U. S. Government Documents

The U.S. Government Documents collection is located on the lower level of the library.

The Vande Bogart Library has been a selective U.S. Government Depository since 1980, which means that we receive a percentage of the large number of publications that are issued. With the exception of the few items designated "reference", U.S. Government Documents may be checked out at the Circulation Desk. The MSU-Northern Catalog (PAC) lists the documents owned by this library and provides access to electronic versions of many governmental publications..

FORMATS

U.S. Government publications are printed in a variety of formats (paper, microfiche, and electronic). A microfiche reader is located in the documents area by the microfiche cabinets. A microfiche reader/printer is available near the Circulation Desk on the library's upper level. Portable readers are also available for checkout at the Circulation Desk. Documents produced in CD-ROM format may be checked out.

INDEXES

The best indexes for monographic U.S. Government publications is the GPO Monthly Catalog or  MOCAT which can be searched via the web. 

The best way to identify articles published in government journals is to consult the electronic or print journal indexes located on the main floor index tables. The public access catalog (PAC) also contains electronic versions of many of these indexes. The Vande Bogart Library Periodical Listing (in the red 3-ring binders on the index tables) lists journals held by the Vande Bogart Library.

CLASSIFICATION

U.S. Government Documents are classified by SuDoc (Superintendent of Documents) numbers. These numbers consist of capital letter(s) representing the government department or agency, followed by a number(s) representing the subagency; a category number; colon; and numbers indicating a distinct publication.

A	Agriculture Department	ITC	International Trade Commission
AA	Action	J	Justice Department
AC	Arms Control and Disarmament Agency	JU	Judiciary (Courts of the United States)
AE	National Archives and Records Administration	L	Labor Department
C	Commerce Department	LC	Library of Congress
CC	Federal Communications Commission	LR	National Labor Relations Board
CR	Civil Rights Commission	MS	Merits Systems Protection Board
D	Defense Department	NAS	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
E	Energy Department	NF	National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities
ED	Education Department	NS	National Science Foundation
EP	Environmental Protection Agency	P	United States Postal Service
FCA	Farm Credit Administration	PE	Peace Corps
FEM	Federal Emergency Management Agency	PM	Personnel Management Office
FHL	Federal Home Loan Bank Board	PR	President of the United States
FMC	Federal Maritime Commission	PrEx	Executive Office of the President
FT	Federal Trade Commission	S	State Department
GA	General Accounting Office	SBA	Small Business Administration
GP	Government Printing Office	SE	Securities and Exchange Commission
GS	General Services Administration	SI	Smithsonian Institution
HE	Health and Human Services Department	T	Treasury Department
HH	Housing and Urban Development Department	TD	Transportation Department
I	Interior Department	VA	Veterans Administration
IA	United States Information Agency	X and Y	Congress
IC	Interstate Commerce Commission