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Open Science and Open Sources: US Government Publications

Why does the government produce Open material?

Book spines with "United States Code" written in gold lettering

Why does the government produce Open material?

1. It's in the Constitution

Image of US Constitution with following section highlighted: “To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.”

[The Congress shall have power] To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.

2. It's in the US Code

17 USC § 101, Definitions.

A “work of the United States Government” is a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties.

17 USC § 105.

"Copyright protection … is not available for any work of the United States Government, but the United States is not precluded from receiving and holding copyrights transferred to it by assignment, bequest, or otherwise."

17 USC § 107.

“the fair use of a copyrighted work…for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”

3. It's in the 'Holdren Memo'

Issued by Barack Obama's White House, February 22, 2013:

The Administration is committed to ensuring that, to the greatest extent and with the fewest constraints possible...the direct results of federally funded scientific research are made available to and useful for the public, industry, and the scientific community...The results of that research become the grist for new insights and are assets for progress in areas such as health, energy, the environment, agriculture, and national security.

Open Government Resources

Government Data and Statistics

copied from UC San Diego Libguide on Gov Stat

Data in Grey Literature and White Papers

  • Agricultural Statistics, Annual

    Offers statistics on agricultural production, supplies, consumption, facilities, costs, and returns.

  • Annual Energy Review

    Includes data on total energy production, consumption, and trade; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable energy, as well as financial and environmental indicators.

  • Budget of the United States Government

    Contains the budget message of the President, information about the President's budget proposals for a given fiscal year, and other budgetary publications that have been issued throughout the fiscal year.

  • Business Statistics of the United States

    (Print only) A comprehensive collection of data that reflects the nation’s economic performance since 1929. It provides annual data in regional, demographic and industrial detail for key indicators such as: gross domestic product; personal income; spending; saving; employment and unemployment; the capital stock
    and more.

  • Condition of Education

    Presents statistical indicators containing text, figures, and tables describing important developments in the status and trends of education from early childhood learning through graduate-level education.

  • County and city extra : annual metro, city and county data book

    (Print only) Key demographic and economic data (1990- ) for every state, county, metropolitan area, congressional district, and all cities in the U.S. with a 2010 population of 25,000 or more.

  • Digest of Education Statistics

    Contains information on a variety of subjects in the field of education statistics, including the number of schools and colleges, teachers, enrollments, and graduates, in addition to educational attainment, finances, federal funds for education, libraries, and international education.

  • Economic Report of the President

    Annual report that overviews the nation's economic progress using text and extensive data appendices.

  • Handbook of U.S. Labor Statistics

    (Print only.) A comprehensive reference providing data on a variety of topics including: employment and unemployment; earnings; prices; productivity; consumer expenditures; employment projections by industry and occupation; occupational safety and health; union membership; international labor comparisons.

  • Health, United States

    An annual report on trends in health statistics. Website archives issues back to 1975.

  • Monthly Labor Review

    Presents research in a wide variety of fields—the labor force, the economy, employment, inflation, productivity, occupational injuries and illnesses, wages, prices, and many more.

  • National Transportation Statistics

    Presents statistics on the U.S. transportation system, including its physical components, safety record, economic performance, the human and natural environment, and national security.

  • Statistical Abstract of the United States, ProQuest

    (Print only) Authoritative and comprehensive summary of statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States. (Replaces the previously-free Census Bureau publication, which are available online).

  • Survey of Current Business

    Presents the latest national, international, regional, and industry estimates. Each issue includes numerous tables and charts of various economic estimates.

  • Treasury Bulletin

    Presents data and narrative related to Treasury issues, federal financial operations, international statistics, liabilities, and financial commitments of the U.S. government.

  • Uniform Crime Reports

    Provides access to FBI statistical publications, including Crime in the United States and Hate Crime Statistics, 1995-present.

  • World Factbook

    Provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.

  • Yearbook of Immigration Statistics

    Provides annual data on foreign nationals who were granted lawful permanent residence, were admitted into the United States on a temporary basis, applied for asylum or refugee status, or were naturalized. The Yearbook also presents data on immigration enforcement actions, including alien apprehensions, removals, and returns.

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