Florida Government Documents
Through the Florida Public Documents Program administered by the State
Library, the University of West Florida Library receives selected Florida
Documents. Like federal government documents, the Florida documents collection
is comprised of a variety of material from all agencies and branches of Florida
government. Within the Florida Document collection, one finds publications as
diverse as agency annual reports to pamphlets on the preparation of native
sea foods found in the waters off Florida's coast.
Most Florida documents may be found in the documents department located on
the first floor of the library on the Pensacola campus. Florida documents held
by the University library are identified in the online catalog and are
arranged by KWIC (KeyWord-In-Context) Index number for Florida Documents. This
classification arrangement is based on agency, not subject and is similar to the
federal Superintendent of Documents (SUDOC) number. Housed here are mainly
printed documents, though there are a few microfiche and CD-ROMS in the
collection. Just as in the federal documents collections, many Florida documents
are now being published on the Internet as well as in print. The Internet
documents are an integral part of the documents collections and where known are
fully catalogued to direct users to the online catalog. Many more online documents
exist that may be found exploring the agency websites directly.
This page attempts to identify the most popular printed
and electronic tools for researching topics relating to Florida government
and state documents. For official records relating to regulatory,
statutory and judicial law consult: Information
Resources: Law . For a full discussion of statistical government
publications, consult: Information Resources: Statistics .
Research Guides
An Introduction to Florida Government
http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/fgils/flgov.html
This internet document from the State Library provides a brief overview of
the organization of the state government in Florida.
State, Local and International Resources
http://www.virtualchase.com/govdoc/jurisdiction.html
An internet seminar which is part of a Health Sciences Library Consortium
Seminar on government documents and information. While some sources are
specifically for the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, sources for research
on other states may also be found here.
Tapping the Government Grapevine. 1998. (Ref. J 83 R7)
A directory of sources that are helpful in using and locating primarily
federal government documents and information. Because state governments closely
model the federal government's organization, helpful information about how state
governments are organized can be derived from the information provided here.
Chapter 14 "Docs Populi: A Documents Toolkit" is especially helpful for
directing users to available types of information from state and local
governments.
Catalogs and Indexes
Florida Documents Index
This database is an outgrowth of the efforts of the Documents department at
the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Library to acquire and classify all public
documents distributed by the State Library of Florida under the Florida Public
Depository Program. FAU began systematically collecting Florida documents early
in 1966 and has since been able to acquire a substantial number of state
documents published prior to that date, as well as documents not distributed
through the depository program. Many of these documents are held by the
University of West Florida Library. Users of this database will need to check
the online catalog to determine if the University of West Florida holds the
publication in its documents collection.
Florida Public Documents. 1968 - (Fla. Docs. FSL 3:D 52/)
A monthly listing of state publications distributed by the State Library of
Florida under the provisions of Chapter 257.05, Florida Statutes. The listings
in this publication are arranged only by agency. There is no indexing available
by title or keyword. The State Library of Florida also periodically publishes an
annual cumulation of the monthly issues.
Monthly Checklist of State Publications. 1910-1994. (Ref. Z 1223.5
A1 U5)
A list of publications received by the Library of Congress; arranged
alphabetically by states, territories or possessions with an annual index. This
publication is useful for identifying documents predating the Florida Documents
Index. Publication ceased in 1994.
Bibliographies
Bibliography of West Florida. 1981. (Ref. Z 1272 W4 S47; also
Spec. Coll.; and FWB)
In three volumes with unbound supplements through 1991. This bibliography
seeks to list and describe all printed work relating to Pensacola and the
Western Florida counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Gulf, Holmes, Okaloosa,
Santa Rosa, Walton, and Washington.
Everglades Online
http://everglades.fiu.edu/eol/index.htm
The Everglades Online (EOL) database covers the greater Everglades
ecosystem. EOL provides access to both the increasingly-rich body of online
information resources relating to the south Florida environment, as well as to
the printed literature.
Florida Environments Online
The core of Florida Environments Online database consists of eight merged
research bibliographies including 1) Florida Ecosystems 2) Florida Ornithology,
3) Fishes of Florida, 4) Florida Herpetology, 5) Florida Geology, 6)
Bibliography of Literature Useful to the Study of Florida Plants - and the
Herbarium Library of Books and Reprints, 7) Florida FreshWater Bibliography, and
8) Florida Agricultural History.
