Basic Collection of U.S. Government Documents
Oakton Community College Library participates in the Federal Depository Library Program - a network of libraries that provide free, public access to information generated by the United States Government.
In 1977, the Basic Collection was developed to identify the major Federal documents that depository libraries should include in their collections. This list has been periodically updated since then.
A depository library is REQUIRED to have the titles in the Basic Collection accessible for immediate use by users. How this is accomplished is a local decision. At this time, the Library links to all the titles in the Basic Collection from this page.
- American FactFinder, data in the form of maps, tables, and reports from a variety of Census Bureau sources.
- Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids, Ben Franklin introduces children to the U.S. Government in an easy-to-understand format.
- Budget of the United States Government, the budget message of the President and information about the President's budget proposals.
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, gives access to a database of all Federal programs available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally -recognized Indian tribal governments; Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals.
- Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, a search and retrieval tool for historical and current federal publications and direct links to those that are available online.
- Census of Population and Housing
- Code of Federal Regulations, the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
- Congressional Directory, provides information about members of Congress, including short biographies, committee memberships, and terms of service, and also lists officials of the courts, military establishments, and other Federal departments and agencies.
- Congressional Record (daily), the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.
- Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation, provides an analysis and interpretation of the Constitution, the landmark legal document of the United States, and includes annotations of cases decided by the Supreme Court of the United States.
- County and City Data Book, official population and housing data from the U.S. Census, including business and other data for all U.S. counties, cities with 25,000 people, and places of more than 2,500 people.
- Economic Indicators, a monthly report of economic information on prices, employment, unemployment, wages, business activity, purchasing power, credit, and Federal finance from April 1995 forward.
- Economic Report of the President, an annual overview of the nation's economic progress.
- Federal Register (daily), official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.
- GPO Access, free electronic access to information from all three branches of the Federal Government, published by the U.S. Government Printing Office.
- Bicentennial Edition: Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970* - Part 1 and Part 2, provides historical data about population, migration, labor, prices, national income and expenditures, consumer income and expenditures, construction and housing, manufactures, transportation, communications, and energy, among other statistics.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, published every two years, provides information to people making decisions about their future work lives, including training and education needed, earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, and working conditions about a variety of occupations.
- Public Papers of the President, the official publication of United States Presidents' public writings, addresses, and remarks.
- Social Security Handbook, the basic guide to Social Security programs.
- STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce for business, trade, and economic information from across the Federal Government.
- Statistical Abstract of the United States, published since 1878, is a comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States, including agriculture, finance, housing, energy, health, law enforcement, population, transportation, and vital statistics, among other data.
- Statutes at Large, the permanent collection of all laws and resolutions enacted during each session of Congress.
- United States Code, the codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States.
- United States Government Manual, the official handbook of the Federal Government, provides comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches.
- United States Reports, contain opinions by the Supreme Court of the United States.
- USA Counties, features over 6,500 data items for the United States, States and counties from a variety of sources. Files include data published for 2008 estimates and many items from the 2000 Census of Population and Housing, the 1990 census, the 1980 census and the 2002, 1997, 1992, 1987, 1982 and 1977 economic censuses.
- Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents, the official publication of presidential statements, messages, remarks, and other materials released by the White House Press Secretary.