Government Documents Collection

Government Documents is administered through the Reference Department. Pickler Memorial Library was designated a U.S. Government Depository in 1966. It is a selective depository library, currently receiving 15% of the available federal depository documents. Government publications are located in many places in the Library because they come in many formats--periodicals, microfiche, books, pamphlets, etc. Our government publications can be found by searching the Library Catalog. Circulation of these materials is governed by the policies of the collection in which they are housed--Periodicals, Reference, General Collection, etc.

Microfiche documents are kept in the Microforms Room on first floor, filed by SuDoc (Superintendent of Documents) classification number. They cannot be checked out. Someone in the Periodicals Office will help you use them. Paper copies can be made at a cost of 10 cents per page/exposure.

The remainder of the government documents (both Missouri and U.S.) are shelved in the Documents collection at the south end of second floor. They are filed by their documents classification number. These may be checked out for 30 days. Late fine is 15 cents per day.

Both state and federal governments are moving toward disseminating government information in electronic format rather than paper. Many links are made in the Library Catalog to electronic government publications. The Documents staff has also created a list of useful government documents Web sites.

Questions about Government Documents may be directed to the Reference Desk: 785-4051.