Government Publications

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U.S. Depository Library
Government Technical Reports/Science and Technology Information (STI)
The U.S. government investment in research and development usually results in a technical report. These technical reports are detailed studies created to disseminate the research findings quickly and provide accountability for the funding agency.  For a variety of reasons, access to Federally-funded technical reports has historically been less than desired. This literature is vast and while many libraries have technical report collections, big or small, they are generally difficult to find because typically they are not cataloged and available through the libraries' online catalogs.

However in the 21st century this is starting to change. The science and technology information (STI) results of this research are becoming much easier to locate and use due to the increase of digital dissemination and better search platforms. Many of these research results are available in bibliographic form and some are available in full-text (especially recent reports).  
Where to Start with Government Agencies
There are some major indexes and search platforms listed that will lead to the major Federal agencies, societies, and groups where one can get a broad overview of Federal STI progress and research results from multiple STI fields. Descriptions for these major indexes and search platforms are listed below.
Federal Technical Reports/Scientific and Technical Information BY SUBJECT
Below is a list of government websites specifically for locating STI research and/or federally-funded technical reports. The websites are arranged by subject-specific topics. Many of the larger, multidisciplinary, and more comprehensive indexes and search platforms (discussed in the Where to Start with U.S. Government Information) appear in multiple topics. Within each topic, the list is organized alphabetically.
General Research Tips
  • Often federally-funded technical reports are not in library online catalogs (other databases need to be searched -- see above).
  • Citations for technical reports often include agency names, agency report numbers or series, contract numbers, grant numbers, and accession numbers. All of these numbers and/or letters could be important in locating the report.
  • Use specific keywords when searching for technical reports, as they cover specialized subjects.
  • Be patient, identifying and locating generally requires searching through many databases and/or indexes.
  • Looking for non-government technical reports? Try the Virtual Technical Reports Center providing full-text reports or extended abstracts of "technical reports, preprints, reprints, dissertations, theses, and research reports of all kinds."  This website is maintained by the University of Maryland.
  • Ask a librarian if you cannot find what you need. Try our online Ask A Librarian form.
Locating Technical Reports
While the CSM Library participates in the Government Printing Office's Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP), most federally-funded technical reports are not included in that program. While CSM and other libraries throughout the country have collections, both large and small, of federally-funded technical reports, they are generally not found in the libraries online catalogs for a variety of reasons. In addition to library collections, many technical reports are disseminated directly through major government sources: the agencies themselves and the National Technical Information Service (NTIS).
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