Guide to Popular U.S. Government Publications

Recommended supplement

According to its author, William Bailey, the main purpose of this guide (ISBN 1-56308-031-1), published by Libraries Unlimited, Inc., fax: (303) 220-8843, is to call attention "to the diversity, instruction, and value found in government publications." The Guide to Popular U.S. Government Publications, now in its fourth edition, consists of about 2,500 titles.
Arranged alphabetically by title under main topic and subtopic, the entries include information on issuing agency, date of publication, illustrative material, stock number and price, and Superintendent of Documents classification number. While Mr. Bailey is the compiler of the material he gives credit to LeRoy Schwarzkopf for the selection criteria, which Mr. Bailey says has not been altered. In Schwarzkopf's words, the criteria remain "currency or long-term popular interest" with the publications "geared to the general reader, rather than to the professional or technician." In selecting publications, William Bailey read each introduction, noting whether a statement indicated the text was for laypersons; he chose only those that were. He selected congressional committee reports for their full complement of expert and citizen testimony on current issues of importance. Otherwise, he followed one rule, "to select every carefully prepared publication that was absorbing and exhibited wide appeal."

The Guide's table of contents is broken down into a series of parts that cover many aspects of a citizen's life (e.g., birth control, boating, children, climate, etc.). Two sections that directly concern a business student's interest are:

1.	2.
Business, Economics, and Industry General Banking, Finance, Investment International Trade Small Business	Careers and Occupations Careers Occupations Civil Service Getting a Job

Mr. Bailey offered one last thought in his introduction:
About current developments and use of government publications. The best products now going are the Statistical Abstract, the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book, and the County and City Data Book on diskettes and CD-ROMS. These business and educational tools are of exceptional worth. Much of the data contained in the statistical bonanzas are repackaged everyday and sold at a high price. I advise people who need to use authoritative demographic and related data to call and order the products from Customer Services, U.S. Bureau of the Census at (301) 763-4794.

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Guide to Popular U.S. Government Publications

ISBN 1-56308-031-1
For more information, call
Libraries Unlimited, Inc
Fax: (303) 220-8843