WAIS Document Retrieval[Style Manual]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access]
[DOCID:chapter_pre-3]
[Page v-viii]
WHAT IS GPO ACCESS?
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs
History
In 1993, Congress passed Public Law 103-40, amending GPO's duties to
include provisions for the dissemination of information in electronic
format. Under the GPO Access legislation, the Superintendent of
Documents, under the direction of the Public Printer, is required to:
(1) Maintain an electronic directory of Federal electronic information;
(2) provide a system of online access to the Congressional Record, the
Federal Register, and other appropriate publications as determined by
the Superintendent of Documents; (3) operate an electronic storage
facility for Federal electronic information (the Storage Facility); and
(4) maintain the Federal Bulletin Board, already in existence.\1\
Collectively these components are referred to as GPO Access. As a
result, in June 1994, GPO Access was introduced, encouraging and
supporting immediate public access to electronic information products of
the United States Government.
\1\ Senate Report 103-27 incorporated the Federal Bulletin Board, which
existed prior to P.L. 103-40, into GPO Access.
The vast majority of information currently available via GPO Access is
information derived from databases used in the printing of Government
publications. For example, in the case of congressional publications,
GPO's Congressional Printing Management Division receives a requisition
from a congressional office asking that a specific document be processed
for online access. Internal GPO communication then establishes
authorization, priorities, etc. Subsequent to processing the database
for printing, software developed by the Production Department's Graphic
Systems Development Division is used to prepare the data for optimum
screen presentation and place it in the form required by commercially
procured server software which indexes the data to facilitate effective
searching via client software and/or World Wide Web browsers. At the
same time, PostScript output of GPO's automated composition software is
processed by Electronic Photocomposition Division personnel via a
network version of Adobe's distiller software to produce files in the
Adobe Acrobat PDF (Portable Document Format), which are then
programmatically associated with the appropriate online documents. These
Production Department computer-based operations are all performed on
equipment configured and maintained by personnel of the Electronic
Systems Development Division.
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In order to assist users in all facets of GPO Access and to monitor
user requirements, the GPO Access User Support Team was developed. This
team provides the public with a wide range of support for the electronic
products and services available through GPO Access.
To contact the team, call 202-512-1530 in the D.C. area or toll-free
1-888-293-6498, between the hours of 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., EST, Monday
through Friday--except Federal holidays. The team can also be contacted
by fax at 202-512-1262 or e-mail at gpoaccess@gpo.gov.
Objectives
The objectives of GPO Access are as follows:
Improve access to official Federal Government information in
electronic formats.
Provide electronic document delivery and online interactive
services that are well-designed, easy to use, and available to the
public without charge.
Ensure access to a broad spectrum of users with a wide variety of
technical capabilities both directly and through an active
partnership with Federal Depository Libraries.
Establish and operate an online interactive service that is
capable of rapid expansion to meet the needs of Federal agency
publishers and public users.
Encourage the use of electronic database standards and permit
dissemination of the original document, without rekeying, in print
and/or electronic format.
Utilize a variety of dissemination media and methods, including
World Wide Web (Web), bulletin board services and online interactive
search and retrieval services in order to achieve cost effective
information delivery, that is appropriate to both the type of
information being disseminated and the needs of users of that
information.
Ensure permanent public access to Government information made
available through GPO Access and the FDLP via direct provision, the
electronic storage facility, and development of a distributed
networked system of partner institutions.
Provide services to other Federal agencies on a reimbursable
basis--saving time, money, and other resources.
Provide access to Government information that is official and
complete. GPO secures the integrity of its databases to ensure
against unauthorized changes in text or graphics.
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Features of GPO Access
GPO Access was carefully designed, developed, and implemented so that
it is easy to access and use. The free services of GPO Access fall
within the following categories:
Government information databases available for online use that
provide full-text search and retrieval capabilities. These databases
include regulatory materials, such as the Federal Register and the
Code of Federal Regulations; Congressional products, such as the
Congressional Record and Congressional Bills; and business
materials, such as the Commerce Business Daily (CBDNet).
Individual Federal agency files that are available for download
from the FBB (Federal Bulletin Board).
Tools that assist users in finding Government information
available for sale or free of charge. These tools include keyword
searches that locate information products by topic, title, or
agency; lists and tables that may be browsed; and hyperlinks that
direct users to related databases and Web sites in order to
facilitate their searches and highlight connections among
information products. When print and electronic sale products are
identified, an electronic order mechanism enables users to purchase
them online.
Guides to collections of Federal Government information available
for free use at nearly 1,300 Federal depository libraries throughout
the United States.
User support.
Everyone can benefit from GPO Access
The benefits of GPO Access extend to all individuals and groups who
have an interest in the workings of the Federal Government. Citizens can
obtain vital Federal information instantaneously, allowing for informed
participation in the democratic process. Congressional staff members
enjoy immediate access to documents they require while engaged in the
legislative process. Librarians, legal researchers, and academic
institutions have an excellent up-to-date reference and research tool at
their fingertips. Procurement officials and public- and private-sector
professionals can access relevant data and use it to create new
products. The benefits are as numerous as the users who profit from
them.
Multiple methods of public access
In recognition of the various needs and technological capabilities of
the public, GPO Access supports a wide range of information
dissemination technologies, from the latest Internet applications to
dial-up modem access. Methods compatible with technologies to assist
users covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act are also available.
To accommodate people without computers, nearly 1,300
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Federal depository libraries throughout the United States provide free
access to the service through public-access workstations.
The system was designed to serve a large base of users through a
variety of methods with the overall goal of ensuring widespread and
equitable information dissemination. Statistics gathered on the number
of searches and retrievals indicate that GPO Access is achieving this
goal.
Information
The Government Printing Office recently introduced a new GPO Access
home page for the Web interface to provide users with easier and more
efficient access to online resources. The new home page is available at
the following URL (Uniform Resource Locator): http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs.
The rules of grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc., as stated in this
Style Manual, will serve well when preparing documents for electronic
dissemination. Most of the documents currently available via GPO Access
are derived from databases used in the printing of Government
publications. However, as electronic dissemination of Government
information continues to grow, the rules as stated in this Manual will
continue to be the GPO's standard for all document preparation,
electronic or otherwise.