Introduction

Government documents are housed on the first floor of the UWF library. Assistance with these collections is available at the Reference Desk (850-474-2424). The Documents staff may be consulted for special requests.

Features of the Collection

Government documents are publications of the federal, state, and local governments. Federal, Florida and local documents are available as print materials, microforms, CD-ROMs or DVDs, and web pages.

Since 1968, the library has been a partial depository (30% of available materials) for federal documents published by the GPO. The Documents Collection also contains the official publications known as the Serial Set, which includes Senate and House Reports, Executive Documents and Reports, and Senate Treaty Documents.

UWF is also a long-standing recipient of documents from the State Library of Florida. The Florida State Documents Depository Program is designed to make state documents from all agencies readily available to the people of the state.

Some local documents from city and county agencies within Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are also collected. After three years, these materials are transferred to Special Collections.

Accessing Government Documents

Documents held by UWF Libraries may be found by searching the UWF Library Catalog. Since 1997, increasing numbers of government documents are available via the Internet. Where possible, links to these are provided in the UWF catalog.

The research guides on U.S. Government Documents, Florida Government Documents, Pensacola Area Sites, and Law, are also useful identifiers of government documents.

Arrangement of the Collection

Government documents are shelved according to unique classification systems that allow them to be arranged by publishing agency. Federal documents are arranged by the Superintendent of Documents classification numbers. Florida and local documents also employ similar classification systems arranged by agency. Local documents are retained on the first floor for three years and then moved to a permanent home in Special Collections. Federal, state, and local documents are shelved separately. A small selection of current statistical and ready reference documents are shelved at the Reference Desk for use within the library.

"May I check out materials?"

Almost all print and CD-ROM/DVD documents may be checked out at the circulation desk. Microfiche copies of documents do not circulate but may be scanned using the microfiche reader in the Ducments area and saved as an electronic PDF file.

Getting Documents from Other Libraries

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) borrows materials, including government documents, that the UWF Library does not own. Government documents may be requested using the Interlibray Loan Request Form.

Maintained by: Shari Johnson, Government Documents Coordinator
University of West Florida Library
Date Last Updated: October 2008