General Identification:
How to Locate Government Documents

Our online CATALOG includes most of the government documents selected by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. Documents are searchable by title, author (actual author if available, agency, committee or subcommittee name), or Su Doc (Superintendent of Documents) number. In our CATALOG the SuDoc number is searchable as Govt Doc No and is selected as a specialized search. You can also check the following tools for elusive publications. If you have a question, check with a librarian at the Reference Services desk.

If you do not have the agency and title of the publication, check the following tools. Should you need help, ask the librarian.

• MarciveWeb DOCS Catalog
  http://www.marcive.com/scripts/webdocs.dll (July 1976-date)

  This commercial index contains information from the Monthly Catalog (see below) back to 1976. It can be searched by author, title, subject, sudoc, item, or stock number. All of the indexes include key word approach. This database, however, can only be used in the library.

• Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (MOCAT)
  http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/locators/cgp/index.html (1994-date)
  r 328.73 U2535ca (1895-date)

  This is a monthly list of all publications issued through the Government Printing Office. Arrangement is by department and bureau. An entry includes title, date, paging, price, Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) classification, and depsository item number (where applicable). Each catalog has an index and the indexes are cumulated both semi-annually and annually. Beginning with the September 1947 issue, index references are to entry numbers rather than to pages. Until 1973, the Catalog had a single alphabetical index. Beginning in 1974, ther are separate author/title/subject indexes. In 1976, a series/report index was added. In 1977, a classification (SuDocs) number index was added.

• FirstGov: Your First Click to the U.S. Government
  http://www.firstgov.gov

  "FirstGov allows users to browse a wealth of information -- everything from researching at the Library of Congress to tracking a NASA mission. It also enables users to conduct important business online -- such as applying for student loans, tracking Social Security benefits, comparing Medicare options and even administering government grants and contracts. This monumental breakthrough in one-stop shopping for government services will help Americans across the country and around the world find the information and resources they need at a click of a mouse -- quickly and easily."

• Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, 1900-1971
  r 328.73 U2535ca (15 vols.)

  This is a subject approach to over 800,000 publications issued between 1900-1971. Citations are to year of Monthly Catalog and page (prior to September 1947) or entry number. Use this set if you want to know what the government has published on a particular subject, but don't have an author/title in mind and time is not a factor. Use the Monthly Catalog for publications from 1972-date.

• Andriot, John L., ed.
  Guide to U.S. Government Publications
  rq Z1223 .Z7 A575x

  Arrangement is by Superintendent of Documnets numbers, including both active and inactive ones. The citations list agencies, series titles, depository numbers (where applicable), and cross-references to earlier or later SuDocs numbers. There are agency and title indexes.

• Schwartzkopf, LeRoy C.
  Government Reference Books: A Bicentennial Guide to U.S. Government Publications
  r 015.73 G75 (1968/69-date)

  Entry into each volume is by broad subject category with an author/title/subject index. Approximatelytwo years' worth of publications are included in each volume. Citations are annotated.

• Publications Reference File
  uncataloged -- kept as Reference Services desk

  This uncataloged microfiche set is issued bimonthly. It is a list of publications currently available from the Government Printing Office. Arrangement is by Superintendent of Documents number, stock number, or alphabetical (titles, series, keywords, key phrases, subjects, and personal authors).

• Subject Bibliographies
  http://bookstore.gpo.gov/sb/sale180.html
  Gov. Doc. GP 3.22/2: nos.

  Published by the Government Prinitng Ofice, there are approximately 150 subject bibliographies which list titles on a single subject or area of interest. Check at the Reference Services desk for Carnegie Library's holdings.

• Checklist of U.S. Public Documents, 1789-1909
  r 328.73 U2535ch2
  
  Arranged by Superintendent of Documents number, this book covers Congressional documents through the 60th Congress and departmental publications to the end of 1909. There is a list of departments and bureaus at the back.
• Poore, Benjamin Perley.
  Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications of United States, September 5, 1774 - March 4, 1881
  qr 328.73 P81
  
  This is a chronological list of publications, both Congressional and departmental. Citations include title, author, date, and brief abstract of contents.