Reference

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1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63131 • (314) 994-3300

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can documents be checked out?

• Federal government documents may be checked out for two weeks with the exception of those listed on the following List of Non-Circulating Documents.  State and county documents do not circulate.

Are documents listed in the St. Louis County Library Catalog?

• If the document has been cataloged with a Dewey Decimal number, it will be included in the catalog.

If I find a document that is not cataloged, will I be able to check it out?

• Yes.  You will be able to check it out on temporary issue.  The staff will need to check with the Supervisor of   Government Documents or the Manager or Supervisor of Reference for permission.

What percentage of government documents does the library receive?

• St. Louis County Library receives approximately 40% of the federal government documents printed by the Government Printing Office and 90 to 98% of both state and county documents.

Are government publications free to the library?

• The depository copies are free to the library but do not belong to the library.  They are still property of the federal, state, and county governments.  We maintain them and make them available to the public.

Does the library sell old government documents to the public?

• No.  They are not ours to sell.  The library must follow strict rules for disposal in order to maintain depository status.

Where are the documents housed in the library?

• The majority of the documents are shelved in Su Doc number (Superintendent of Documents) on Tiers 1 and 4 at Headquarters.  If the document is cataloged, it may be in Reference or in Open Stacks on the main floor.  There is a magazine shelf in Reference which has government periodicals related to business, statistics, exporting, social security, and health.

Are documents only available at Headquarters?

• All documents are housed at Headquarters with the exception of popular titles that are also ordered for the branches and some legal titles that are housed at the St. Louis County Law Library.

Does the library have topographical maps?

• The Library has USGS topographical maps for the quadrangles in the state of Missouri.  They are housed on the main floor in the red file cabinets near Reference.  There is an index/map in the very first file drawer to help you locate the proper quadrangle.

If I lose a document that I have checked out, how much will it cost to replace the item?

• If an item is lost, you will pay the current replacement cost as listed in GPO bookstores.

Can I browse through the government documents collection?

• Yes.  Please ask a reference librarian to take you to that section. When you leave, please inform staff that you are leaving.

How long has the library been a depository?

• St. Louis County Library has been a federal depository since 1970.

Is there a database that lists government publications that I can search by subject, specific title, or Su Doc number?

• Yes, it is called Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.  If you are having trouble searching,  please ask for assistance from the Supervisor of Government Documents or the reference staff.

What is a public viewing document?

• Public viewing documents are those special reports, environmental impact statement studies, and remediation projects that are issued by federal, state, or local authorities and placed at St. Louis County Library locations.  The majority are not part of the depository collection.  These publications are usually held in the Headquarters' reference collection or catalogued to circulate.  However, the majority are for use solely in the library. Headquarters is the location that has the largest collection.   To locate these items, please ask for assistance from the Supervisor of Government Documents or the reference staff. 
  
    Complete listing of the public viewing documents (133k PDF)
  
  The two latest public viewing documents are:
  
  BRIDGE DOCUMENTATION (WITH PHOTOS)
  Spoede Bridge Lindbergh Bridge and McKnight Bridge
  St. Louis County Route I-64 MoDOT Job Numbers JI10978 and J6I1248
  Authors: Thomas J. Gubbels and Karen L. Daniels
  Received: September 2007
  Contact Name: Karen Daniels (1-573-526-7346)
  Public Viewing Document #197
  Location: Headquarters
  
  City of Crystal Lake Park Comprehensive Plan
  Approved April 15, 2007
  Contact: None
  Received: May 22, 2007
  Public Viewing Document #196
  Location: Headquarters