U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 

3-196 

APPENDIX 29. PUBLIC INFORMATION RESOURCES MAPS 

Compiled by the Federal Library and Information Center Committee (FLICC) and the 

Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT) of the American Library 

Association (ALA).135

The public information resources maps are listed on the Commission website at 

http://www.nclis.gov/govt/assess/assess.html, under 4. Panel and Board of Experts 

Communications. 

Public information resources maps are intended to portray in graphic, tabular style most of the key 

elements or attributes that are associated with each government information product, such as its 

official name, the parent/owning agency, statutory authority for the product, beneficiaries of the 

product, and so forth. The essential idea is to use a "bird's eye view" approach to underscore the 

richness and diversity of information that could be captured and recorded in a database if such a 

format were regularly and systematically prepared when products are first created. The format might 

then be updated if and when there are significant changes in any of the attributes, such as terms and 

conditions governing its availability and cost (if not free). While the Commission stopped short of 

recommending such a "standard graphic format" be prepared for all products, it will keep the 

possibility of utilizing such a format in front of it as it proceeds with additional studies and 

investigations. 

In particular, a review of the entries under Distributors, Financing and Fee/Free indicates the variety of 

mechanisms employed even in such a small sample of public information resources. For example, of 

the 23 responses, 14 identify appropriations as the sole source of funding; 7 cite a combination of 

appropriations and user fees from sales by the agency, GPO, NTIS, a contractor or a commercial 

publisher, and 2 are entirely self-funding through user fees. 

• Those funded solely by appropriations. All that respond to the Free/Fee category have some free 

access. The Statistical Abstract from the Department of Commerce does not include all of the 

tables from the paper and CD-ROM editions that are sold by NTIS, GPO and the Bureau of the 

Census. 

• Those with a combination of user fees and appropriations. All have free public access at least 

through the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), and several through an agency website 

as well. The products sold directly by the publishing agencies (Census, USGS) are available for 

free public access through the FDLP, as are those sold by contractors or commercial publishers 

(National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health). 

• Those that are self-funding. STAT-USA from the Department of Commerce is required by statute 

to be self-funding, but still provides two passwords to each federal depository library to ensure 

free public access. Only the General Wage Determination Guidelines, which is published by NTIS 

on behalf of the Department of Labor, has no free public access, even through the FDLP. Like 

STAT-USA, NTIS is required by statute to be self-funding. 

 

135 Available at http://www.nclis.gov/govt/assess/assess.appen29.pdf. 
A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination 

3-197 

Department of Commerce

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Commerce, Bureau 

of the Census 

Department of Commerce, Bureau 

of the Census

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

Decennial Census (Paper, CD-ROM, 

Online) 

Statistical Abstract of the United 

States Paper (since 1878), CD-ROM 

(since 1993), Internet access at 

http://www.census.gov/statab/www/

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

U.S. Constitution 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Internal, External: Local, State, Tribal 

Government: Citizens, Foreign 

All users – internal and externalpublic, private, foreign 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Survey 80+ federal agencies plus 126 nongovernment organizations 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

All CIS Statistical Universe

Distributors 

In-house vs. 

Contract, Other 

Agencies 

Printed through GPO, CD distributed 

to FDLP through GPO, sold through 

Census 

GPO, NTIS, Resellers (Bernan), CIS 

Statistical Universe

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriations Appropriations

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Paper and CD free through Federal 

Depository Libraries; Paper for sale 

via GPO SuDocs, CD for sale by 

Census; online access free from 

Census website 

Internet (free) does not include all 

tables in print due to copyright; paper 

$34 (NTIS) to $49 (GPO); CD-ROM 

$50 (GPO, NTIS, Census)
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 

3-198 

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Commerce, 

Economics and Statistics 

Administration, Stat-USA 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

USA Trade/NTDB (National Trade 

Data Bank) 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

1988 Omnibus Trade & 

Competitiveness Act 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Internal/External; Public/Private/ 

Foreign 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Census Bureau and other federal 

agencies 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Stat-USA 

Distributors 

In-house vs. 

