Government DocumentsGovernment Documents

Be unafraidBe flexibleBe creative

Overview of sessionOverview of sessionFocus on pre-1976 searchingKnown item searchingPartial informationGetting people started with

topical searchingGetting people started with maps

Known-item searchingKnown-item searching

Title onlySeries name & numberCommon citations

When it’s not in the When it’s not in the catalog…catalog…

1. Try WorldCat

Question:Question:

My professor told me about this government report, but it’s not in the catalog. Do we have it?

It’s called “Measuring forest-fire danger in northern Idaho.”

A 1.38:29

When the SuDoc # isn’t in When the SuDoc # isn’t in WorldCat…WorldCat…

2. Try a print index (and use cues found in WorldCat)

Monthly Catalog (MoCat)

Cumulative Title Index

Poore’s Index

Question: Question:

I saw a reference to a report in a book I checked out, but I don’t know how to find it. Where would it be?

It’s called “The Rocky Mountain spotted fever tick.” It was written in 1911, and the citation says it’s from the USDA.

Cumulative Title Index

Cumulative Title Index Entry

A 9.6:105

Another option…Another option…

3. You may want to try:◦ Lexis-Nexis Congressional (for

hearings or some Serial Set searhing)

◦The digital Serial Set (for 1789-1937)

(More on this later…)

What if they don’t have a What if they don’t have a title?title?

Series name and number◦Example: USGS Bulletin 922-N

Find the series title/call number in the OPAC, on WorldCat, or in the Government Serial Titles index

Common Legal CitationsCommon Legal Citations• 115 Stat 1425

Refers to Statutes at Large (volume, page)

• Pub. L. 107-110 or P.L. 107-110 Public Law number (Congress #, law #)

• Both of these refer to passed laws

• Can find online on GPO Access (1995-present) or in Hein Online database

Common Legal CitationsCommon Legal Citations20 USC 6301

◦U.S. Code citation (title, section)◦U.S. Code provides latest in legislative

law (cumulative) by topic34 CFR 200.13

◦Code of Federal Regulations (title, part.section)

◦Latest in regulatory law by topic◦Note: new and pending regulations

published in Federal RegisterCan find online on GPO Access

Serial SetSerial SetWhat is the Serial Set?

◦A catch-all Congressional product with a mish-mash of great stuff: Bill reports (provide bill intent) Reports from special investigations & explorations Some executive branch reports (including major

series) Etc., etc., etc.

The Serial Set does not contain bills, laws, or hearings (usually)

Good overview at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fdlp/history/sset/index.html

When should I think about When should I think about using the Serial Set?using the Serial Set?When you have a reference to a Senate

or House “report” or “document”When the research falls within the

1789-1970 rangeWhen you’re looking for a special

investigation or special eventWhen you’re looking for a major

executive branch seriesSince the digital Serial Set is so easy to

search, give it a try when doing topic searches.

How to recognize a Serial Set How to recognize a Serial Set referencereference

Includes a “doc” or “rep”◦H.rep. or S.rep. (associated w/ a bill)◦H.doc or S.doc or S.exec.doc or H. Misc.Doc.

(everything else)Includes a Congress & session (ex: 67-1)

If pre-1937 (at the moment), you can use the digital Serial Set database to find the report.

Otherwise, use L-N Congressional to identify volume number.

Question:Question:

“I found this reference to S.Misc.Doc. 65, 52-1 in a book on fisheries in Montana. How do I get the actual report?”

Question:Question:

“I need the War Department report from 1865, and you don’t have it downstairs in the W’s. Is there another way I can get it?”

Semi-known and unknown Semi-known and unknown itemsitems

General hearing detailsPartial informationStatistical needsTopical searching

How do you get people How do you get people started?started?

Suggest preliminary searching in:◦Serial Set Index◦Lexis-Nexis Congressional◦Cumulative Subject index & MoCat◦WorldCat with a publisher location

“Washington” element

Gov docs librarian trick is to consider which agency would be interested in their topic

Hearings: Lexis-Nexis Hearings: Lexis-Nexis CongressionalCongressionalGreat source for hearings

◦Search by topic, committee, date, witness

Provides SuDoc call numbersUseful starting point for historical

researchFull index of the Serial Set

Question:Question:

Did Professor Scott Mills in the Wildlife Biology Department ever testify before Congress?

Yes!

Partial informationPartial informationRequires creative searching

Good reference interview is key

Many times the patron will have to look at the options and decide what works best

QuestionQuestion

“How can I get the text of the Dawes Act?”

Dawes ActDawes Act

1. Get background information through reference interview or quick web search

2. Look in Hein Online’s Statutes at Large

3. If the initial bill is needed, suggest using the Congressional Record (but bills are not consistently accessible)

Historical StatisticsHistorical Statistics

Think about what agency might need to collect data on that topic.

The Statistical Abstract goes back to 1878.

Try the digital Serial Set (might give a clue as to a pertinent agency or series)

QuestionQuestion

“How many tons of vermiculite were mined in Libby in 1928?

Further reading in this series shows that Libby was the only area in Montana that was mining vermiculite.

A few more chronic A few more chronic questions…questions…“I need a map of some property I own.”

or“I need the survey notes for this

property.”

BLM Montana Survey Plats & notes◦http://glo.mt.gov/

GLO Land Records◦http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ (other states)

Note: some questions about property can only be answered at the county courthouse.

Maps: How to get a patron Maps: How to get a patron startedstarted

1. Ask about the time period (the way people define “old” really varies).

2. Ask about the location/scope (how much detail).

3. What features are needed (general locations, topography, geology/ground content, elevations)?

4. Check the cartobibliography & remember the map card catalog.

5. Really listen to what the patron is looking for and be flexible in how you search (much is not yet in the OPAC & the cataloging may be very light).

A few map resourcesA few map resourcesUSGS Publications Warehouse

◦http://infotrek.er.usgs.gov/pubs/◦Useful for tracking down formal titles

& series numbers◦Includes a large amount of full text

MBMG State Geologic Mapping Program◦http://www.mbmg.mtech.edu/gmr/

gmr-statemap.asp