Florida Geological Survey Publications
http://palmm.fcla.edu/fgs/
This collection consists of publications of the Florida Geologic Survey,
including Bulletins, Reports and Maps. While all of the materials are digitized
as page images, some are also searchable as full-text. The Florida Geological
Survey (FGS), established in 1907, is the only bureau within Florida state
government that provides the research, data and necessary institutional memory
to support the need for geology-related information.
Florida Heritage Collection
http://palmm.fcla.edu/fh/
The Florida Heritage Collection is an ongoing cooperative SUS project to
digitize and provide web access to materials broadly representing Florida's
history, culture, arts, literature, sciences and social sciences. Significant
materials have been selected from libraries, archives and special collections
departments of the SUS institutions. Thematic areas in this growing collection
include Native American and minority populations, exploration and development,
tourism, the natural environment, and local and regional interests.
Florida Historical Legal Documents
http://palmm.fcla.edu/law/
Florida Historical Legal Documents is a growing collection of primary source
materials surveying changes in Florida law from the time it became a territory in
1822 through 1845 when Florida became a state. Anchoring the collection, Florida
Territorial Laws is a time capsule of Florida history. Other materials in the
collection offer supplementary information about the legal, political and social
history of Florida before and after its Territorial period.
Official Publications of Florida 1821-1941. 1943.(Ref. Z
1223.5 F5 L6)
This thesis represents an early attempt to locate and document "as complete a
bibliographpy of the official publications of the state and territory of Florida as
has been possible to compile with the time and means at hand." The thesis was
completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts
in Library Science in the Graduate School of the Univerisity of Illinois. In compiling
this work, the author visited numerous libraries and agencies within the state of
Florida as well as several libraries in the state of Illinois with large interstate
collections.
Guides and Handbooks
The Florida Handbook. 1947/48 - (Ref. F 306 .F597;
Spec. Coll., and FWB)
Compiled by Allen and Joan Perry Morris, this volume is a guide to Florida
government and history. Subjects as diverse as explanations of the organization
of each branch of Florida government and historical listings of cabinet officers
to state symbols and an overview of each county can be found here. This work is
an useful work for the understanding of the workings of Florida's government.
Florida School Laws. (Fla. Docs. Ref. EDU.A 5:S 24/999; also FWB
Ref. KFF 390 .A29 1995)
A reprint from the Florida Statutes comprising the chapters which contain
laws pertaining to education.
MyFlorida.com
http://www.myflorida.com/
MyFlorida.com is the official website of the State of Florida. In addition
to links to the official websites of each branch of government and state
agencies, information pertaining to current topics of interest to Floridians and
government officials can be found here.
Statistics
Florida Population: Census Summary 2000. (Fla. Docs. Ref. UF.S 2:P
56/2000; also Ref. HA 311.5 2000 .F56 2001)
Compilation of selected statistics from the 2000 Census pertaining to
Florida by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research located at the
University of Florida.
Florida Statistical Abstract. 1967 - (Ref. HA 311 .F55; also
Spec. Collections, FWB)
An indispensable compilation of statistics collected by the government of
Florida from the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the Warrington
College of Business Administration at the University of Florida. The first place
to look for statistical information on Florida. The footnotes at the end of each
table are invaluable for tracking down additional information that may not be
published in this compilation.
Governor's Policy and Budget Recommendations
http://www.ebudget.state.fl.us/
The budget submitted by the governor to the State Legislature available via the
Internet only for the current budget under consideration. (Note: This website may only be available online
while the state legislature is in session). Available in print from 1989/1991 through 1998/1999 (Fla.Docs. GOV.A 3:B 82/) and 1999/2000
(Fla.Docs. GOV.A 3:B 83/). From 2000/2001 available on CD-ROM
(Fla.Docs. Elec. Media GOV.A 3:B 83/).
LexisNexis Statistical
The American Statistics Index (1973+), Statistical Reference Index (1980+),
and Index to International Statistics (1983+) comprise this database which
indexes sources containing statistical data. The Statistical Reference component
of this index is of particular interest to users searching for statistical
information from the state of Florida as it indexes resources compiled by state
and local governments as well as private sources. Users of this database will
need to check the online catalog to determine if the library holds the
resource. Remote access to this database is restricted to members of the SUS
community.
