FDLP Resource Guides: U.S. Department of Homeland Security: DHS Resources

Overview

The DHS publishes on a variety of topics, including on cultural events and scientific data. Whether on a DHS, U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), or an interagency website, the general public can access these publications for free.

DHS Publications

Featured DHS Publications

The DHS Publications Library contains digitized works by the department. Click on the side arrows to see the featured publications by topic:

Border Security

Find topics related to protecting the United States borders. Below are some featured publications:

Election Security

Find topics related to the electoral process. Below are some featured publications:

Preventing Terrorism and Targeted Violence

Find topics related to protecting against terrorist threats. Below are some featured publications:

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Find topics related to WMD. Below are some featured publications:

DHS Libraries

Library	Information
FEMA National Emergency Training Center	Find resources on "fire, emergency management, and other all-hazards subjects."
USCG Academy Library	Check out the information and library services.
USCIS History Office and Library	Explore historical data on Federal immigration and citizenship.

DHS Technology Clearinghouse

The DHS Technology Clearinghouse contains "final results of homeland security technology research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities." Below are some of the topics to explore:

Advanced sciences
Cybersecurity
Emergency Response and Resilience
Terrorism and Targeted Violence

Technologically Speaking Podcast

Check out this podcast series by the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), which "delivers insightful, thought-provoking, and unscripted conversations about timely national security challenges and the scientific solutions S&T is developing to tackle them."

Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL)

HSDL is the "nation's premier collection of documents related to homeland security policy, strategy, and organizational management." DSH National Preparedness Directorate, FEMA, and the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security sponsor HDSL. The public can access approximately half of the items in HSDL without an account.

DHS Publications using GPO Resources

GPO has information and publications about the DHS. Featured examples include the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP), FDLP Academy, and GovInfo. Click on the tabs of this box to learn more about these resources.

The CGP is one GPO resource to find DHS publications. The following information is about one search strategy using the Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) class numbers.

Go to the CGP
Click on the "Advanced" button in the main menu.
Select "SuDoc Class Number."
Type in the SuDoc class number (see table below for DHS examples)
Click "Go."
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.

DHS Department or Operational Component	SuDoc Class Number
U.S. Department of Homeland Security	HS
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency	HS 2.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection	HS 4.100:
Transportation Security Administration	HS 4.300:
U.S. Secret Service	HS 9.

Freely available for the general public, the FDLP Academy offers webinars and webcasts for Federal Depository Libraries. Its mission is to "create and deliver enhanced educational opportunities to the FDLP community by fostering collaboration, by facilitating knowledge sharing, and through the application of new methods and use of multiple mediums" about U.S. Government resources. The following webinars contain DHS-related information that may be helpful for library professionals and the general public.

	Disaster Preparedness: Helping Individuals and Communities Prepare Recorded on September 22, 2022 Length of Time: 60 minutes Speakers: Nana Kaneko, Moira Corcoran, and Michael Verrier (FEMA)
	Engaging with USCIS, Online Tools and Citizenship Resources Recorded on December 4, 2020 Length of Time: 46 minutes Speaker: Kristina Carty-Pratt (USCIS)
	The Homeland Security Digital Library: Keeping at the Forefront Recorded on February 11, 2025 Length of Time: 47 minutes Speakers: Amber Dashnaw and Greta Marlatt (Homeland Security Digital Library)
	Information about the U.S. Fire Administration: Publications, Outreach Materials, and the National Emergency Training Center Library Recorded on November 3, 2023 Length of Time: 27 minutes Speakers: Tomara Arrington and Caroline Hassler (U.S. Fire Administration)

GovInfo provides free access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal government. GovInfo has a collection of Congressionally Mandated Reports from the U.S. Coast Guard, some of which are featured below.

Domestic Icebreaking Operations

Date: July 2024
Quoted excerpt: "The Coast Guard is authorized to develop, establish, maintain, and operate icebreaking facilities on waters other than the high seas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The domestic icebreaking mission is conducted in the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions, and encompasses four mission priorities: search and rescue; urgent response to vessels; exigent community services; and, facilitation of navigation... The Coast Guard’s domestic icebreaking fleet consists of 33 assets categorized into four levels of icebreaking capability – heavy, medium, light, and ice-capable."

Enforcement of Coastwise Laws

Date: April 2024
Quoted excerpt: "The U.S. Coast Guard, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other federal agencies, enforces Coastwise Laws under chapters 121 and 551 of title 46, United States Code."

Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Date: September 2024
Quoted excerpt: "The Coast Guard conducts searches for explosive devices in performance of its maritime law enforcement and ports, waterways, and coastal security missions. The Coast Guard maintains diving capabilities, underwater remotely operated vehicles, and canine explosive detection teams to perform these operations. If an explosive threat is discovered, external resources are called on for mitigation or disposal."