Serial Set analytics have now been loaded into MNCAT from the earliest MARC records available - documents cataloged in 1976. The total load is over 26,000 catalog records. BGI staff members must be able to interpret these records correctly, since it may be years before we have the staff to add the Serial Set numbers to all of them. Since the 96th Congress, 1979-80 (Serial Set volume 13220), GPL has received microfiche in addition to paper for each House and Senate document and report. Earlier than that, we have the bound paper volumes only.
Because the catalog records are created when the publications are first released as separates, the records DO NOT HAVE THE SERIAL SET VOLUME. The records will list the original call number for the microfiche, since that is how those are filed. For the paper, the record will simply say Serial Set (with the MNCAT location U.S. Congress Serials and the SuDoc for the Serial Set.) It will be up to BGI staff to help users find the SS number. These numbers DO NOT APPEAR IN LEXISNEXIS. You need to use the paper indexes on Row G. It is very easy, but only after you know where to look!!!
We will go back and add Serial Set numbers as soon as possible, but do not hold your breath. Clarice and company will get the 106th Congress finished up soon, since those are the ones currently being processed. They will then proceed backwards, but will also jump around to fix scattered ones which already were in MNCAT for one reason or another. From now on, processing of new volumes will include the number.
I will paste here an example. If you want help finding more of these to look at, check with Julie or Clarice.
Title History of the Committee on Finance, United States Senate.
Edition [4th ed.]
Published Washington : U.S. G.P.O., 1981.
Description ix, 138 p. : ill., ports ; 24 cm.
Series Senate document (United States. Congress (97th, 1st session : 1981). Senate) ; no. 97-5.
Availability TC Wilson Library Gov Pub (US Congress Serials) Y 1.1/2:Serial set
Availability TC Wilson Library Gov Pub (US Microfiche) Mfiche Y 1.1/3:97-5 Non-Circulating
This is the result of major programming on the part of LEO, and we thank them. We need to have a party and invite they! Please be sure you can find these documents easily.
Julie
In General
For 1990 Census CDs that use the GO software, no installation is required to use them. All you have to do is put the disk in a drive, open up Windows Explorer (or a non-Microsoft equivalent) and double-click on "Go.bat."
DO NOT try to run the software by clicking on the "somefilename.exe" file. GO software only works when you start with Go.bat.
Determining whether a title uses GO software is easy: if it does, there's going to be a Go.bat file on the CD. If there's no Go.bat, it doesn't use GO. See Using the U.S. Census Bureau's GO Software for details.
For titles that don't use GO, the situation is more complicated; contact me in those cases.
Exporting
There's no single file format that users should always choose when exporting. Factors to consider include the program that the user will be using at home/office, whether the user brought a disk to save to and whether the file will fit on it.
If the user will definitely be using one of the formats to which the CD will export files, then that is a fine choice. Excel is the most common example of this.
If the user brought a disk and the format of choice fits on it, then that's fine too. If it doesn't fit, the user can export to ASCII text and the reduction in size may do the trick. Since ASCII is non-proprietary, there should be no problems opening the file at home/office. If the file is still too big, then it's no longer a file format issue, but a compression issue.
Printing
Any program written for Windows tends to follow a number of conventions established by Microsoft. One of them is that to print, you almost always go to the File Menu (furthest to the left on the menu bar) and then look about half way down for "Print". If there's a button on the toolbar for printing, it may take you to the same dialog box that you get if you go File->Print, but it may also simply initiate the printing process directly. So, if you have any doubts about printing, it's always better to go File->Print.
1. While they seemed fine on my office computer, the circulating copies of Census 2000 disks are acting odd on desk machines; Fillmore itself is also acting odd; I'm following up with Jaime.
2. Just because a user *says* AFF won't work for them doesn't mean it's true. There are several handy, but badly labeled and/or hidden features in AFF that users routinely miss.
For example, today a patron said he needed the disks because he
-couldn't get the correct codes for block groups from AFF and
-he had to select his areas one at a time, which was not feasible.
In fact, you can get both of these things from AFF very easily.
For geographic codes, you do all the selection, get a table and under the "Options" button select "show geographic identifiers".
To get a bunch of geographic units in the fewest possible steps, choose the "Geo within geo" tab. It lets you select geographic areas by specifying the geographic type contained within or related to another geographic type. For example, you can select all counties within the Nation without selecting each individual county in each state.
The vast majority of the time these features alone or in combination will resolve the patron's problems with using AFF.
If you do need to use the disks, install the data engine and ONLY choose "Run From CD" or you'll be there for several hours. --Amy
Compression is the coding of data to save storage space or transmission time. Although data is already coded in digital form for computer processing, it can often be coded more efficiently (using fewer bits). There are many compression algorithms and utilities. Compressed data must be decompressed before it can be used.
