Government Information
Federal Depository Library Program
Bringing Government Information to CMU and You
Welcome to the Government Documents Service,
Central Michigan University Library, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Federal Depository Library No. 0286
Last modified: 16 January, 2009
The following list suggests web sites to find government information available online for federal, state, international, and foreign levels of government.
Table of Contents
- Federal government: general information
- Federal government: legislative and regulatory information
- State information
- State of Michigan information
- International and foreign information
- Statistical resources
- Additional resources
- About the Government Documents Service
Federal Government: General Information
Research Databases
- Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (1994-present, U.S. Government Printing Office)
- FirstSearch GPO (July 1976-present)
- LexisNexis Congressional
- LexisNexis Government Periodicals Index
Search Engines
- FedWorld
- USA.Gov (official search engine of the U.S. Government)
- Google Uncle Sam
- GovSpot
- GPO Access (U.S. Government Printing Office)
- SearchMil.com (searches military web sites)
Web Sites
- Consumer information for special groups:
- Access America for Seniors (links to benefits, health, consumer protection, services, employment and volunteer activities, taxes, travel, education, and more)
- Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids (provides learning tools for K-12 students, parents, and teacher with locator services to other web sites created for kids)
- DisabilityInfo.gov (directory of federal programs, services, and resources for Americans with disabilities and their families)
- 4 Girls Health (vital health information for girls aged 10-16)
- Kids.gov (official portal for kids)
- Kids and Families (Library of Congress)
- students.gov (links to financial aid, careers, passports, Selective Service, taxes, travel, and more)
- Documents Center(comprehensive collection of government resources and guides, University of Michigan)
- ERIC Database - Education Resource Information Center
- Frequently used sites related to U.S. Federal Government information (ALA GODORT FDTF)
- Government, Politics and Law Index (comprehensive collection of government resources, Michigan Electronic Library)
- INFOMINE (comprehensive collection of government resources and guides, University of California, Riverside)
- Patent and Trademark Depository Library (Ferris State University)
- U.S. Federal Government agencies directory (locate all federal agencies, Louisiana State University)
- U.S. House
of Representatives
- Congressman Dave Camp, 4th Congressional District
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. Supreme Court
- White House
Federal Government: Legislative and Regulatory Information
- CapWeb: Internet Guide to the United States Congress
- Congress.Org (searchable member directories and current awareness)
- GPO Access (search and retrieve congressional information from the U.S. Government Printing Office)
- Internet Law Library (laws and regulations, Illinois Institute of Technology)
- Library of Congress (guide to the U.S. Legislative Branch)
- Thomas (search and retrieve legislation from the 103rd Congress to the present)
State Information
- State constitutions, statutes and related legislative information (Cornell University)
- State government collections:
- StateList (electronic source for state publication lists, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
- NASCIO State Profiles
State of Michigan Information
- Clarke Historical Library (Michigan documents, geneology, history of Michigan and the Old Northwest Territory)
- Michigan Association of Regions (MAR) (links to 14 regional councils)
- Michigan state and local government(Michigan E-Library)
- Michigan state and local government on the Web ( Documents Center, University of Michigan)
- Michigan local government (Michigan E-Library)
- Michigan
statistics
- Census and statistical data for Michigan
- Center for Urban Studies(maps, tables, apportionment and census information for Michigan, Wayne State University)
- Education statistics for Michigan teachers (links to Michigan and national education statistics and reports)
- Michigan tax forms (Michigan Dept. of Treasury)
- Northeast Michigan Council of Governments (links to 8-county coalition)
- Northwest Michigan Council of Governments (links to 10-county coalition)
- Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (links to 7-county coalition)
- Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (links to 3-county coalition)
- West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission (links to 3-county coalition)
International and Foreign Information
- Background Notes on the Countries of the World (U.S. Department of State)
- Country Studies (Library of Congress)
- Documents Center (University of Michigan)
- Foreign governments (links to individual foreign government pages, Northwestern University)
- International governmental organizations (Northwestern University)
- United Nations
- U.S. Department of State
- World Factbook (latest edition only, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency)
Statistical Resources
- Business & economics numeric data (Mansfield University)
- Fedstats (search engine for government statistics and data)
- InfoNation (United Nations)>
- Statistical Abstract of the United States (U.S. Bureau of the Census)
- Statistical Resources on the Web (Documents Center, University of Michigan)
- StatUSA (available on campus by appointment; please contact the Government Documents Service)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- U.S. Bureau
of the Census
- American FactFinder (Census facts and data on communities, geographic areas, business and industry. Includes maps, community profiles and surveys, population and housing profiles.)
