How to Obtain United States Government Publications

• Where to Find Government Information Products
• How to Acquire Current Government Information Products
• How to Acquire Out-of-Print Government Publications

Where to Find Government Information Products  

Catalog of United States Government Publications (GPO Access)

Formerly known as the Monthly Catalog (MoCat), this is an index to items available through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). It includes cataloging records published in MoCat since July 1976 and is updated daily. The CGP contains descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online.

Search the Federal Government Through USA.gov (GPO Access)

This finding aid is a Web-based search and retrieval tool for locating federal government information on the Internet by keyword, title, date, or number. Other resources are available for browsing U.S. federal government Internet sites by agency, topic, or new electronic title. Many titles are also available in traditional formats at depository libraries.

Locate a Federal Depository Library (GPO Access)

Federal publications and other information products are made available for free public use in federal depository libraries throughout the United States. Trained librarians are available at each library to assist in finding and using these documents. Use this Web site to find a depository library near you. Libraries can be searched by state, area code, or congressional district.

How to Acquire Current Government Information Products

 U.S. Government Bookstore (GPO Access)

The official online bookstore for U.S. Government publications available for purchase from the U.S. Government Printing Office. Search the selections by keyword, or browse products by subject, special values [i.e., clearance prices], or special collections and featured publications.

The Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC)

 Based in Pueblo, Colorado, this one-stop source provides a plethora of practical publications pertaining to programs and services available to U.S. citizens from federal agencies. Full text versions of hundreds of federal consumer publications are available for free or for a nominal fee. Select a category to see the publications in their latest Consumer Information Catalog, check out News and Notes to see other information that isn't currently in the Catalog, or visit Fun Stuff to see samples of old catalog covers and advertisements.

National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

The largest central resource for government-funded scientific, technical, engineering, and business related information available today. Search online for products published since 1990. For earlier reports, consult Government Reports Announcements & Index, available in Documents Abstracts and Indexes on Third Floor of Willis Library. NTIS also makes online databases available by subscription. All the costs of NTIS products and services, including salaries, cataloging and indexing, permanent storage and retrieval, and postage, are paid from sales of NTIS products.

USA.gov

The official U.S. gateway to all government information. Links to millions of federal, state, and local government Web pages and online publications. Since most recent government publications are only available online, this has become a useful starting point for locating government information. 

How to Acquire Out-of-Print Government Publications

Abebooks

The world’s largest online marketplace for books. Search for and buy new, used, rare, and out-of-print books from more than 12,500 independent booksellers from around the globe. Compare prices and order products from one centralized source. Allows a user to create a want list and provides e-mail notification when a match is made. Direct contact with dealers.

Alibris

Connects consumers with thousands of independent sellers of used, new, and out-of-print books around the world. Does not permit direct contact with dealers who list using this service. Charges 20–100% over the dealer’s list price, which is hidden from the customer.

Bernan

The largest private distributor of U.S. government publications. Through its Bernan Press imprint, Bernan publishes many popular government reference works that the Government Printing Office has ceased to publish. The Bernan Web Prints service provides convenient print editions of publications that the government issues only in electronic form.

Bibliofind

Bibliofind has combined with Amazon.com to provide millions of rare, used, and out-of-print books. Search for millions of hard-to-find titles from the community of Bibliofind and Amazon.com booksellers. 

Books on Demand (UMI)

Collection of more than 150,000 out-of-print books that can be photocopied on demand. Titles cover all subject areas and hundreds of publishers. Original publication dates range from the 15th century to last year.

Global Engineering Documents (IHS Engineering)

The world’s largest distributor of U.S. government and military standards. The collection includes over 330,000 current, unclassified standards and over one million historical standards.

Military/Info Publishing

Reprints books and provides photocopies of out-of-print military manuals. Can also provide research packets (compilations of photocopies on hard-to-find topics). Original copies of a few publications are also for sale.

Powell’s Books

Independent bookseller with a huge selection of new, used, out-of-print, and rare books.

William S. Hein & Co., Inc.

This publisher of legal publications sells original copies and reprints of many out-of-print government publications.