 |
Government
Documents and Maps |
|
The Government Information Resource section of the University Libraries is located in Fenwick Library and maintains the federal and state documents collection in print, microform, maps, and electronic formats. The majority of U.S. government publications are cataloged and can be searched in the Libraries' online catalog.
Reference assistance is available during reference hours in the libraries. Other options for reference assistance include telephone (703-993-2210), e-mail, and digital ("chat" or Imasonserives) reference.
Most government publications (Federal and VA State) located in the government documents collection at Fenwick Library can be checked at the circulation desk of Fenwick Library except the following materials: Reference, Microfiche and Microfilm, and Titles for Non-Circulating. CIA maps, USGS Topographic Maps, and CD-ROMs are available for circulation with a permission slip at the reference desk in Fenwick Library.
United States Government Documents
The Library has been a U.S. Federal Depository Library (0641A) since 1960 and currently selects about 57 % of the material available through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP). The collection is arranged by Superintendent of Documents Classification System (SuDocs) call number which organizes publications by issuing agency rather than by subject. The regional depositoy serving FDLP collections in the state of Virginia is the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.
The collection is particularly strong in foreign relation, international trade, census and congressional publications. The library maintains a complete collection of Decennial U.S. Census Bureau (1790-), Congressional Record, American State Paper, the Official Records of the War of Rebellion, and U.S. Statutes at Large.
The Library also receives 30 % of the material available through the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) Selected Research in Microfiche Program and also houses publications issued by Joint Publications Research Service (JPRS), Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program.
Commonwealth of Virginia
The Library has been a full depository for the Virginia State Documents since 1970. Materials received include Virginia law, the House and Senate Reports and Documents, and publications from state agencies and State Universities and Colleges. The majority of these publications are cataloged and searchable in the libraries online catalog.
European Union Documents:
The GMU Libraries has been a selective depository for the European Union (EU) since the 1990’s. The EU collection is located in Arlington Campus Library of George Mason . All EU documents are listed in the Libraries’ online catalog.
Maps
The collection includes the entire 50 states of U.S. topographic (7.5 minutes/quad) maps issued by the USGS and CIA maps as well as computer mapping software and geo-spatial data. Please click on search engine for GMU holdings of the USGS topomaps to see the availiability of the collection.
Local Documents:
The Libraries does not collect local documents. Please contact the Fairfax County Public Library system, which maintains an extensive collection of materials published by Fairfax County.
Access to Government Documents Collection
Access to Government Documents Collection Policy
The main function of Federal depository librareis is to provide no fee access to government information to the general public. All federal publicatiosn are accessible for public use in the GMU Libraries. Federal government documents received by the libraries since 1976 can be searched in the Libraries' online catalog. Please ask Government Documents Staff for assistance in locating pre-1976 information, maps, and government documents in microfiche format filed in fiche cabinets in the Documents Microfiche Room.
Electronic Access
Government information is increasingly available electronically on CD-ROM or via the Internet. Documents in our collection that are accessible via the Internet are hotlinked on the library catalog record. The following government information searches are available through "Government Information" of the Libraries' Database: the Online Catalog of Government Documents (via MOCAT) or GPO Monthly Catalog; the full-text of many widely used government publications through GPO Access; the selected electronic publications through FDLP Electronic Collections. Many subscription online databases for government information are also available through the Libraries' Database: Congressional Lexis-Nexis, Statistical Universe, STAT-USA, and World News Connection for direct full-text access; Congressional Index, 1789-1972 and NTIS Index for search. The Library's Government Information web page also points to the many useful web resources that are available online.
The Document Microfiche Room in Fenwick library provides workstations for accessing government CD-ROMs in addition to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. GMU Libraries policy on Public Services relating to Federal Information in electronic formats is stated in the Depository Library Public Service Guidelines for Electronic Government Information. If you are unable to locate a documents or if you need a demonstration on how to find online government information, please call at 703-993-2238 or contact the documents librarian.
Last updated on Friday May 4th, 2007.
Government Documents/Maps
Fenwick Library
George Mason University (MSN 2FL)
4400 University Drive,
Fairfax, VA. 22030-4444.
Tel) 703-993-2259.
Fax) 703-993-2494.