Government Finding Aids

Although the government produces, publishes and disseminates an enormous amount of information each year, it is not always easy to find this information. The Government Printing Office (or GPO) is the primary government agency in coordinating government publications, but it is not the only government agency involved in publishing information, nor does it have the authority to truly oversee all types and forms of government dissemination of information. Because of this and for numerous other reasons, searching for government information can be a frustrating experience.

However, the GPO and other federal agencies and organizations have taken action and created a variety of online finding aids, databases and search engines in an attempt to make finding government information easier. This webpage lists the most general, popular and/or comprehensive resources to help you find the government information that you need. More specific finding aids, etc. can be found on the subject specific pages in this "Government Information" website.

Before you try out the various resources on this page to find government information, search the library catalog. Bertrand Library is a government depository, which means we have chosen to receive a percentage of government produced information (see About the Government Documents Collection at Bucknell for more information.) The information we receive has been selected by librarians based on the information needs and wants of the students, staff and faculty at Bucknell as well as the local community. Just about everything we've received from the government is in the library catalog, so you may save yourself some time and effort by searching the catalog first (see Finding Government Information at the Library for more details.)

Despite the efforts of the GPO and others finding government information can still be tricky, so if you are not finding what you are looking for or have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask for Help

 

Collections of Government Databases

  • GPO Access
    A collection of government databases and finding aids, "GPO Access provides a number of useful, free tools to assist you in finding Government information. Use GPO's Finding Aids to search more than 1,350 official U.S. Federal agency and military Internet sites using keywords." Using the Database List or the Site Search can help you select which database(s) to search to find the information you need.
    *Available online to anyone


Finding Government Information: Government Sources

  • Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
    A good place to start your search, "the Catalog is a search and retrieval service that provides bibliographic records of U.S. Government information products. Use it to link to Federal agency online resources or identify materials distributed to Federal Depository Libraries. Coverage begins with January 1994 and new records are added daily." Scroll down the front page for additional search options.

    • Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications
      Ref Z1223 .A18
      Use the print version of the Catalog of U.S. government publications for coverage of government produced documents before January 1994. The monthly catalog is located next to the government microfiche cabinets on the first floor of the library.
      *Available online to anyone / *Available to anyone at Bertrand Library (cannot be checked out).

  • FedWorld
    FedWorld was established by The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) and provides access to a number of different government databases.
    *Available online to anyone

  • USA.gov
    "the first-ever government website to provide the public with easy, one-stop access to all online U.S. Federal Government resources."
    *Available online to anyone

  • Government Information Locator Service (GILS)
    "GILS is an effort to identify, locate, and describe publicly available Federal information resources, including electronic information resources. GILS records identify public information resources within the Federal Government, describe the information available in these resources, and assist in obtaining the information. Thirty-two (federal) agencies have mounted their GILS records on the GPO Access server." Click here for a list and to browse the collection
    *Available online to anyone

  • U.S. Government Online Bookstore
    "The official online bookstore for U.S. Government publications available for purchase from the U.S. Government Printing Office." The online bookstore catalog can be searched by keyword or browsed by a particular topic.
    *Available online to anyone

Finding Government Information: Outside Sources

  • Google: Uncle Sam
    "Search all .gov and .mil sites."
    *Available online to anyone

  • INFOMINE: Government Information
    INFOMINE is a virtual library of online information selected by librarians from various universities in California. The government information section of INFOMINE provides a table of contents for browsing as well as the functionality to search by keyword, subject or title.
    *Available online to anyone

  • Meta Subject Index to Government Information
    A directory of libraries that provide webpages on government information on a particular subject. Over 13,000 subjects are listed.
    *Available online to anyone

  • University of Michigan Documents Center
    A very large site, "the Documents Center is a central reference and referral point for government information, whether local, state (Michigan & others), federal, foreign or international. Its web pages are a reference and instructional tool for government, political science, statistical data, and news."
    *Available online to anyone