- U.S. Historical Census Data,1790-1960
- Michigan census information
- Census and Statistical data for Michigan
- Center for Urban Studies (Wayne State University
- Detroit Regional Office (U.S. Bureau of the Census)
Additional Resources
- "Agency approach" to locating government information on the Internet (tutorial)
- Meta-subject access to government information (Idaho State University)
- Resources of use to government documents librarians
- Sales Product Catalog (U.S. Government Printing Office)
About the Government Documents Service
Location and Accessibility
The Government Documents Service is located in Charles V. Park Library, 300 East Preston Street, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The government documents collection is arranged on the shelves according to the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) classification system. Some documents are available only in microforms such as microcard, microfiche, microfilm. These can be read or copied on microform reader/printers. Federal publications are increasingly published only in electronic formats such as CD-ROMs or on the Internet. Federal CD-ROMs are located at the Reference Desk. Most government agencies have their own web sites, and many of the print, microfiche and CD-ROM titles are also published on the Web. Our online catalog, CENTRA, lists the government documents available in our library as well as links to web sites where they may be located.
Since January 1958, the collection is designated by the U.S. Congress as a selective depository, which means that we currently receive about 50% of all federal publications. The Ferris State University Library in Big Rapids is a selective depository also. Two Michigan regional depository libraries receive almost 100% of all government publications. They are the Detroit Public Library and the Library of Michigan in Lansing.
Access to the government documents collection is available during all hours the library is open. Free access to the collection is guaranteed by Title 44 of the United States Code and by Michigan Public Act No. 367 of 1976.
Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation should contact Reference Services at (989) 774-3470 (TDD available). See also Services for Patrons with Disabilities.
Library Services
Reference Service
Reference assistance is available at the Reference Desk or by telephoning (989) 774-3470. Regular Reference Desk hours are as follows:
Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-Midnight
Friday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, Noon-Midnight
Hours vary during examination periods, holidays, university recesses and summer sessions. For current hours, call (989) 774-3294 or see Hours.
For specialized reference assistance, please contact David B. Shirley, Documents Librarian, 233 University Library, (989) 774-3414. Telefaxed requests may be sent to (989) 774-1350. Requests may also be sent to the Ask a Librarian page at the Library's home page.
-
Instruction
The Documents Librarian is available for classroom instruction, special group instruction or tours. Requests for an instruction session and/or tour should be made at least one week in advance by calling (989) 774-3414 or (989) 774-3470.
The Documents Librarian is also available for research consultation sessions by appointment. Please call (989) 774-3414 or (989) 774-3470 for an appointment.
Instruction in the use of government documents is included in the one credit-hour course, ENG/LIB 197: Introduction to the Library, offered fall and spring semesters.
Circulation
With the exception of reference materials, microformat materials, indexes, and periodicals, government documents may be checked out by any resident of the 4th Congressional District of Michigan. Documents may be checked out at the Book Checkout Desk for the normal loan periods. Government documents not in our collection are available through the Interlibrary Loan Office or by telephoning (989) 774-3022. You may also submit your request electronically if you have current CMU affiliation.
Contacts
- Nancy G. Durfee, Government Documents Specialist
(989) 774-3414 or Nancy.Durfee@cmich.edu
- David B. Shirley, Government Documents Librarian
(989) 774-3414 or David.B.Shirley@cmich.edu
- Judith O'Dell, Law/Reference Librarian
(989) 774-3787 or Judith.O'Dell@cmich.edu
For comments or suggestions concerning this page, please contact:
David B. Shirley, Government Documents Librarian
URL of this page: http://library.cmich.edu/govinfo
Government Documents Service
Central Michigan University Library
300 East Preston Street
Mount Pleasant, Michigan 48859-0001