Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications

Description of publication

 

The Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications (MOCAT) is the major tool for finding information about government publications. The catalog marked its 100th year of publication in 1995. In the preface of the January 1895 issue, the superintendent of documents, Francis A. Crandall, expressed the hope that it would be the "initial number in a long series of official Monthly Catalogues."
Over the years many changes have occurred. A significant change took place in 1976, when "Anglo-American cataloging rules" were first used to catalog publications appearing in the Monthly Catalog. Availability of the Monthly Catalog in electronic formats, first on tape and later in other formats, has enabled the Government Printing Office to make information on federal documents available to a greater number of people. Beginning in 1996, a CD-ROM version of the MOCAT was introduced. Most of the features of the traditional paper version were included in the CD-ROM version. An on-line version of the catalog is also now available on the World Wide Web. These new MOCAT formats will make it easier for users to retrieve information about federal publications. The paper version of the MOCAT will continue to be available with shorter entries and a keyword title index. The problem with the paper version, however, is that you'll be lucky to find one (the microfiche version was discontinued after the December 1995 issue). This is just one example of how books and paper libraries may become things of the past; in the future we will have "media centers."

The bibliographic entries in the Monthly Catalog are arranged in Superintendent of Documents classification number order. Each record is also assigned a unique catalog number, which consists of a two-digit prefix representing the catalog year, followed by a sequential number beginning with 1 in the first issue of each year. Within this arrangement, the publications of each government author are further identified by the name and address of the issuing agency.

Catalog entries in MOCAT may be accessed by title keyword index (an alphabetical list of truncated titles, arranged by important words selected from publication titles). You should consult the CD-ROM or on-line version of the MOCAT for indexing accessed by:

The GPO operates 24 bookstores in major metropolitan centers around the country. Also, nearly 1,400 libraries participate in the Federal Depository Library Program as information links, while 53 are designated as regional depository libraries. These collections, which are tailored to public needs, are open to the public. To find these bookstores and libraries, consult the Superintendent of Documents on the World Wide Web. One thing to keep in mind is that some of these publications qualify as "public domain" (i.e., as a taxpayer they belong to you), so if you want to print them and sell them, you can.

Something to Think About

How about testing your basic knowledge of the MOCAT? What does the acronym MOCAT stand for? Which agency of the U.S. Government publishes the MOCAT? Do you know how to get in touch with the Government Printing Office? In the "Recommended Supplement" below, which two sections of the Guide to Popular U.S. Government Publications should most concern business students?




Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications
www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs
bybsys@access.digex.net
CD available

Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications

Monthly publication
ISSN 0362-6830
For more information, call
the Superintendent of Documents of the U.S. Government Printing Office
Phone: (202) 512-1800
Fax: (202) 512-2250