Case Study
University of South Florida
Government Documents
Andrew Seville
LIS-210
April 30, 2010
USF
Background Information
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The USF Library is a depository library that collects 75 percent
of the document and publications distributed by the U.S.
Printing Office.
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It was designated as a Federal Depository Library in 1962 and
selects publications that are issued by all branches of the
government.
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The Government Documents selections are located in the
basement of the USF Library and can be accessed and
borrowed by individuals not holding a a USF identification card.
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Reference services for Government Documents is provided at
the Reference Desk on the first floor.
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Access to Florida Electronic Federal Depository Library
USF Government Document
Observation and findings determined by visiting website
The depository library integrates some of its government documents throughout the library
collection. According to the map provided on the webpage there is a separate Federal Documents
section where the SUDOC Call Numbers are listed in two rows of numbered shelves. (slide 10)
These rows are divided into the following call numbers: A-HE and HE-Y. Surrounding this layout of
documents are Federal Document Micro cards. A SUDOC number directory is also provided.
The USF government documents are primarily cataloged using SUDOC numbers. You can limit your
format search to just government publications using a drop down menu. These search results can
be browsed by Dewey Decimal, LC and National Library of Medicine classification. Not all
government documents are cataloged using SUDOC numbers; some are classified using the Library
of Congress classification. It appears that the main library has most of all its government
documents in one area under the SUDOC number while branch libraries have these integrated into
their collections using Library of Congress classification.
The online catalog divides its results into matching items and those available online. (slides 6 and
7) Those results can also be browsed by the same call number classification categories as print
documents. Hyperlinks to the documents are provided for maps, e-Journals and e-Books directly
from the online catalog. There is a separate digital collection listed on the website and it does not
appear that any federal government documents are located there.
Policy information is provided with clickable links to PDF files. (slide 8) These policies address the
circulation and use of non-circulating government documents. Guidelines are provided for internet
use in Federal Depository Libraries and service guidelines are provided for the use of Government
Information in Electronic Formats. Outlines are also provided for access to a Federal Depository
library.
USF
Government Document Findings
The government documents online presence is initially difficult to find and can only be
found by looking under Research Tools and then Library Guides, Subject, Alphabetical
Listings. There is not a direct link to Government Documents from the main page.
Government Documents doesn’t appear to be listed as a department in the directory
and is not listed as a service.
The USF has many subject tabs for related government information in Library Guides.
This is very beneficial for someone looking for government information because each of
the links provide a broad range of content and detailed government information.
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USF Tampa Library - Federal Depository Library
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Contact information
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Government Documents Collection Guides
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Federal Depository Library Resources
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Florida Electronic Federal Depository Library (Slide 9)
Federal subpages by executive, judicial and legislative branches
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Executive subpages by Executive Office of the President, Departments and
Executive GPO Access
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Legislative subpages by Legislative Branch, Thomas.gov, Legislative Directory
and Databases
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Judicial subpages by Supreme and lower courts. Databases and GPO Access
Florida / States
International
Maps & Spatial Info
Data & Statistics
Government Documents Databases
GPO Access
USA.gov
USF Government Documents
Information provided by email Q & A with
Vera Lux, Visiting Instructor Librarian, University of South Florida
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Signs and logo at the entrances of the library, and all maps and
directories further assist patrons to locate the physical materials.
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Strongest and fastest growing collections include Congressional
publications, USGS publications, and Transportation materials.
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Depository documents are included in the main library’s catalog
(>300,000), can be browsed, or narrowed, by conducting an
advanced search or by using the facets along the left side of the
catalog.
Retained the card catalog as some, although very few, documents
are not included in the OPAC. Most materials can be circulated.
E-government initiatives are changing the use of the physical
collection, although I would not characterize this as
“underutilization” it has likely increased the use of government
information, at least with our student and faculty researchers.
Government Documents
Information provided by email Q & A with
Vera Lux, Visiting Instructor Librarian, University of South Florida
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The physical collection is still frequently used for primary source materials,
advanced research, background information, and for position (pro/con)
assignments.
There is one open-access computer terminal located near the collection for
catalog searches. In addition, we maintain several computers on the first
floor of the library that do not require a student login so members of the
community may access our catalog, subscription resources, or government
information available online.
