Government Publications

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Government Publications

• At
• Pickler Memorial Library

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Government Publications

• Any material printed, or otherwise reproduced, at
  the expense or by the authority of a governmental
  body.
• Communicate deliberations of administrative
  bodies
• Facilitate scholarly communication through
  research reports
• Inform citizens on a variety of topics

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Government Publications

• U. S. Government Publications (Federal)
• - 1966 Pickler was designated a selective
  depository library
• - Receives 20 of the available federal
  depository documents
• Missouri State documents
• - Since 1975, Pickler has been a full depository
  library
• -Receives 100 of the available Missouri
  depository documents now most of these are only
  available electronically
• Both U. S. and Missouri documents can be checked
  out for a period of 30 days

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Categories of Documents

• Official records of the activities of a
  governmental body
• Ex.Commissioners Annual Report (primary
  source)
• Publications that are results of the work of a
  governmental body
• Ex. Revised Statutes of the State of Missouri
  (primary source)
• Publications of popular interest
• Ex. --Paddlers guide to Missouri

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Formats and Locations

• Government publications come in many formats
  Periodicals, microfiche, books, reports.
• So they are found in many library locations
  Reference, periodicals, general collection
• Some are cataloged in the library catalog using
  LC call numbers while others have SuDoc numbers
• Most of the ones cataloged with SuDoc numbers are
  shelved on the second floor, southeast corner

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What is a SuDoc?

• SuDoc is a classification system
• -Superintendent of Documents
• -The person and office who heads the Federal
  Depository Library program portion of GPO
• SuDoc system classifies by the agencies who
  issue the publications

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SuDoc Examples

• Adolescent Steroid Use. HE 1.2Ad7/2
• The letters HE refer to the Health and Human
  Services Department
• The numbers refer to
• - Offices or sub-agencies within the department
• - Type of publication annual report, laws,
  bulletins

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Finding Government Documents in Pickler Library

• Government Documents http//library.truman.edu/web
  links/govdocs.htm
• United States Government Manual (in print or
  online) http//purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS2410
• GPO Access http//www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html
  
• FirstGov - www.firstgov.gov

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Other good finding aids

• FedStats www.fedstats.gov - official gateway to
  statistics compiled by federal government
• Thomas http//thomas.loc.gov/home
• main gateway to almost all information related to
  legislation
• CyberCemetery http//govinfo.library.unt.edu
• - home for defunct web sites of governmental
  agencies