Research Guides: Government Documents Information: Books

Locating Information Published by the US Government

The following books will help you get started in locating information published by the US government.

Use the UC Libraries catalog to locate government documents owned at UC in print and online.

Use the other sources listed to identify government documents that may or may not be owned at UC.

UC Libraries catalog
The majority of the U.S. government documents owned at UC can be found by searching the library’s catalog. If you are unable to locate a specific publication in the catalog, please consult with the Government Documents staff.

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
Provides an index to print and electronic publications created by Federal agencies. When available¸ links are provided to the full-text of these publications. Coverage begins with July 1976. The catalog will grow to include records for publications dating back to the late 1800s¸ making the CGP the central point for locating new and historical Government publications.
Coverage: 1976 - present

Checklist of United States Public Documents 1789-1909
Checklist of all public documents issued by the United States between 1789-1909.

GPO Monthly Catalog
Records published by the U.S. GPO (Government Printing Office) since July 1976. Includes references to congressional reports¸ debates and executive department documents.
Coverage: 1976 - present
MarciveWeb DOCS
Provides alternate searching interface to the GPO Monthly Catalog.

Metalib
MetaLib is a federated search engine that searches multiple U.S. Federal government databases, retrieving reports, articles, and citations while providing direct links to selected resources available online.

U.S. Documents Masterfile: 1774-2022
A comprehensive electronic guide to federal¸ state¸ local¸ and international public documents. Consolidates¸ in digital form¸ several traditional print indexes¸ including¸ Indexes to the GPO Monthly Catalog 1895-1976¸ GPO shelflist records 1789-1976¸ and Descriptive Catalog of the Government Publications of the United States¸ 1774-1881. Post 1976 records are also included from the cataloging records of the Government Printing Office. Offers federated searching through all sources by keyword¸ title¸ agency¸ or SuDoc number. Links to online publications are also included.

Use the publications below to identify government documents.

Comprehensive index to the publications of the United States government, 1881-1893
An alphabetic subject listing of both Congressional and departmental publications. Contains an index of personal names at the end of volume two.
Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, 1895-1899
A subject index to the Monthly Catalog. No indexes were included in the Monthly Catalog at this time.
Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, 1900-1971
Index refers user to the year and page number of the Monthly Catalog where the call number of the document is located.
Cumulative Title Index to United States Public Documents, 1789-1976
Contains an alphabetical title index to all the documents contained in Public Documents Library of the Government Printing Office.
Descriptive catalogue of the government publications of the United States, September 5, 1774-March 4, 1881
A chronological listing of both Congressional and departmental publications. Contains a subject and name index.
United States government publications, a monthly catalogue
This privately published work, covering 1885-1894, was the precursor of the Superintendent of Document's Monthly Catalog.