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FDLP Resource Guides
Beginning summer 2023, we are updating our guides. You may notice changes to the look and feel of our existing guides. If you have any questions or experience any issues, please contact askGPO.

Beyond FDLP.gov

Major Textbooks Focusing on U.S. Government Structure, Processes, and Resources

Having a textbook or two nearby is always handy. Please note publication dates.


Abbott-Hoduski, Bernadine E., ed. Cataloging Government Documents: A Manual of Interpretation for AACR2. Chicago: American Library Association, 1984.

Boyd, Anne M. United States Government Publications. 3rd ed. Revised by Rae E. Ripps. New York: H.W. Wilson, 1949, reprinted 1952.

Brown, Christopher C.. Mastering United States Government Information: Sources and Services. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 2020.

Caro, Susanne, ed. Government Information Essentials. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2018.

Cheney, Debora. The Complete Guide to Citing Government Information Resources: a Manual for Social Science
& Business Research. 3rd ed. Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service, 2002.

Ennis, Lisa. Government Documents Librarianship: A Guide for the Neo-Depository Era. Medford, NJ: Information Today. 2014.

Forte, Eric et al. Fundamentals of Government Information: Mining, Finding, Evaluating, and Using Government Resources. 2nd ed. Chicago: Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2016.

Garvin, Peggy, ed. Government Information Management in the 21st Century: International Perspectives. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2011.

Guide to U.S. Government Publications. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Research, Inc., 2019.

Herman, Edward. Locating United States Government Information: A Guide to Sources. 2nd ed. Buffalo, NY: W.S. Hein, 1999.

Hernon, Peter et al. United States Government Information: Policies and Sources. Westfield, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2002.

Latham, Bethany. Finding and Using U.S. Government Information: A Practical Guide for Librarians. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2018.

Morehead, Joe. Introduction to United States Government Information Sources. 6th ed. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 1999.

Morrison, Andrea, ed. Managing Electronic Government Information in Libraries: Issues and Practices. Chicago: American Library Association, 2008.

Ormes, Dorothy. Free Government E-Resources for Youth: Inform, Inspire, and Activate. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 2016.

Robinson, Judith Schiek. Tapping the Government Grapevine: The User-Friendly Guide to U.S. Government Information Sources. 3rd ed. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1998.

Schmeckebier, Laurence F. and Roy B. Eastin. Government Publications and Their Use. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution, 1969.

Sears, Jean L. and Moody, Marilyn K. Using Government Information Sources: Electronic and Print. 3rd ed. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 2001.

Sevetson, Andrea, ed. The Serial Set: Its Make-up and Content. Bethesda, MD: ProQuest, 2013.

Sherayko, Carolyn C., ed. Cataloging Government Publications Online. New York: Haworth Press, 1994.

Simons, Alexandra, et al. Sudden Selector's Guide to Government Publications. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2017.

Sinclair, Gwen. Government Information: A Reference for Librarians in Hawai‘i. 2nd ed. Honolulu: Pressbooks, 2024. Retrieved from https://pressbooks.oer.hawaii.edu/govinfo2ed/.

Textbooks that Include Information about Federal Information Resources

Berring, Robert C. and Elizabeth Edinger. Finding the Law. 12th ed. St. Paul, Minnesota: West Academic Publishing, 2005.

Larsgaard, Mary Lynette. Map Librarianship: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, 1998.

Lopresti, Robert, "Chapter 07 - Government Sources" (2016). The Research Process: Strategies for Undergraduate Students. 7. https://cedar.wwu.edu/research_process/7

Photograph of colorful CFR covers

Photograph of colorful CFR covers.