How are publications developed?

Before publishing each quarterly Catalog, FCIC reviews the booklets listed for timeliness and relevance.

When new issues arise, or old information needs to be updated, FCIC helps the appropriate federal agency revise current publications or develop new ones to offer the public.

See the FCIC fact sheet Services for Participating Agencies for more details.

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How can I list my publication in the Catalog?

All publications listed in the Catalog must be sponsored by a federal agency. Learn more about our Cooperative Publishing Program.

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Do you develop publications with private industry?

Although the majority of booklets listed in the Consumer Information Catalog are developed solely by federal agencies, the Catalog also includes consumer information produced jointly by government and private industry.

FCIC pairs corporate and federal partners, overseeing publication development to make sure it meets FCIC's requirements for cooperative projects. When industry and government work together, costs are lower, the public perception is positive, and a broader variety of information reaches consumers.

See the Cooperative Publishing fact sheet for more details.

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Whom do I contact if my organization wishes to develop a cooperative publication?

We are proud of our Cooperative Publishing Program. This program partners private sector parties with federal agencies who have similar goals for consumer education.

To learn more about this program, contact our Publications and Media Division Director, Mary Levy, at (202) 501-1794 or via e-mail at mary.levy@gsa.gov.

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I can't find a specific publication. Where else can I look?

Try our listing of all our publications (listed by item number) or our most popular publications. You may also try entering keywords in the search box.

If you saw a publication mentioned in Parade Magazine or Dear Abby, take a look at our Free Publication Offers page.

You also may want to check out our Electronic Publications page. This information is available online only, but you may print it out.

Additionally, you may want to check out the U.S. Government Bookstore.

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Do you have information in Spanish?

Yes, you can find a list of Spanish publications on our Espa�ol page. Take a look at our Spanish Resources page, which includes a link to our popular publication Gu�a del Consumidor.

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How can I order the publications listed in the Catalog?

The publications listed in our Catalog can be ordered online.
Or, call toll-free 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO (That's 1-888-878-3256).
You can also send your name and address to:
Consumer Information Catalog
Pueblo, Colorado 81009

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Can I order more than one copy of a free publication?

We have a limited number of copies of each publication, especially free ones. The sponsoring agency determines how many copies are allowable per consumer. Multiple copies of some of the free titles are available. Please call toll-free 1 (888) PUEBLO (that's 1-888-878-3256) for more information.

As an alternative to requesting multiple copies of individual publications, bulk quantities of the Consumer Information Catalog are available. We'd be happy to send you as many Catalogs as you'd like so that your members, students, etc. can order their own publications.

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Can I get copies of publications listed in previous Catalogs?

The publications offered in previous editions of the Catalog may still be available from our facility in Pueblo, Colorado. Please call 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO (that's 1-888-878-3256) for more information.

You can read and download publications listed in previous editions of the Catalog, by going to the link at the bottom (or end) of each category.

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How can I check the status of my publication order and how long does it take to receive?

Please note that both our Catalog and the online shopping site ask you to allow 4 weeks for delivery of your order. Our service consistently beats that standard, but if it's been over a month, you can phone customer service at 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO (that's 1-888-878-3256). Please have ready the date you placed (or mailed) your order and whether or not your check has been cancelled or your credit card has been charged.

Generally, you will receive your order within three weeks. However, please note that we ask you to allow 4 weeks before placing an inquiry. Unusually large promotions may delay the processing of your order. Expedited processing is available by calling 1 (888) 8 PUEBLO (that's 1-888-878-3256). There is an additional charge for this service and it is not available for international orders.

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What is your most popular publication?

The Consumer Action Handbook, which first appeared in 1979, has consistently been the most popular government consumer booklet published.

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Why are some publications free and others vary in price?

Booklets are offered without individual charge to the consumer if the sponsoring agency can pay the printing and distribution costs. When a booklet has a sales price, it is part of the Government Printing Office (GPO) sales program. GPO sets the price to cover printing, distribution and related costs; prices vary accordingly. When a booklet is $1.00 or 50¢, the sponsoring agencies are able to share in some of the costs customarily paid by GPO.

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Can I distribute the information in your Catalog?

The publications distributed through the Federal Citizen Information Center are published or sponsored by a variety of Federal and private-sector organizations. In most instances, FCIC is not the publisher and cannot provide legal advice pertaining to the legality of the sale or further use of the information. While most of the information is in the public domain and can be copied and used for educational purposes, we can't provide a blanket assurance that all of the information is in that category. If you are planning to copy and distribute this information, especially for profit, it would be prudent to contact the publishing agency for permission and consult a lawyer.

Please feel free to link to the FCIC web site, should that course of action satisfy your needs.

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