Contract, Other 

Agencies 

Agency direct access or through 

license agreements

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Self-supporting per 15 USC 1527a 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Depository Libraries receive two 

passwords; subscription based on IP 

range $400 minimum (class C) to 

$2750 (class B) some consortial 

discounts; http://www.statusa.gov/ 
A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination 

3-199 

Department of Defense

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Dept of the Army, Chief, Public 

Affairs 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

Soldiers Magazine: the Official U.S. 

Army Magazine, Published monthly 

in paper and at 

<www.dtic.mil/soldiers> 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

AR 25-30: "use of funds for printing 

the publication was approved by the 

Secretary of the Army on Sept 2,1986 

in accordance with provisions of AR 

25-30"

Beneficiaries 

(Users) Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Internal users... (focus on enlisted 

soldiers and non-commissioned 

officers). Also has a public affairs 

mission. 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Unless otherwise indicated and except 

for 'by permission' and copyrighted 

items, materials may be reprinted 

provided credit is given to Soldiers 

Magazine and the author. All 

photographs by U.S. Army except as 

otherwise noted. 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Public Affairs Specialists, Journalists, 

Photojournalists

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

In-house distribution of print from 

U.S. Army Distribution Operations 

Facility St Louis, MO; Website 

maintained for U.S. Army by DTIC; 

(DoD Agency); Defense Technical 

Information Center, Ft. Belvoir, VA 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriated funds 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Free access to web site; free 

distribution of print copies within 

DoD; individual subscriptions 

available via GPO SuDocs; free 

through Federal Depository Libraries 
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 

3-200 

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of the Air Force, Office 

of Public Affairs, Air Force News 

Agency (AFNEWS) 

Department of the Air Force 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

Airman Magazine: magazine of 

America's Air Force; published 

monthly in hard copy and on the web 

at <www.af.mil/news/airman> 

Airpower Journal; published 

quarterly in hard copy and on the web 

at: Aerospace Power Journal 

<http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil

> 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

Secretary of the Air Force. Secretary of the Air Force 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Internal users... (focus on enlisted 

airmen and non-commissioned 

officers). Also has a public affairs 

mission. 

"Designed to serve as an open forum 

for the presentation and stimulation of 

innovative thinking on military 

doctrine, strategy..." 

Sources of Data 

Content 

"All pictures are USAF photos unless 

otherwise identified" 

"articles may be reproduced with 

permission" Aerospace Power Journal 

International, Book & Video 

Reviews, Air University Review, 

Contrails, etc. 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Public Affairs Specialists, Journalists, 

Photojournalists 

Editors, Historians, Public Affairs 

Specialists 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

Air force maintained website. Air Force maintained website; 

"...provided as a public service. 

Government personnel and the 

general public may use this system to 

review and retrieve publicly available 

government information...selected 

elements are subject to access 

restrictions that are identified in 

parentheses next to the data link". 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriated funds Appropriated funds. 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Free access to web site; free 

distribution of print copies within 

DoD; individual subscriptions 

available via GPO SuDocs; free 

through Federal Depository Libraries 

Free access to web site; free 

distribution of print copies within 

DoD; individual subscriptions 

available via GPO SuDocs; free 

through Federal Depository Libraries 
A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination 

3-201 

Department of Energy

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Energy Department of Energy 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

EDBWeb (Bibliographic Electronic 

Internet) 

PUBScience (Bibliographic 

Electronic Internet) 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

DOE Organic Act, GPRA DOE G 

241.1-1 DOE O 241.1

DOE Organic Act, GPRA DOE G 

241.1-1 DOE O 241.1

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

All All 

Sources of Data 

Content 

DOE, DOE contractors, other 

government agencies, professional 

societies, IEA, ETDE 

Peer-reviewed journal literature 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

OSTI (in-house); Commercially 

available via DIALOG

OSTI (in-house); GPO

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriation, User fee Appropriation 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Free; Subscriber fee Free 
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 

3-202 

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Energy Department of Energy Office of 

Management and Administration 

(M&A)

