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The Astate Library was designated a federal depository library in 1913, and it is believed that Representative Thaddeus H. Caraway, Congressman from Jonesboro, was responsible for securing depository library status for Astate. The Dean B. Ellis Library is one of 1,270 federal depository libraries throughout the United States and territories that provide free access to the information resources of the federal government, and one of 13 federal depository libraries in the state of Arkansas. The Library's collection contains more than 100,000 U.S. government publications, in print, microform, and electronic formats.

GPO Releases Plum Book This link opens in a new windowDec 30, 2020

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) has made the United States Policy and Supporting Positions, or “The Plum Book,” available in print and online. The publication lists more than 9,000 Federal civil service leadership and support positions in the executive and legislative branches that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment. On GPO’s govinfo, users can view the publication on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and personal computers, and can search the publication by agency, position title, location, appointment type, pay plan and level, tenure and term expiration, and vacancy. The data for The Plum Book was composed in XPub, GPO’s new digital technology for XML-based publishing.

Cataloging and distribution information for Federal depository libraries will be forthcoming.

The Plum Book on GPO’s govinfo: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-PLUMBOOK-2020/

Print copies can be ordered at: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/united-states-government-policy-and-supporting-positions-plum-book-2020

The Plum Book is published by the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs alternately after each Presidential election. The Plum Book is used to identify Presidential appointed and other positions within the Federal Government. The list originated in 1952 during the Eisenhower administration. For 22 years prior, the Democrats controlled the Federal Government. When President Eisenhower took office, the Republican Party requested a list of government positions that President Eisenhower could fill. The next edition of The Plum Book appeared in 1960 and has since been published every four years, just after the Presidential election.

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Department of the Interior   

• Read about the agency in the U.S. Government Manual.  Its history, significant personnel, sub-agencies, and tasks and services are described. There is also an organization chart and helpful links.  From the manual:
  • The Department manages the Nation's public lands and minerals, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and western water resources and upholds Federal trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. It is also responsible for endangered species and migratory wildlife conservation; historic preservation; surface-mined lands protection and restoration; mapping geological, hydrological, and biological science; and giving financial and technical assistance to the insular areas

January 3, 1863: Emancipation Proclamation 

January 22, 1975: Landsat 2 launched 

January 25, 1860: birthday of Charles Curtis, the first Native American vice president

January 28, 1986: Challenger space shuttle disaster

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

National Handwriting Day (January 23, John Hancock's birthday)

Guide to U.S. Government Publications / John L. Andriot

• formerly called "Andriot" after the editor
• Organizes content by SuDoc numbers
• Provides an overview of when particular SuDocs were in use throughout history