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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.

Open Educational Resources

Overview

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) offers OER for the general public and library community. Below are four examples: Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government, the Catalog to the U.S. Government (CGP), the FDLP Academy, and the FDLP Resource Guides. The four examples are divided into two categories: general OER and resources for K-12 instruction.

OER Examples from GPO

GPO offers some OER about U.S. Government information, including its FDLP Academy and FDLP Resource Guides.

Screenshot of "FDLP Academy"

FDLP Academy

  • The FDLP hosts a series of live webinars on a variety of topics about U.S. Government information and resources for librarians and the general public. The Repository has recorded webinars with accompanying slides and supplemental information.
Screenshot of "FDLP Resource Guides"

FDLP Resource Guides

  • These guides focus on U.S. Government resources, data, and documents; and information about the FDLP for Federal Depository Library staff. The guides are for librarians and the general public, with some guides highlighting resources for children.

K-12 OER Examples from GPO

Screenshot of Ben's Guide and the CGP

GPO offers some K-12 instructional OER. Two of them are Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government and how to locate publications for children in the CGP. Click on the side arrows in this box to learn more.

Screenshot of Ben's Guide

Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government 

This online resource has several topics concerning the U.S. Government, including the elections process. Select the appropriate grade-level to learn more about this topic. Grades pre-K to 12.

CGP Banner

CGP

Another GPO resource to find U.S. Government publications for children and educators is the CGP. The following information shows three search options to try: keyword, genre/form, and Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) class.

Screenshot of CGP using the keyword search option

CGP | Keyword Search Option

  1. Go to the CGP
  2. Click on the "Advanced" button in the main menu.
  3. Select "LC Subjects keyword(s)."
  4. Type in "juvenile literature" for "Enter word/"phrase."
  5. Click "Go."
  6. Search results appear in order of publication year (newest to oldest).

Screenshot of CGP using the expert search option

CGP | Genre/Form Search Option

  1. Go to the CGP
  2. Click on the "Expert" button in the main menu.
  3. Copy and paste the following text into the search box:
    1. WRD = ( "activity book" ) OR WSU = ( "activity books" ) OR WRD = ( "coloring book" ) OR WSU = ( "coloring books" )
  4. Click "Go."
  5. Search results appear in order of publication year (newest to oldest).

Screenshot of table with SuDoc class numbers

CGP | SuDoc Class Search Option (Part I)

The above table has the SuDoc classes that have been created specifically for children's publications.

 

Screenshot of CGP using the SuDoc class search option

CGP | SuDoc Class Search Option (Part II)

  1. Go to the CGP
  2. Click on the "Advanced" button in the main menu.
  3. Select "SuDoc Class Number."
  4. Type in the SuDoc class number (for example I 53.71:)
  5. Click "Go."
  6. Search results appear in order of publication year (newest to oldest).
    • Some search results lists will include class numbers in the SuDoc column other than the number searched. This happens if a catalog record contains both old and new SuDoc numbers. The CGP displays the original SuDoc number on the search results page, and the current number is only visible once a record is opened. GPO is investigating whether this can be changed.

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For questions or comments, contact the FDLP Resource Guides Team at @askGPO