The standard Unix compression utilty is called compress though GNU's superior gzip has largely replaced it. Other compression utilties include zip, PKZIP, Stuffit and WinZip.
For additional compression software and notes on file extensions see the Compression FAQ, particularly "What is this .xxx file type? Where can I find the corresponding compression program?".
Source: Free Online Dictionary of Computing.
Library staff are welcome to use the Map Library's printer for promotional materials for poster sessions, classes and so forth. However, you should plan ahead by several days because it may take a few tries to get it right. Just email Hallie Pritchett to get started. - Amy
Removing Hyperlinks by Default
Note: If you choose to remove hyperlinks by default, you can add them as needed by following the steps below, but choosing instead to add rather than remove.
Removing Hyperlinks One by One
Using the Insert Menu
Using the Keyboard Command "Ctrl+K"
Use the Right-Click Menu in Word 2003; Previous editions are more complicated:
Dealing with file formats can be a hassle. Formats are an issue with all types of files, but they come up mostly when the files contain numeric data that the user wants to take from program A to program B. She needs a format that can be read by the intended program, that is the right size for the available transportation options (such as floppy disk or Zip disk) and contains enough information to allow automatic reformatting by the intended program. However, in order to help users in these situations, the librarian needs to be able to look at the file and figure out what it is and which programs will read it. Unfortunately, the information producers often obscure the issue with loosely used and unexplained jargon.
So what's going on?
Overlapping Meanings of "File Format"
First, the phrase "file format" has (at least) three primary meanings and they aren't entirely separate. The first meaning refers to the logical arrangement of the contents of the file. The second refers to the physical arrangement of the contents inside a file. The third refers to the type of file itself. There are times when the type of file used is dependent on the logical and/or physical arrangement of the contents within. The converse is also true: some types of files will only contain information in a certain logical and/or physical arrangement.
Non-Interchangable Formats
Second, not all logical formats, physical formats or file formats are interchangable. Hierarchical file structures aren't the same as rectangular ones, end of line markers vary between files saved in a Windows format or UNIX format and proprietary formats like .ivt or .xls cannot necessarily be read by other proprietary programs.
Loosely Used Jargon
Third, everyone involved tends to use terms very loosely and conflate the types of format with each other. For example, WDI has an export option of "ASCII" and "Text"; the UNSTATS database has "CSV (ASCII comma delimited) file - fastest option" and "Spreadsheets"; and American FactFinder has "Comma delimited - spreadsheet format (.csv file) or Tab delimited (.lst file)". In three programs we have 2 different uses of ASCII, 2 different uses of .csv and 2 different uses of "spreadsheet" and all three sets overlap.
Probable Cause
Webopedia defines ASCII as
"Acronym for the American Standard Code for Information Interchange. Pronounced ask-ee, ASCII is a code for representing English characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 127. For example, the ASCII code for uppercase M is 77. Most computers use ASCII codes to represent text, **which makes it possible to transfer data from one computer to another...Text files stored in ASCII format are sometimes called ASCII files.** " {emphasis added}
In other words, any file whose content is encoded with ASCII codes is an ASCII file, regardless of any other characteristics that content might have, such as being a file of words or being a file of numbers (perhaps marked off at regular intervals by a character like a comma). Therefore, an ASCII file may be comma delimited or tab delimited or not delimited at all. If it is delimited, then it should be viewable in standard spreadsheet programs like Excel because they can read such files.
Because ASCII is an interchange format and because its character set includes only letters, numbers and a limited set of "special characters" like commas, ampersands and slashes, files saved in ASCII are often also called "text files", presumably as a reflection of an ASCII file's stripped down appearance next to a fully formatted Word or WordPerfect file. However, you should be careful. There are versions of text files around that are tied to proprietary formats, such as MS-DOS Text, and ASCII and text aren't truly equivalent. Thus, some resources will differentiate between ASCII and text.
Rules of Thumb
In general, the most portable format for a user is the ASCII/.csv/tab delimited/text/whatever words are used to describe the non-proprietary file format option (assuming there is one).
If file format information is not perfectly clear (see the BEA Questions about using this Web site for an example of perfectly clear information), then ALWAYS open up the saved file before the patron leaves. If it's an ASCII file, it should open in Notepad, unless it is too large. If it is too large, you will get an error message saying so. If it doesn't open in Notepad, even after changing the extension to .txt, then it's not ASCII or it's incorrectly coded ASCII and the user may have to try another format.
Any delimited file, if delimited correctly, will open in standard spreadsheet programs. For example, MS Excel will automatically open comma delimited files and it walks you through an easy wizard for tab/paragraph/space/semicolon/other separated files.
If you want to send someone a copy of a web page, follow these steps:
In the browser choose FILE > SAVE AS... to save the page to the computer you're using. Choose your format and the directory where you want to put the file and click "Save".
