About the Department
The Government Documents Department contains publications published and distributed by the United States Government Printing Office. As a congressionally designated depository, the Cleveland Public Library selects publications originating from all agencies of the federal government and covering all topics. The Library has been a federal depository since 1886 and has consistently selected a high percentage of the available publications, making it one of the more comprehensive collections in the Cleveland area.
The Collection
- U.S. Census: 1790 to date, is available in a combination of book, microform and CD-ROM. Included are the decennial Census of Population and Housing and the non-decennial Agriculture and Economic Censuses (Retail, Wholesale and Services).
- Census Abstracts: City, county, MSA and state populations in the County and City Data Book and the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book.
- Statistical Abstract of the U.S.: Summary of America`s social, political, and economic organization, with Historical Statistics of the U.S., Colonial Times to 1970.
- Congress and Legislation: Biographical information on the legislators; committee assignments; Federal department rosters; and domestic and foreign consular listings. Progress of any legislation can be traced using these resources.
- Congressional Information: Congressional committee hearings, reports, documents, prints, public laws, and legislative histories back to 1789.
- Consumer Publications: The Consumer Information Catalog, Subject Bibliographies, and the online Sales Product Catalog. The Consumer`s Resource Handbook helps consumers navigate today`s complex marketplace.
- Laws and Regulations: Current public laws, as well as permanent volumes of the Statutes-At-Large and the U.S. Code. The Code of Federal Regulations dates back to 1938. Federal Register dates back to 1936.
- POTUS: Official activities and communications of the President of the United States, including Executive Orders and Proclamations.
- Magazines: A selection of magazines and other recurring publications are on display in the southwest corner room. Index back to 1970.
- Patent Collection: The Government Documents Department is also a U.S. Patent and Trademark Depository Library.
- Statistics: Search federal statistical publications from the 1960`s to the present by geographic divisions, by commodities and income, and by numerous other qualifiers, including age, race, sex, and education.