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A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experiences of working at the main building of the San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) in California.

The Office of the Federal Register introduced on January 20, 2009, the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents, a new serial that replaces its weekly counterpart and provides immediate coverage of presidential activities. This article examines its provenance, its predecessor, and the compilations in print and electronic editions. A portion of the article deals with presidential inaugural addresses, past and present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of federal legislation, mandated by Article I, Section 7 of the United States Constitution, is in the form of bills and joint resolutions. This article reviews aspects of the lawmaking process in the context of constitutional amendments; commemorative legislation; pork-barrel measures, including logrolling; and a bill about the United coinage system. Throughout, the examples given show the difficulty of passage from bill to law, made deliberately arduous by the framers of the Constitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various serials related to treaties and executive agreements are discussed within the context of historical events. Mention is made of the constitutional, statutory, and administrative authority that requires the U.S. government to negotiate and publish treaties and executive agreements. Examples include those compacts concerning the Panama Canal and the reduction of nuclear weapons. The many official sources are noted, with a description of their purpose and role in the treaty process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on several issues on the 2000 census, application of the fair use doctrine in the copyright law and a web site for federal periodicals in the United States. Documentation of the net undercount in 1990; Utilization of the differential undercount in the 2000 census; Analysis of the Supreme Court case Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.

Focuses on implications of libraries for the worldwide Internet divide. Provision of free access to the Internet and other technologies; Details on the Federal Trade Dilution Act; Agreement on the domain name management system between the Department of Commerce, Network Solutions, Inc. and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.

Discusses the 19th Century Amistad affair, based on an 1841 US Supreme Court document. Film and opera adaptations of the Amistad affair; Availability of historic documents at the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana; Historical account of the Amistad affair based on popular sources; Highlights of the decision in the matter of `United States v. The Libellants and Claimants of the Schooner Amistad.'

Focuses on the progress and controversies surrounding the countdown for the United States Census Bureau's census statistics for the year 2000. Media attention on the decennial count of population and housing; Consequential enumerations conducted on a five-year schedule; Data collection on minority-owned and women-owned businesses; Components of the census of governments.

During the 1990s a sometimes bitter controversy in legal circles has raged concerning what has become known as “citation reform.” Major proponents of reform include small legal publishers, the American Bar Association, and the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Major opponents include the West Group and a number of federal judges and court clerks. Proponents argue for a universal, public domain, vendor neutral, medium neutral citation system (short title: universal citation) based on two premises: (1) a change is necessary to break the West Group's virtual monopoly on its own citation system, which the courts have up to now declared worthy of copyright protection; and (2) the proposed system is objectively superior to West's version. Because West's citation system is used extensively by the courts, its monopoly status keeps the cost of legal research artificially high at a time when inexpensive technologies like the Internet and CD-ROMs are increasingly making it possible to lower the cost of access to case law. In addition, compared to the West system, a public domain, vendor neutral system is simpler, is permanent when the case is first issued, is uniform for all jurisdictions, covers all formats, print and electronic, and is easier to understand. This article explores the issues surrounding the controversy, discusses the pros and cons of both systems, and analyzes current copyright cases that are likely to determine the outcome of the argument. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Reports on the controversy in legal circles during the 1990s concerning `citation reform.' Proponents consist of small legal publishers, the American Bar Association, and the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) while opponents consist of the West Group and a number of federal judges and court clerks; Issues linked to the controversy; Pros and cons of both systems; Analysis of current copyright cases.

Discusses the Geographic Names Information system (GNIS) which was developed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) as the official storage of geographic names information throughout the country. Availability of different resources for related information; Example of a geographical name search; Contribution of Microsoft Corp. to the system; Other uses of Geographic Information System technology.

Looks at an `American Libraries' article, in the February 1997 issue. Claims by the author of the article; Information on the Index to United States Government Periodicals (IUSGP); Requirements of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR);Discussion of study by the Government Printing Office (GPO), called the `1996 Study to Identify Measures Necessary for a Successful Transition to a More Electronic Federal Depository Library Program.

No abstract available for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Opinion. Examines hunting the of animals with focus on the `Duck Stamp Collection.' What psychologists, philosophers and poets have discovered about the act of hunting; Availability of the collection on the Internet; Criticisms leveled at the quality of the Collection on the Web; What instigated the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Collection and Design Program.

Focuses on the Government Printing Office Electronic Information Enhancement Act of 1993 which aimed to establish in the Government Printing Office (GPO) a means of enhancing electronic public access to a wide range of Federal electronic information. Facts about the provisions of the Act; Information on the GPO's gateways, home page, and serials; Grand vision or great confusion.

Reviews Chapter 9 of Title 44 of the United States Code to eliminate the bullet symbol from the House portion of the Congressional Record (CR) effective September 1, 1995 on a trial basis for the remainder of the 99th Congress, 1st Session. When the record first became bulleted; Why the Printing Act of 1895 has more important consequences for documents librarians than the CR provision; What the historical record of the Record suggests.

Discusses the problem of citizens in the United States in accessing government information. History of the putative right to government information; Right to receive information; Supreme Court case `Houchins v. KQED Inc.'

No abstract available for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

No abstract available for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Discusses the various aspects of serial sales subscriptions for libraries by the office of Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs). Price structure of sales publications; Factors for increase in price increases; Publication of Commerce Business Daily.

Discusses the various aspects of the Internet network. Description of the Internet; Drawbacks to use of Internet; Definitions of Internet lingo; Kinds of federal government serials accessible on the Internet.

Explores a specific aspect of the United States doctrine about the separation of the church and state. Debate about the teaching of the theory of evolution in the public schools; Failure of the US Court to render clarifying decisions in a number of related expressions of the establishment and free exercise clauses; Reaction of Christian fundamentalists; Politics of religion.

Presents an overview of the 27th amendment to the Constitution of the United States, otherwise known as the `congressional pay amendment', proposed by House Representative James Madison. Unusual aspect of the 27th Amendment; Time spent for fulfilling the requirements for ratification of the law under Article V of the Constitution; Congressional posturing; Unresolved issues of the amendment.

Presents an overview of the United States law which established the foundations of the American patent system. Categories of patents; Government publication, `The Story of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office'; Aspects of patent search.

Opinion. Focuses on the factors associated with the International Intergovernmental Organization (IGO) and the Nongovernmental Organization (NGO). Reference to the impact which the IGOs have on world affairs; Non acceptance of the IGO and the NGO; Information on both organizations.

The Reference Librarian is delighted to wel come the sage of government documents as a regular columnist. Joe Morehead has the rare combination of wisdom, knowledge and wit so rarely found in the library world He is by now an institution, and about as well known and respected as anyone involved with the finer points of teaching. And for those who are unfamiliar with Joe, the following will serve as background: Morehead is the author of Introduction to United States Government Information Sources (Libraries Unlimited, 1996), now in its 5th edition. He has contributed articles and columns to several professional journals, among them RQ, the Journal of Government Information, Government Information Quarterly, The Serials Librarian, and Documents to the People. He was the 1996 recipient of the Isadore Gilbert Mudge-R.R. Bowker Award given by the Reference and Adult Services Division of the American Library Association. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Examines the evolution of patents from printed to CD-ROM and now the Internet. Reference to Abraham Lincoln, who was famous for patents and other activities; Background information on patents in the United States; Examination of United States patent classification; Information on automated patent systems.

Comments on the accessibility of information about the United States' government through the Internet. Reason given for the reduction of government information; Number of government sites available on the Internet; Identification of agencies who are listed.

No abstract available for this article. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]