Government Documents Librarianship

This book begins by looking at career opportunities in both Federal Depository Libraries (FDLs) and non-depository libraries with government documents collections. It then discusses skills and traits; networking and training options; managing and administering people, paperwork, and collections; and both public services and technical services issues.

The University of Michigan Documents Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, presents a collection of Web sites of resources related to librarianship and U.S. government documents. Topics include associations, depository libraries, teaching materials, government information policy, and more.

Learn what innovative changes lie in the future of government information The Changing Face of Government Information comprehensively examines the way government documents’ librarians acquire, provide access, and provide reference services in the new electronic environment. Noted experts discuss the impact electronic materials have had on the Government Printing Office (GPO), the reference services within the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), and the new opportunities in the transition from paper-based information policy to an electronic e-government. This source reveals the latest changes in the field of government documents librarianship and the knowledge and expertise needed to teach users how to access what they need from this enormous wealth of government information. Major changes have taken place in the way government information is created, disseminated, accessed, and preserved. The Changing Face of Government Information explains in detail the tremendous change taking place in libraries and government documents librarianship. Topics include the increasing accessibility to the federally funded technical report literature, information on the Patriot Act’s effect on the status of libraries in the aftermath of 9/11, the uses of Documents Data Miner©, and information about catalogs, indexes, and full text databases. This book also provides a selective bibliography of print and electronic sources about Native Americans and the Federal Government, as well as specific sources for information about the environment, such as EPA air data, DOE energy information, information on flora and fauna, hazardous waste, land use, and water. Each chapter is extensively referenced and several chapters use appendixes, tables, and charts to ensure understanding of data. This useful book gives readers the opportunity to learn: how the University of Oregon successfully integrated its business reference service and map collection into its government documents collection the results of a survey of FDLP institutions identifying the factors contributing to the reorganization of services details of the pilot project undertaken by the University of Arizona Library along with the United States Government Printing Office’s Library Programs Service to create a model for a virtual depository library which critical features are missing in today’s e-government reference service models details of the GPO’s plans to provide perpetual access to both electronic and tangible information resources—and the strategies to authenticate government publications on the Internet The Changing Face of Government Information is stimulating, horizon-expanding reading for librarians, professors, students, and researchers.

Government documents, both physical and electronic, constitute a rich and varied resource that calls for special attention. And because government information is useful and pervasive in nearly every kind of library, more and more librarians of all types need to know how to work effectively with federal, state, and international resources. This contributed volume gathers the expertise of experienced government information librarians from across the country. Providing real-world insight into the work, collections, and interests of this discipline, this book surveys the wide variety of government information and the people who use it;discusses what it’s like to be a government documents librarian, from the first day on the job through taking on a management role;addresses networking, training, and other essential tools for collaboration and learning;covers space planning, streamlining, disaster preparedness and response, the increasing prevalence of digital information, and other key collection issues;offers best practices for connecting library users with government information;looks at research guides, workshops, and other teaching and training topics; andexplores advocating for transparency and access to information, promoting government documents to library users, and using exhibits as community outreach. With more government publications becoming freely available, this volume fills an important need, presenting concrete guidance that will help librarians flourish in this crucial field.

This helpful new book discusses access possibilities and policies with regard to government information. New and impending legislation, information on most frequently used and requested sources, and grant writing are some of the topics covered in the comprehensive chapters. Government Documents and Reference Services helps make sense of technical reports, government regulations, patents, and other difficult areas the librarian has to deal with. Reference and technical librarians will find this an indispensable tool to guide them through the intricacies of government document research.