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

PrePrint Network; Full Text 

Electronic Internet 

DOE Directives; Electronic Database, 

Graphical Internet Site (WWW) 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

 

Beneficiaries 

(Users) Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

All DOE Employees 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Government, academic institutions, 

professional societies, private 

research organizations, individual 

researchers 

Dept. of Energy, Office of 

Management and Administration 

(M&A) 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Most Documents Available Full-Text 

in PDF and Other Formats 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

DOE/OSTI (in-house) DOE/M&A (in-house) 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriation Appropriation 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Free Free 
A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination 

3-203 

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Energy (OSTI) Department of Energy (OSTI) 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

DOE Information Bridge; Electronic 

Database, Graphical Internet Site 

(WWW) 

DOE Reports Bibliographic Database; 

Electronic Database, Graphical 

Internet Site (WWW) 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

Beneficiaries 

(Users) Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

DOE Employees, DOE Contractors, 

General Public 

DOE Employees, DOE Contractors, 

General Public 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Laboratories and Administrative 

Offices of the Dept. of Energy 

Dept of Energy Office of Scientific 

and Technical Information (OSTI) 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Most Documents Available Full-Text 

in PDF and Other Formats 

Good search engine 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

DOE/OSTI (in-house) DOE/OSTI (in-house) 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriation Appropriation 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Free Free 
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 

3-204 

Department of Health and Human Services

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Health and Human 

Services, Food and Drug 

Administration 

Department of Health and Human 

Services, National Cancer 

Institute/Oxford University Press 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

FDA Consumer (Paper, Online) Journal of the National Cancer 

Institute

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

External, Citizens Information Internal and external – public, private, 

and foreign

Sources of Data 

Content 

Food and Drug Administration Articles written by and/or submitted 

to agency sponsored publication

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Libraries, full text online providers Oxford University Press

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

Paper: GPO Superintendent of 

Documents, Online: agency website 

Oxford University Press 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriations Appropriations, proceeds from vendor 

production

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Paper: subscription for sale by GPO 

SuDocs, free through Federal 

Depository Libraries; Online free at 

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/ 

Federal Depository Libraries one free 

copy; individuals $155/yr; institutions 

$235/yr.
A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination 

3-205 

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Health and Human 

Services, National Institute of 

Environmental Health 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

Environmental Health Perspectives 

(Paper, Online)

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Internal and External; public and 

private 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

Paper: GPO Superintendent of 

Documents, Online: OCR Services, 

Inc on behalf of NIEH 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriations, sales 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Paper: subscription for sale by GPO 

SuDocs, online service free through 

Federal Depository Libraries (1 

password); subscription: individual 

$65-$400 or institution $571-$1,369 

(EHP articles are only available for 

subscribers; abstracts of articles are free 

on the agency website: 

http://ehis.niehs.nih.gov/)
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 

3-206 

Department of the Interior

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of the Interior, 

Geological Survey 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

U.S. 7.5" Topographical Quadrangle 

Maps (Paper) 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

Title 43 U.S. Code 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Internal, External: Governments: 

Citizens 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Geological Survey 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Librarians, Specialists 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

USGS 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriations, Sales 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Free through Federal Depository 

Libraries; sale by USGS 
A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination 

3-207 

Department of Labor

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Labor, Bureau of 

Labor Statistics 

Department of Labor, Bureau of 

Labor Statistics 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

Monthly Labor Review Occupational Outlook Handbook 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

29 USC 2 et seq. 29 USC 2 et seq. 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Wide distribution to parties with an 

interest in labor subject area 

Wide distribution to parties with an 

interest in labor subject area 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Articles received from solicitation in 

front cover and BLS editorial staff 

Survey results form a variety of 

professional societies, unions, 

industrial organizations and 

government agencies 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Statistical and economic analysis 

provided by contributors including 

BLS staff 

Research and analysis of reported 

date by BLS staff including 

occupational analysts 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

BLS in cooperation with 

Superintendent of Documents, GPO 

BLS in cooperation with 

Superintendent of Documents, GPO 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

