Created for Reference intern training on government information and government documents.

1. Government Information and You
Reference Intern Training
Lynda M. Kellam

2. Steps to finding a government document:
1. If a student comes up to you with a title and/or SUDOC
#, always re-check it in the catalog.
2. If they have a SUDOC # and no title, use the Call #
Search.
3. If you still can’t find it, try to replicate their search to re-
find it.

3. Steps to finding a government document:
4. Look at the catalog record.
 Is the item available online?
 Is it on microfiche or microform?
 Is it a NC document or a US document?
 Note the size of the item (in the Description section).
 And make sure you write down the number correctly!
5. If you still can’t find it ...
 If you can’t find an item that is supposed to be in the gov doc
stacks, check the microfiche (and vice versa).
 If it’s a large item, check the oversize section.
 If all fails, check the shelflist to see clues to its location (for the
truly ambitious).
 And if you’re still stumped, ask Susan or Lynda for help!

4. Example 1:

5. Example 1:

6. Example 2:

8. Example 3:

9. Example 4:

10. Example 4:

11. Government Information
Brainstorming

12. Levels of Government
 Local
 State
 Federal
 International Organizations aka Intergovernmental
Organizations (IGOs)
 Formed by governments (e.g., the United Nations) and
have legal personality by virtue of a treaty
 Can be universal (UN), regional (EU), or subregional
(Benelux)
 Non-governmental Organizations
 Can be international, national, or local

13. Government Information Pop Quiz

14. Where can I find
information
about my polling
place?

15. I need
information on
malaria in
Ghana.

16. I’m looking for
statistics on
cancer in the
United States.

17. How many
students at
UNCG live on-
campus?

18. I’m trying to find
demographic info
on the US
federal prison
population.

19. I’m working on a paper
for my international
relations class, and I
need some introductory
info on U.S. foreign
relations with India.

20. I’m in a conflict
resolution class and
I need to find
reports on Africa
and stability of its
regions.

21. I’m trying to find
info on wetlands in
North Carolina. Do
you know where I
could start?