four), a commercially produced listing of decisions. Regulations Federal agencies establish rules and regulations in order to implement the intent of legislation. These rules and regulations, published in the daily Federal Register (DOC.AE 2.106:), have the force of law. Both the recent, unbound issues of the Federal Register as well as older issues (from 1936) which are on microfilm, are located in Documents Reference. Federal Register indexing is available through annual indexes which are located in Documents Reference or through the CIS Federal Register Index (KF70.A2), shelved with the Federal Register in Documents Reference. The annual indexes cover 1971 to the present while the CIS Index covers 1985 to the present. For a subject arrangement of all presently effective rules and regulations, see the Code of Federal Regulations (REF DOC.AE2.106/3:). Milner Library keeps only the two most recent editions. Statistics The Statistical Abstract of the United States (DOC.C3.134:) is a handy one-volume source of statistics gathered primarily by various U.S. Government agencies. The most current edition is kept at the GRD Desk with older editions (back to 1878) in the Documents Reference area. Some circulating copies of older editions of Statistical Abstract can be found in the Documents Stacks. American Statistics Index (ASI) is the most comprehensive guide to statistical publications of the U.S. Government. ASI arranges statistics and statistical-related information by subject, agency, place name, and author, as well as by geographic, economic, or demographic breakdown. ASI is located on the Index Tables in GRD. Milner Library has microfiche copies available for non-depository items listed in the ASI index. Information on Foreign Countries The loose-leaf series of Background Notes (REF DOC.S1.123:, DESK), produced by the Department of State, provides factual overviews of the government, economy, politics, history, and people of foreign countries. Another helpful source is the Area Handbook (DOC.D101.22:550-) series issued by the Department of the Army. Current editions of Area Handbooks can be found in the Documents Stacks. Milner Library also receives the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) microfiche. Indexing for FBIS exists for selected years in either paper or electronic formats. Crime The primary sources for statistical information concerning crime in the United States are the Uniform Crime Report (REF DOC.J1.14/7:) and the Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics (REF DOC.J29.9/6:). The most recent editions of both titles are kept at the GRD Desk, with earlier editions in Documents Reference. See also the separate Criminal Justice handout produced by Milner Library. Education Milner Library selects a large volume of material from the various agencies within the Education Department. Resources in Education (RIE), an index to education information, is located on Floor One's Index Tables. Two key sources for educational statistics are: Condition of Education (DOC.ED1.109:) and Digest of Education Statistics (DOC.ED1.326:). The latest editions of both titles are kept at the GRD Desk with the next latest edition in the Documents Reference area. The Federal Student Financial Aid Handbook (REF DOC.ED1.45/4:) provides information on federally funded programs which assist students who can demonstrate financial need, as does the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (REF DOC.PrEx2.20:, DESK). Health Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), a weekly periodical issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, contains short, statistics-filled articles on current disease-related problems. The unbound issues (DOC.HE20.7009:) are kept at the GRD Desk with bound issues in the Documents Stacks. Health United States (REF DOC.HE20.7042/6:) is an annual report on the health status of the United States. The latest edition is kept at the GRD Desk with the next latest in Documents Reference. Vital Statistics of the United States (REF DOC.HE20.6210:) gives fatality, mortality, marriage, and divorce statistics from 1937 to the present. The Abridged Index Medicus and the Cumulated Abridged Index Medicus are both received through the depository program. They are housed on Floor Five's Index Tables, along with the Medical Subject Headings. Patent and Trademark Information Milner Library owns limited patent information. The library has the Index of Patents (REF DOC.C21.5/2:) and Index of Trademarks (REF DOC.C21.5/3:) from 1975 to the present, both in paper copy. The Official Gazette for both patents and trademarks are available in microfiche from 1987 to the present. Patent researchers should visit the patent depositories located at the Illinois State Library in Springfield or the Chicago Public Library. Reference Assistance for Government Documents The General Reference and Documents Desk is staffed whenever Milner Library is open. Librarians trained in using the government documents collection staff this desk from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and limited hours during the weekend. Library hours vary during the summer and when school is not in session. For information on library hours, call (309) 438-3684. For information about Milner Library's government documents collection, call the General Reference and Documents Desk at (309) 438-3451. As a selective depository library, Milner receives approximately half of the publications issued by the federal government. Please ask for assistance when unable to find specific items. Items not owned by Milner Library may be requested through interlibrary loan. Denise Anton Wright Milner Library Illinois State Univ