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The library also maintains several subscription resources to augment our
collection, particularly historical back files.
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Recently purchased a significant Congressional Hearings subscription that
will expand upon our print holdings.
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Subscriptions include Lexis Nexis, Lexis Nexis Congressional, Readex U.S.
Congressional Serial Set, CQ Researcher, CQ Homeland Security, and CQ
Weekly.
USF Government Document
Virtual Visitation Log
Agency and total number of titles, hardcopy and online
A - Agricultural Department (2,293)
AE - National Archives and Records
Administration (5)
C - Commerce Department (764)
CC - Federal Communications Commission (4)
CR - Civil Rights Commission (16)
D - Defense Department (1,038)
E - Energy Department (147)
ED - Education Department (12)
EP - Environmental Protection Agency (1,277)
ER - Energy Research and Development
Administration (1)
FEM - Federal Emergency Management Agency
(1)
FS - Federal Security Agency (3)
FT - Federal Trade Commission (8)
GA - Government Accountability Office (formerly
General Accounting Office) (4)
GP - Government Printing Office (16)
GS - General Services Administration (40)
HE - Health and Human Services Department
(2,405)
HH - Housing and Urban Development
Department (39)
HS - Homeland Security (31)
I - Interior Department (2,469)
IC - Interstate Commerce Commission (1)ITC Interstate Trade Commission (5)
J - Justice Department (31)
JU - Judiciary (5)
L - Labor Department (265)
LC - Library of Congress (3)
NAS - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(609)
NC - National Capital Planning Commission (2)
NCU - National Credit Union Administration (10)
NS - National Science Foundation (8)
PM - Personnel Management Office (15)
PR - President of the United States (7)
RR - Railroad Retirement Board (1)
S - State Department (5,000+)
SBA - Small Business Administration (64)
SE - Securities and Exchange Commission (1)
SSA - Social Security Administration (2)
T - Treasury Department (466)
TD - Transportation Department (1,015)
VA - Veterans Affairs Department (55)
X - Congress - House and Senate Journals and
Congressional Record (1,085)
Y - Congress (5,000+)
USF Government Documents
Virtual Visitation Log
Agency and totals of available documents online
A - Agricultural Department (45)
C - Commerce Department (7)
D - Defense Department (7)
E - Energy Department (1)
EP - Environmental Protection Agency (3)
GA - Government Accountability Office (formerly General Accounting Office) (3)
GP - Government Printing Office (2)
GS - General Services Administration (6)
HE - Health and Human Services Department (18)
HS - Homeland Security (31)
I - Interior Department (2)
ITC - Interstate Trade Commission (3)
J - Justice Department (2)
JU - Judiciary (3)
L - Labor Department (1)
LC - Library of Congress (1)
NAS - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (15)
NCU - National Credit Union Administration (1)
PR - President of the United States (1)
S - State Department (17)
SSA - Social Security Administration (1)
T - Treasury Department (2)
TD - Transportation Department (9)
Y - Congress (5,000+)
USF
Government Documents Policies
Federal Depository Library Policies
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Circulation Policy for Non-Circulating
Government Documents
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FDL Internet Use/ Public Service for
Electronic Format Policy
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Federal Depository Access Policy
USF provides links to the
Florida Electronic Federal Depository Library
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This website was created by the Government Documents Department of the George A.
Smathers Libraries of the University of Florida in order to provide indexing of and
access to government information online.
The site's primary mission is to meet the needs of researchers and the general public
for access to information by and about the state of Florida and its local governments.
