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Government Documents
| Mission Statement |
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The Government Documents Department of the Law Library, located in the Sixth Congressional District, was designated a federal depository in 1929. The primary mission of the department is to support the general collection activities of the Law Library, which serves to support the research and teaching programs of the Law Center and to prepare for future needs. The secondary and general purpose of the Law Library is to meet the current needs of the Law Center faculty, staff and students; the Louisiana legal community; and the Louisiana State University community for legal and legally-related information. In accordance with the requirements defined in the 'Instructions to Depository Libraries,' 'Guidelines for the Depository Library System,' and the 'Federal Depository Library Manual,' this Department also strives to serve the government information needs of the constituents of the Sixth U.S. Congressional District.
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| Service and Circulation Policies |
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The Government Documents Department service policy follows that of the Law Library Reference Desk. The Government Documents Department is under the supervision of the Government Information Librarian. The Department is staffed 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with additional assistance via the Reference Desk at night and on weekends during the Fall and Spring semesters. Both telephone and walk-in questions are answered.
All government documents are available for public use in the library. Paper publications circulate according the Law Library's general circulation policy. Publications on microfiche will be duplicated using a fiche-to-fiche duplicator or copied in part using the Department's microfiche reader-printer. Publications on compact disk are available for use in the Library.
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| Government Information Portals |
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FDsys GPO’s Federal Digital System (FDsys) provides free online access to official Federal Government publications. USA.Gov A search portal for federal government information.
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| Locating/Obtaining Federal Publications |
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Catalog of U. S. Government Publications How to buy government publications. A search and retrieval service that provides bibliographic records of U.S. Government information products. It also links to federal agency online resources and identifies materials distributed to Federal Depository Libraries. Coverage begins with January 1994 and new records are added daily. U.S. Government Online Bookstore The Government Printing Office's online bookstore. GPO Browse Topics Distributed in print as Subject Bibliographies. Print version in the Government Documents Department, current only. GP 3.22/2: How to find government publications, by topic.
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| Online Reference Sources |
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Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government for Kids Ben's Guide serves as the educational component of GPO Access, GPO's service to provide the official online version of legislative and regulatory information. United States Government Manual (1995/96- ), comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches, as well as quasi-official agencies, international organizations in which the U.S. participates, and boards, commissions, and committees. Print editions in the Government Documents Department, DATES. GS 4.109:
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| Executive Department Web Sites |
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Federal Agency Directory (LSU Libraries) Regulations.gov, the U.S. Government web site designed to foster citizen participation in Federal rulemaking. Citizens can find, review, and submit comments on Federal documents that are open for comment and published in the Federal Register. Federal Register (1994- ) Administrative Decisions & Other Actions Code of Federal Regulations Location of print version in the Law Library:
- 2nd Floor Federal Materials
- 4th Floor Government Documents Department
Historical editions, 1938-:
- 4th Floor Government Documents Department Microforms.
List of Code of Federal Regulations Sections Affected Location of print version in the Law Library:
- 2nd Floor Federal Materials
- 4th Floor Government Documents Department
Budget of the United States Government, includes budget documents from 1996 forward. Print version in the Government Documents Department at PREX 2.8: Compilation of Presidential Documents (1993- ), speeches, press releases, news conferences, etc. Print version in the Government Documents Department, at GS 4.114: Public Papers of the President, speeches, press releases, news conferences from 1991 forward. Print version in the Government Documents Department (1930, 1945- ) at S 4.113:
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| Congressional Materials |
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Congressional Information Sites Thomas, the Library Congress' portal to Congressional information sources. FDsys, Federal Digital System
Congressional Online Reference Sources Congressional Directory, 104th Congress forward U.S. Congressional Serial Set-What It Is and Its History The Work of Congress:
Laws Congressional Bills, 103rd Congress forward. Location of microform version in Law Library 4th Floor Government Documents Department Microform cabinets:
- Y 1.4/1: Senate bills
- Y 1.4/2: Senate Resolutions
- Y 1.4/3: Senate Joint Resolutions
- Y 1.4/5: Senate Concurrent Resolutions
- Y 1.4/6: House bills
- Y 1.4/7: House Joint Resolutions
- Y 1.4/8: House Concurrent Resolutions.
