Top Ten Facts about
Federal Documents in Milner Library
1. Most government documents may be checked out of the library.
Documents follow standard circulation patterns that exist in Milner Library. As in the rest of the library, monographs may be checked out from the library, whereas reference works and periodicals (magazines, newspapers, journals) may not leave the building. There are some exceptions to these rules, such as Census titles and War of the Rebellion Official Records. If in doubt, ask Angie for help.
2. Milner has a large documents collection, though only a small percentage is cataloged.
The documents collection consists of more than 1 million volumes. Historically, documents were not cataloged as they entered the library. Consequently, there is a large backlog of uncataloged documents shelved in the stacks. Approximately only 10% is in the online catalog. Since 1996, the library has purchased records for all documents monographs. Additionally, all current documents periodicals are checked in and cataloged in Milner’s Online Catalog. If a search in the online catalog proves unsuccessful, don’t despair! You can:
1. Contact docs staff for assistance, or
2. Perform the search in GPOFirstsearch or I-SHARE (to retrieve a SuDoc so that you may search for it in our stacks).
3. Documents are shelved using a different classification system than the rest of the library.
Unlike the subject-based Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal classification systems used on other floors of the library, the government’s Superintendent of Documents classification system uses an arrangement that groups together publications by the same government author. Within an agency or department, publications are also grouped according to the subordinate organization. The purpose of the system is to uniquely identify, logically relate, and physically arrange each publication so that all publications of a single agency or department may be found together. [A distinctive feature of the SuDoc System is a colon within the call number.]
4. Resources in the documents collection cover a wide range of subject areas and come in many forms.
Documents cover subjects ranging from Aging to Zoology. These resources may be in the form of electronic resources such as CDs, DVDs, videos, and websites. They also arrive as print resources such as maps, directories, handbooks, periodicals yearbooks, technical reports, bills, laws, regulations, globes, posters, and bookmarks. They may also include microform products including microfiche and microfilm. We even receive documents in the form of magnets, pencils, and statistics wheels.
5. The documents collection is a great resource for statistical information.
One of the major functions of the federal government is collecting and analyzing data to satisfy legal requirements. More than 100 federal agencies are authorized to collect and disseminate statistics, though three agencies supply the most used data in the nation:
The documents collection, particularly our desk reference collection, contains current statistical resources covering a wide range of topics.
A handout on the statistical sources in the collection is located at the Information Desk and in the handout display on the second floor.
6. Current documents periodicals are located in their own area on floor two.
All current documents periodicals are cataloged and checked into the online catalog and shelved in our documents current periodicals section. This is located in the southwest corner on the second floor of the library. Ultimately, the issues located in this area are bound and shelved in the appropriate area in the document stacks.
7. Among the most used titles in the documents collection is the Federal Census Manuscript microfilm reels.
Typically used by family researchers and individuals researching historic information about a community, these resources provide demographic data on communities as well as detailed information about specific individuals and families. A handout on the collection is located at the Information Desk and in the handout display on the second floor.
8. Milner Library is a selective depository.
As a selective depository we do not receive all that is available from the government. We determine what resources we will receive through the federal depository library program based on the needs of our users and constituents of the 15th Congressional District. Currently, we select 60% of those item numbers that are available. As a selective we must retain documents for a minimum of five years. After five years, we may discard the piece after first offering it to other depositories in Illinois.
9. Milner Library is among the oldest depositories in the nation.
ISNU was just months old when Illinois Representative Owen Lovejoy designated the University Library as a depository for federal publications! Since 1858, we have received many publications from the government—all without charge. We have approximately one million items in the documents collection.
10. We provide open access of the documents collection for community members.
According to federal law, all government depositories must make their collections available to the public. Milner Library is a historic player in principle that citizens should have free, unimpeded, local-access to official information produced by their Government. Milner Library and other depositories safeguard the availability to access the government information now and that it should be available in the future. To check out resources from the library, community members must qualify for a Courtesy Card. (Seek assistance at the Access Services Desk for more information on requesting a Courtesy Card.)
For more information about the Federal Government Documents in Milner, contact:
Angela Bonnell—Government Documents Librarian
abonne@ilstu.edu
Floor 2 Milner, Office 217
(309) 438-2354
Return to Government Information Subject Page