User fee for production & 

distribution; research costs covered 

by DOL appropriations 

User fee for production & 

distribution; research costs covered 

by DOL appropriations 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Annual subscription from GPO 

SuDocs: $31.00 domestic; $38.75 

foreign; free through Federal 

Depository Libraries 

BLS Bulletin # 2520 for sale by GPO 

SuDocs: softbound $49.00; 

hardbound $51.00; free through 

Federal Depository Libraries 
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 

3-208 

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of Labor, Employment 

and Training Administration 

Department of Labor, Employment 

Standards Administration 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

Dictionary of Occupational Titles; 

(O*NET is the electronic version) 

General Wage Determination 

Guidelines 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

29 USC; 20 CFR 601 et seq. (general 

ETA provisions) 

40 USC 276; 29 CFR Parts 1,4 and 5 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Wide distribution to parties with an 

interest in labor subject area 

Government agencies & government 

contractors 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Research and verification by 40 

analysts 

Survey results from statutory 

mandate: all Federal government 

construction contracts and most 

contracts for federally assisted 

construction over $2000. 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Research and verification by many 

analysts as in the Forward 

Follows Davis Bacon Construction 

Wage Determinations Manual of 

Operations for collection of data; 

regional offices analyzes and 

tabulates wage and fringe benefit 

data, and determines the adequacy of 

data provided, and formalizes the 

survey results. 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

DOL/ETA NTIS via web or CD subscription 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

User fee for production of 1991 

edition; research costs covered by 

DOL appropriations 

User fee 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Available without charge on the 

Internet: http://online.onetcenter.org/ 

For sale by NTIS. CD-ROM: $2,000 

annual subscription inside the US; 

$3,000 outside the US; Internet 

access: $600 annually to search from 

a single station 
A Comprehensive Assessment of Public Information Dissemination 

3-209 

Department of State

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

Department of State

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

U.S. Treaties and Other International 

Agreements (Paper) 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

1 USC 112a 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

Internal, External: Local, State, Tribal 

Government, Citizens, Foreign 

Sources of Data 

Content 

U.S. Dept of State 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Libraries, full text online providers 

Distributors 

In-house vs. Contract, 

Other Agencies 

Official copy through GPO, online 

vendors 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriations 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Paper: for sale by GPO SuDocs, free 

through Federal Depository Libraries; 

Other: depends on vendor 
U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science 

3-210 

U.S. Congress

Agency 

Owner vs. Custodian

United States Congress House of Representatives, Office of 

the Law Revision Counsel, 

Resource Name 

Type(s), Format(s), 

Mediums

Congressional Record (Paper since 

1873, Online since 1994) 

U.S. Code (Official copy paper, 

Online) 

Authority 

Laws, Agency 

Regulations, OMB 

Policies 

U.S. Constitution U.S. Constitution 

Beneficiaries 

(Users), Internal vs. 

External, Public vs. 

Private, Foreign 

All users – internal and externalpublic, private, foreignInternal, External: Local, State, Tribal 

Government: Citizens, Foreign 

Sources of Data 

Content 

Debates of the United States House 

of Representatives and Senate

U.S. Congress 

Value-Added 

Contributions 

Analysts, Brokers, 

Librarians, 

Statisticians, Other 

Specialists 

Government Printing Office, various 

commercial information providers

All 

Distributors 

In-house vs. 

Contract, Other 

Agencies 

GPO (paper and Internet – GPO 

Access); Library of Congress 

(THOMAS); CIS (Academic and 

Congressional Universe), Other 

commercial providers

Official copy printed through GPO, 

online version via GPO Access; 

Available through commercial 

vendors 

Financing 

Appropriations, 

Revolving Fund, 

User Fee 

Appropriations Appropriations 

Fee/Free 

Terms and 

Conditions, Amount 

Paper for sale by GPO SuDocs, free 

online via GPO Access and LC 

Thomas; Other: depends on vendor 

and mode of access.

Paper for sale by GPO SuDocs, free 

online via GPO Access, Other: 

depends on vendor and mode of 

access.