History of Bills, 1983 forward. Public and Private Laws, slip laws or advance copies of Public and Private laws passed by Congress. Print version located in the Law Library 2nd Floor Federal Collection. Statutes at Large, session laws of Congress. Print version located in the Law Library 2nd Floor Federal Collection. United States Code, codified version of the positive law of the United States, 1994 forward plus supplements. Print version located in the Law Library 2nd Floor Federal Collection. Previous editions of the Code located in the Government Documents Dept., Range 4-26A. The Constitution of the United States (current annotated edition with supplements) Print version located in the Law Library Reserve Room, KF 4527 .K55.
Committee Reports What are Congressional reports? They are reports of Congressional Committees concerning proposed legislation and/or contain findings on matters under investigation.
Thomas Congressional Reports (Senate, House and Executive Reports), 104th Congress forward. Pre-1982 reports in print: See Serial Set, 4th Floor Government Documents Dept. Ranges 4-29/4-30. Post 1982 reports: See Serial Set, 4th Floor Government Documents Dept. Microform cabinets:
- Senate Reports Y 1.1/5:
- Senate Executive Reports Y 1.1/6:
- House Reports Y 1.1/8:
For American State Papers and very early reports, see Documents Librarian.
Congressional Documents What are Congressional Documents? These are various materials ordered to be printed by both Houses of Congress. Documents can include reports of Executive Departments and Agencies, some of which are submitted in accordance with Federal law, then later are ordered printed as Documents.
Congressional Documents (Senate, House and Treaty Documents), 104th Congress forward. See Serial Set, 4th Floor Government Documents Dept. Ranges 4-29/4-30. Post 1982 reports:See Serial Set, 4th Floor Government Documents Dept. Microform cabinets:
- House Documents Y 1.1/7:
- Senate Documents Y 1.1/3:
- Senate Executive Documents Y 1.1/4:
For American State Papers and very early documents see Documents Librarian.
Congressional Prints What are Congressional Prints? Committee prints are prepared by a staff of legal and research assistants established to help congressional committees obtain highly specialized information to aid in their deliberations. Congressional Committee Prints, 105th Congress forward. For microform edition (House, 1949; Senate, 1951), see Documents Librarian. House Ways and Means Committee Prints, 104th Congress forward.
Congressional Hearings Congressional hearings, 1985 forward
Congressional Debates Congressional Record (Daily), 1994 forward. Congressional Record (Bound), 1998 forward Congressional Record Index, 1983 forward. Bound print edition of Congressional Record, 5th Stack Level. See Librarian for access. See also 4th Floor Government Documents Dept. Microform cabinets, X 1.1:, for Bound Congressional Record and its predecessors. For daily (softbound) edition (since 1980), 4th Floor Government Documents Dept. Range 4-1B.
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| Other Items of Interest |
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Government Grants Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Access to a database of all Federal grant programs available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally-recognized Indian tribal governments; Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals. Print version in the Government Documents Department at PREX 2.20:
Health Social Security Handbook Print version in the Government Documents Department at SSA 1.8/3:
Statistics Statistical Abstract of the United States, compendium of statistics on social and economic conditions in the U.S. Location of print editions: Government Documents Dept., 4th Floor, C 3.134: American FactFinder, Census Bureau source for population, housing, economic and geographic data. U.S. Bureau of Census's interface for distributing the 1990 and 2000 Census of Population & Housing, the 1997 Economic Census, and the American Community Survey. This site is the primary source for the 2000 Census data. Census 2000 Location of print materials: Government Documents Dept., 4th Floor, C 3.223/(nos.) County and City Data Book, statistics for all U.S. counties, cities with 25,000 or more inhabitants, and places of 2,500 or more inhabitants Location of print editions: Government Documents Dept., 4th Floor, C 3.134/2:C 82/2/date. USA Counties, census data for all counties. State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, statistics on social and economic conditions at the state and metro area levels. Selected data for component counties and central cities of metro areas also included. Location of print editions: Government Documents Dept., 4th Floor, C 3.134/5: Historical Statistics of the United States, from Colonial Times to 1970 Location of print edition: Government Documents Dept., 4th Floor, C 3.134/2:H 62/970. Economic Indicators (1995-), prepared and published monthly for the Joint Economic Committee, by the Council of Economic Advisers. Location of print issues: Government Documents Dept., 4th Floor, Y 4.EC 7:EC 7 Economic Report of the President (1996- ), includes current and foreseeable trends and annual numerical goals concerning topics such as employment, production, etc. Location of print issues: Government Documents Dept., 4th Floor, PR 40.9: (1982-)
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