Uniform Crime Reports.
http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/fsac/ucr/
From the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, this website provides the
user with the various statistical information compiled by the Department
concerning crime in Florida. Reports are available online beginning with the
1994 reporting year. Prior to that time users may find similar information in:
Uniform Crime Reports, State of Florida (1974-1987) and Uniform Crime
Reports (1988-1989,1992,1992-1995,1997) (Fla. Docs. LE.A 3:C 64/).
Directories
The Clerk's Manual. 1968/1970 - (Fla. Docs. LEG.B 8:C 53/;
also Fla. Docs. Ref.)
A directory of the membership of Florida House and Senate members. Directory
information is also available at Online Sunshine.
Florida State Courts
http://www.flcourts.org/
This page contains links to directory information for the Supreme Court of
Florida and county, circuit and District Courts of Appeals (under the link Other
State Courts).
Guide to Florida Government 1987 - (Fla. Docs. LEG.B 8:G 86/;
also Fla. Docs. Ref.)
A directory to all branches of government in Florida, the Capitol Press, and
the Florida Congressional Delegation.
State Yellow Book. (Ref. JK 2403 .S77)
A directory of all 50 state governments. Updated quarterly.
MyFlorida.com: Government
http://www.myflorida.com/portal/Government
This website serves as a directory to Florida Government providing links
to the official websites of Florida agencies, cabinet agencies, and other
organizations; post secondary institutions; committees, commissions and other
organizations; and water management districts.
Selected Legislative Publications
Unlike the U.S. Congress, Florida State Legislature Committee hearings are generally
unavailable as printed publications. Users desiring transcripts of hearings before State
Legislative Committees should contact the Documents Department for guidance in accessing these
materials.
House and Senate Bills.
The House and Senate Bills and their committee substitutes are available
from Online Sunshine. Select either legislative chambers
and then select "Bills".
House bills are odd-numbered while Senate Bills are even-numbered. House Bills are available from
the 2001 Special Session B legislative session while Senate Bills are available from the 1998
legislative session. Printed copies are also distributed through the Florida Depository Documents Program
and are available in the Florida Documents collection for the current legislative year.
Journal of the House of Representatives. 1937 - (Fla. Docs.
LEG.B 9:J 6/; also selected issues in Spec. Coll.; and FWB)
The official record of proceedings in the Florida House of Representatives.
While the House is in session, the Journal is published daily. At the end of the
sessions for the legislative year it is cumulated and bound. Online Sunshine
only provides access to the daily journals for only the most recent sessions.
For volumes previous to 1937, patrons should check the additional locations and
with the Reference staff.
Journal of the Senate. 1929 - (Fla. Docs. LEG.C 9:J 6/; also
Spec. Coll. KFF 18 A .J685; Microfilm 105)
The official record of proceedings in the Florida Senate. While the Senate
is in session, the Journal is published daily. At the end of the sessions for
the legislative year, it is cumulated and bound. Online Sunshine provides access
to the daily journals for only the most recent sessions. For volumes previous to
1929, patrons should check the additional locations and with the Reference
staff.
Online Sunshine -Guide to the Florida Legislature.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Welcome/index.cfm
Online Sunshine is the official website for the Florida Legislature. In
addition to the the presence of the House and Senate Journals and Bills at this
website, one also will also find various reports and publications, press
releases, and links to the online versions of the Florida Statutes, Constitution
and Laws of Florida. Additionally a user's guide to Online Sunshine is provided
from this site.
Depository Library Tools
Florida Electronic Federal Depository Library (FEFDL)
http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/
Provided as a service to the federal depositories by the Regional Depository
at the University of Florida Smathers Library, this site is intended for use as
a tool in depository libraries throughout Florida. A listing of all depositories
may be found here as well as links to many local governmental agencies. This
website also features a website on Florida government as well some users may
find helpful for information not found in this guide.
Florida Public Documents
http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/stlib/fl_pub_docs.html
An internet site from the State Library on the state documents program.
Included on this page is a link to a listing of all libraries participating in
the state documents depository program.
Created by:
Shari Johnson
Business/Social SciencesGovernment Documents Librarian
University of West Florida Libraries
Date Last Updated: July 2006
