Federal Government Information

You can find many U.S. federal government documents by using the search box on any Library web page to search BruKnow, Brown's online catalog. At the results page, limit your results to "Books" to see records for government documents. Most of the records for government documents you find in BruKnow will link you to the full-text of the document itself.

Some examples...

• In the search box, enter the keywords: congress hearing supreme court nomination roberts

Among the hits retrieved, you'll find a link to the 2005 congressional hearing on the nomination of John G. Roberts, Jr. to be Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

• In the search box, enter the keywords: congress flu

Among the hits retrieved, you'll find many congressional hearings about swine flu, avian flu, flu shot shortages, and other related topics.

• In the search box, enter the keywords: climate change

Among the hits retrieved, you'll find a number of documents from government agencies, such as: Climate Change, by the U.S. National Weather Service, 2007.

For additional help finding U.S. government information, consider the following research guides:

• Federal Government Information on the Web
• Finding Congressional Information
• Data Resources in the Social Sciences

Brown University Library is one of more than 1,100 federal depository libraries across the country. These libraries provide local access to documents published by the U.S. federal government. Staff at depository libraries can assist you in identifying government publications that might be useful for your research, and locating the nearest copy of the publication you want.

Many government publications are available electronically via the web. In addition, depository libraries hold collections of printed government documents (mainly historical materials prior to the 1990s).

PLEASE NOTE: Brown's physical collection of U.S. government documents is currently inaccessible due to a collection assessment and relocation project. Print copies of government documents may be available on-site at other depository libraries in Rhode Island or via interlibrary loan. For more information, please contact Daniel O'Mahony.

Brown's depository collection of U.S. government documents is available to the general community (Brown-affiliated as well as non-Brown users). Public access computer workstations (that do not require a Brown-ID login) can be used in the Rockefeller Library to search for and retrieve government documents. Please contact Daniel O'Mahony for further assistance.