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Government Publications: United States: Indexes and Catalogs: Searching for government publications

Guide to United States government publications.

Key databases for recent government publications

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications: Finding tool for electronic and print publications from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S. government. Comprehensive for records generated since July 1976; selective for publications dating back to the late 1800s.

GovInfoThis link opens in a new windo: Provides free online access to official digital publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.

NTIS (National Technical Information Service):  This link opens in a new windo: Government technical reports in science and engineering.

Science.gov: free access to research and development (R&D) results and scientific and technical information from scientific organizations across 13 federal agencies.

Key indexes for historical executive and congressional publications

1774 to 1881

A Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications of the United States, September 5, 1774-March 4, 1991 (Poore)
In print: Roy O. West Library, Fireplace Room  Y 4.P 93/1:G 74/1 and online via GovInfo
1789 to 1909 Checklist of United States Public Documents, 1789-1909
In print: Roy O. West Library, Government Documents  GP 3.2: C 41/2 and online via GovInfo
1881 to 1893 Comprehensive Index to the Publications of the United States Goverrnment, 1881-1893 (Ames)
Volume One and Volume Two via GovInfo
1893 to 1940 Catalogue of the Public Documents of the 53d to 76th Congress and of All Departments of the Government of the United States for the Period from March 4, 1893, to December 31, 1940. Washington: Government Printing Office; 1896-1945. 25 volumes.
Call Number: GP 3.6:v.1-25
1895 to 2004

Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (Note: Cited as Monthly Catalog. The oldest continuously published catalog of U. S. Government publications. The title has changed six times since its beginning in 1895. The Monthly Catalog includes both Congressional and departmental publications, and since 1935 has included processed materials.)
Call Number: GP 3.8: Reference/United States

Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, 1900-1971
Call Number: GP 3.8/3:Index/Subject Reference/United States

Cumulative Title Index to United States Public Documents, 1789-1976
Call Number: GP 3.8/3:v.1-10 Reference/United States