Secondary objective is to provide support for the federal depository librarians within
Florida. Links to information useful to documents librarians. Homepage features
informational links to
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Local Governments Cities Counties Commissioners Legislators State
Government Statistics Federal Government Depository Libraries
Administration Directory Request a Document
Clickable state map of Florida counties which provide statistical information in the
following categories
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Homepage Cities Commissioners Departments Courts and Legal System
Education Elected Officials Elections Geographic Information Libraries
Newspapers Planning Recreation Statistical Information Other
USF
Government Document Layout
USF
Government Documents Collection
SuDoc Shelf Number Directory
(5) A 1.1: - A 1.141 (49) I 22.8: - I 29.2: B
(6) A 4.1: - A 106.10 : (50) I 29.2: C - I 53.2: M
(7) A 106.11: - A 67.18: (51) I 53.2: N - J 1.42/3:
(8) A 67.18: - C 3.24/4: (52) J 1.43: - Ju 10.1:
(9) C 3.24/4 – C 3.186/2: (53) Ju 10.1/2: - L 2.3:
(10) C 3.186/3 – C 3.223/11: (54) L 2.3: - L 7.25/4:
(11) C 3.233/11 – C 3.266/2 (55) L 7.28: - LC 4.7:
(12) C 3.266/2 – C 21.5: .5: (56) LC 4.7: - NAS 1.9/2:
(13) C 21.5: - C21.5: (57) NAS 1.9/3: - NS 1.2:
(14) C 21.5: - C 30.18: (58) NS 1.2: - PrEx 8.1:
(15) C30.18/8: - C 51.11/2: (59) PrEx 8.2: - S 1.82:
(16) C 51.11/2: - C 56.227/3: (60) S 1.86: - SE 1.1:
(17) C 56.228: - CC 1.12/2: (61) SE 1.2: - Sl 3.6:
(18) CC 1.12/2a: - D 2.17: (62) Sl 3.6: - T 22.25:
(19) D 3.6: - D 101.20: (63) T 22.25/3: - TD 2.30:78
(20) D 101.20: - D 103.6/3: (64) TD 2.30:78 - TD 5.2:
(21) D 103.6/5: - D 208.6/4: (65) TD 5.3: - VE
(22) D 208.11/2: - D 301.7: (66) W - X-753
(Congressional Record)
(23) D 301.7: - E 1.17: (67) X-754 - X/a.
(Congressional Record)
(24) E 1.17: - E 3.2: (68) X/a. (Congressional Record) Y 1.2/4:
(25) E 3.9: - EC (69) Y 1.2/8: - Y 3.N 88:
(26) ED 1.1: - ED 1.115: (70) Y 3.N 88: - Y 4.Ag 4/2: H
(27) ED 1.116: - EP 1.2: H (71) Y 4.Ag 4/2: H - Y 4.Ar
5/3: P
(28) EP 1.2: H - EP 1.7/2: (72) Y 4.Ar 5/3: P - Y 4.B
22/3: S.hrg 102(29) EP 1.8: - EP 1.16: (73) Y 4.B 22/3: S. hrg 102 - Y
4.D 63/1:
(30) EP 1.16: - EP 1.23/2:73- (74) Y 4.D 63/1: - Y 4.Ed
8/1: Ed
(31) EP 1.23/2:73 - EP 1.23/2: (75) Y 4.Ed 8/1: Ed - Y
4.En 2/3:100-
(32) EP 1.23/3: - EP 1.74: (76) Y 4.En 2/3:100 - Y
4.F 76/2: F
(33) EP 1.77: - ER 1.10: (77) Y 4.F 76/2: F - Y 4.G
74/9: R
(34) ER 1.10: - FE 1.32: (78) Y 4.G 74/9: R - Y 4.In
8/14:93
(35) FEM 1.1: - FP 1.20: (79) Y 4.In 8/14:93 - Y 4.J
89/1-16:
(36) FP 1.21: - FS 2.88: (80) Y 4.J 89/2: - Y 4.L
11/2: T
(37) FS 2.89: - FW (81) Y 4.L 11/2: Un - Y 4.P
96/10:96(38) GA - GS 2.8: M (82) Y 4.P 96/10:96 - Y 4.Sci
2:102/
(39) GS 2.8: N - HE 1.2: (83) Y 4.Sci 2:102/ - Y 4.W
36: T
(40) HE 1.6: - HE 20.2010: (84) Y 4.W 36: T - Z
(41) HE 20.2010/2: - HE 20.3161: (85) Serial Set
(42) HE 20.3161: - HE 20.3612: (86) Serial Set
(43) HE 20.3612: - HE 20.6208: (87) Serial Set
(44) HE 20.6208/2: - HE 20.8302: (88) EPA
Superfund Sites / Florida Documents
USF Government Documents
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Photographs of physical collection,
to include lay out, signage and
general information about how to
access and use the collection.