Overview

The second edition of an award-winning text on government information for information professionals and those researching all branches of the US government. A comprehensive textbook for library school courses on US government information, the second edition of Mastering United States Government Information can also be relied upon as a training tool for those new to the government documents community. Written by Christopher C. Brown, coordinator of government documents at the University of Denver, this approachable book provides an introduction to all major areas of US government information. Including detailed information on all three branches of federal government as well as state and local government, this wide-ranging resource teaches readers to use census data, understand the regulatory process, cite government data, work with mapping and geographic information systems, and navigate intellectual property. Important updates to the second edition include a robust look at Data.census.gov, further elaboration on bill tracking, and enhanced instructional tools for dealing with documents that will never change and the ever-changing discovery tools and web portals that have transformed access to these documents. Examples throughout the text help users understand real-life information challenges, while exercises at the end of chapters help them become comfortable answering government information questions on their own. Several appendixes serve as quick reference sources. Students and practitioners will appreciate Brown’s clear writing style and the breadth of information in this valuable resource.

Full Product Details

Author:   Christopher C. Brown (University of Denver, USA)
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited
Edition:   2nd edition
Dimensions:   Width: 16.00cm , Height: 3.20cm , Length: 23.60cm
Weight:   1.800kg
ISBN:  

9781440880872

ISBN 10:   1440880875
Pages:   496
Publication Date:   18 September 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Foreword to the First Edition Foreword to the Second Edition Introduction to the First Edition Introduction to the Second Edition 1. The Shape of Government Information Equal Access to Information Government Information Acquiring Government Information Using Google to Find Government Information Social Media as Government Information Hathitrust, Internet Archive, and Government Publications Quick Hints Exercises References 2. Federal Information Dissemination First Era: Early Printing and the U.S. Congressional Serial Set Second Era: The Federal Depository Library Program Third Era: Online Dissemination Summing Up the Three Eras General Tools and Finding Aids Quick Hints Exercises References 3. Legislative Branch Information Sources The Constitution Congressional Publications Generally Bills and Resolutions House and Senate Journals Proceedings and Debates of Congress Reports and Documents Reports Documents Hearings Committee Prints Laws of the United States Additional Congressional Publications Congress.Gov Commercial Guides to Congress Quick Hints Exercises References 4. Legislative History Research Researching the Document Trail Sources of Legislative Histories Major Primary Sources of Legislative History Outcome Studies and Legislative Histories Review of Legislative History Research Legislative History Case Studies Resources Quick Tips Exercises References 5. Documents of the Presidency Presidential Issuances Sources of Presidential Issuances Presidential Messages and General Publications Social Media and the Presidency Treaties and Other International Agreements Presidential Libraries Quick Hints Exercises References 6. Executive Branch Information Sources Proquest Executive Branch Documents Annual Reports of Executive Agencies Executive Office of the President Budget of the United States Government Economic Report of the President Executive Branch Information Resources Quick Tips Exercises References 7. The Regulatory Process The Regulatory Process The Unified Agenda Federal Register (Fr) Code of Federal Regulations (Cfr) Correlating Fr and Crf Other Administrative Law Resources Quick Tips Exercises References 8. Judicial Branch Information Sources Commercialization of Legal Resources The Judiciary Searching for Cases Supreme Court Opinions Other Case Materials Quick Tips Exercises References 9. Statistical Sources (Not Including Census) Basic Statistical Starting Strategies Diving into Statistical Databases Historical Statistical Research Executive Branch Statistical Agencies Legislative Branch Statistical Sites Judicial Branch Statistical Sites Print Tools, Statistical and Census Quick Tips Exercises References 10. Census Basics and Background The Census and Reapportionment History of the Decennial Census Census Background Considerations Census Geographies Other Census Publications State Data Centers Quick Tips Exercises References 11. Census Data for People and Housing Understanding Data Structures Decennial Census Versus American Community Survey Race and Ethnicity Print Census Resources Data.Census.Gov Third-Party Statistical tools Microdata and Pums Quick Tips Exercises References 12. Economic Census and Related Business Data Economic Census Background Economic Census Data Online International Trade Statistics Quick Tips Exercises References 13. Mapping and Geographic Information Systems Map Basics Census Bureau Maps USGS Maps NOAA Maps Other Map Locations and Websites Resources Quick Tips Exercises References 14. Federal STEM Information Technical Reports Medical Information Government Standards Government Data Government Images Quick Tips Exercises References 15. Intellectual Property, Secrets, and Declassified Information Intellectual Property Secret, Declassified, and Unpublished Government Information Quick Tips Exercises References 16. State and Local Government Information State Government Web Content Local Government Web Content Quick Tips Exercises References 17. Citing Government Publications Citing Executive Branch Materials Executive Agency Publications Citing Legislative Branch Materials Citing Judicial Branch Materials Appendix A Superintendent of Documents Classification System Appendix B Congress/Year Table Appendix C Foreign Government Internet Domains Appendix D Acronyms Appendix E Correspondences Between U.S. Code and Code of Federal Regulations Appendix F Selected Major Federal Databases

Reviews

I can't recommend Chris Brown's Mastering United States Government Information enough. His mastery of this important topic is unparalleled, and his enthusiasm for it is infectious. He brings to life a subject that, in lesser hands, could seem dreadfully dull. Brown's work is the standard for which all other works on government information must be measured. * John Cannan, Faculty Scholarship Librarian & Legal Research Instructor, Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law *

Author Information

Christopher C. Brown is Reference Librarian and Coordinator of Government Documents at the University of Denver, Main Library, USA.

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