Cataloging and Indexing
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Last Updated: January 21, 2020
The Cataloging and Indexing (C&I) Program is one of the Superintendent of Documents’ Public Information Programs mandated by Title 44 of the United States Code (U.S.C.). The statutory obligation of the C&I Program is to prepare and publish a comprehensive index of every Federal document issued or published by a department, bureau, or office, not confidential in nature, and regardless of format. This is derived from the requirements for cataloging and indexing codified at 44 U.S.C. §§1710-1711 and 44 U.S.C. §4101(a).
The goal of the C&I Program is to develop a comprehensive and authoritative national bibliography of U.S. Government publications to increase the visibility and use of Government information products, and to develop a premier destination for information searchers. Beginning in 1895, the national bibliography was issued as a printed catalog called the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications. In 2004, this paper publication was replaced by an online searchable catalog, the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP). The CGP contains all bibliographic records for U.S. Government publications generated by GPO since July 1976, as well as records for earlier publications added through the Historic Shelflist Project, and projects undertaken with Federal depository libraries. Many of the records within the CGP contain direct links to publications available online. The catalog is updated daily with records for new and historic publications, making the CGP the central point for locating new and historical Government publications.
Federal depository libraries interested in working with GPO to exchange cataloging records, work together to catalog older materials, or on other cataloging related projects are encouraged to review the Cooperative Cataloging Guidelines and contact the partnership coordinator.
GPO classifies publications using the Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) Classification Scheme. Developed at GPO, the system is used to organize publications by Government author. Class numbers reflect the organization of the U.S. Government at the time they are created and are changed as necessary to reflect changes in Government organization. In addition to providing SuDoc classification numbers for Congressional documents, GPO also provides Library of Congress Classification for specific categories of these documents.
Cataloging and Indexing at the U.S. Government Publishing Office
This webcast provides an overview of the Cataloging and Indexing Program, including information about what GPO catalogs, GPO cataloging policies, and how to obtain GPO catalog records.
This webcast provides an overview of the Cataloging and Indexing Program, including information about what GPO catalogs, GPO cataloging policies, and how to obtain GPO catalog records.