An Introduction to Research Processes

Back to Library Research

The federal government is the most prolific publisher in the world and, in an effort to make information accessible to citizens all over the country, libraries in many locations serve as depositories for government publications. That is, they are sent a multitude of government publications and, in turn, make them available to the surrounding community. If your college library isn't a depository, there may be one nearby that serves that role. Large libraries often have collections of local and international documents as well. In addition, an increasing number of government documents are available via the World Wide Web.

When most people think of government documents they think of political information — congressional hearings, presidential papers, and reports from federal agencies — but government documents are not limited to governmental matters. In fact, the government has published something on practically any topic you can think of. The following sampling of government publication titles will give you an idea of what kinds of information you can find.

• Neurobiology of Seasonal Affective Disorder and Phototherapy
• Ozone Depletion, the Greenhouse Effect, and Climate Change
• Placement of School Children with Acquired Immune Deficiency
• Policy Implications of U.S. Involvement in Bosnia
• Remove Indians Westward (Committee on Indian Affairs, 1829)
• Report of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War (on the Battle of Bull Run, 1863)
• Small Business and the International Economy
• Strengthening Support and Recruitment of Women and Minorities to Positions in Education Administration
• Violence on Television

There are several indexes to government documents, and some are computerized. Among them are the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Documents, the most complete index to federal documents, the CIS Index, which specializes in congressional documents and includes a handy legislative history index, and the American Statistical Index, a detailed index to statistics in government publications. Some large series, like the Congressional Record, which reports what happens in Congress each day during each session, have indexes of their own.

Many government publications are now being released on CD-ROM. These make information, particularly statistical data, easier to find than ever before. You can print out a detailed population profile of your hometown, including age groups, income, education level, and ethnic origins, using the Census on CD-ROM. You can find Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, U.S. Industrial Outlook, and The Year in Trade using the National Trade Data Bank (NTDB). The National Economic Social and Environmental Data Bank (NESE) covers small-business statistics, the cost of pollution abatement programs, regional and state business conditions, and a wealth of other economic data. Every year more and more databases like these are being released. If you plan to use government documents in your research, don't be shy about asking a librarian for help. The documents can be difficult to locate on the shelves, and since new computerized sources are coming out all the time, it's wise to get an expert on your side.