In Internet Explorer (IE) 6.x, Netscape 7.x and Firefox 1.x:
Default Format = "Web Page, complete" which will save the page and all the associated images in a separate folder;
Other Format = "Web Page, html only" which will save the page, but not the images;
Other Format = "Text Only" which will save text only and no formatting at all.
IE only:
Other Format = "Web Archive, single file (*.mht)" which will save the page into a single MIME-encoded file (hence, .mht or MHTML page); proprietary file format; not necessarily readable by all users;
For Adobe .pdf files
Use the save option on the Adobe toolbar.
Once a file is saved, open your e-mail program and attach it to the message.
Good Form = including the address of the real version of the saved page so that the user can visit the web site if s/he would like.
You can override the formatting on a web page by going to either Tools or Preferences and locating the right box to check to indicate that you want to only use your own formatting. For the major browsers:
IE: Tools > Options > Accessibility
NS: Edit > Preferences >
Firefox: Tools > Options > General > Fonts and Colors
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/allguides.phtml with http://courses.lib.umn.edu/page.phtml?page_id=1776.
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/cd_explore.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001237.html.
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/adjustbrowser.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001238.html.
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/copy_email.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001239.html.
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/fileformats.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001240.html.
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/print_adobe.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001241.html
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/word_links.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001242.html
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/maplib.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001243.html
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/cd_output.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001246.html
Replaced http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/staff/1990cd.phtml with http://blog.lib.umn.edu/staff/bgi/archives/001247.html
To look at a CD's directory and files, you can usually just click on the CD Drive shortcut on the desktop. However, some installation programs are written to activate the autorun.exe file when users do this. In that case, go to the main Windows Explorer icon and look at the CD drive from there.
Once you're in the CD directory, you'll probably see files with all kinds of extensions, many of which may be unfamiliar.
You can look up file formats and the programs they go with at Google's Data Formats.
There is now a single web page listing all of the guides we've made or link to that are for the public. The url is http://courses.lib.umn.edu/page.phtml?page_id=1776. It's linked on the home page under "All GPL Guides". It excludes guides made for library staff. All I've done is list them; many revisions, deletions, and re-organizations will be needed, but for right now, I just needed a good list from which to work. --Amy
I have added several extensions to Firefox at the GPL desk computer, some specifically with my desk work needs in mind, but also several others which should address some known problems with some of our licensed resources. Details follow below. --Amy
Details:
1. IE View: We can now set particular web pages to always open in IE. I've already set SourceOECD and LexisNexis Statistical to do so. If you get to a resource that doesn't work in Firefox, open the page, then go to the Tools Menu and 3rd from the bottom is the choice to always view that page in IE. Should save us some time...
2. CopyURL+: if you right click over a link, CopyURL+ will be a menu choice. It copies the URL and the page title. Handy for when we're putting links in reference emails.
3. Spiderzilla: this lets us download web pages and their linked pages; in fact it's designed for whole sites. I am testing it with the Wayback Machine's version of the 2002 hearing at which Julie testified.
4. For my purposes, I've added an html validator. That means you'll see either a red ball w/an x through it (not valid), a triangle w/exclamation point (valid, but ugly) or a green ball w/a check. I will be going through all of our pages to adjust any that show as invalid. The rest can wait for the move to the content management system. To help me find the problems, I've also added a formatted source code extension (also under Tools).
5. Also for my purposes, there's a link checker available from the Tools Menu. It's actually very cool and a quick way to check RQS/CL/PS pages.
6. Just for play, an RSS editor that lets one create RSS feeds.
New Home page is up; old home page still available under http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/index_old.phtml Due to changes in the style sheets, the old one won't display perfectly, but it's close enough.
The new home page is now up and running. It has been extensively user-tested and while we will certainly consider further modifications based on comments we receive, our decisions will be guided by what we learned from the user testing. The previous page is still available at http://govpubs.lib.umn.edu/index_old.phtml for reference, although due to stylesheet changes it does not display perfectly anymore. --Amy
A patron discovered several records which are probably mistakes, but which say the desired army manuals are in MLAC. He wanted us to check just in case, so we have. He will phone before coming in, so be prepared to know whether they have come. Clarice and I will work on solving the mystery and suppressing them if not here.
What the patron REALLY wants is photos of current gas masks which he can scan and use. I showed him LN Govt Periodicals - think of other possibilities...
Unlike the County Business Patterns, there is no set of downloadable files for the Zip Code Business Patterns on the Census web site. As a result, many users will still need to use the CD-ROMs. What you can do online (http://censtats.census.gov/cbpnaic/cbpnaic.shtml) is this:
1. See the general, 2-digit NAICS code for the whole zip code for one year.
2. See the detailed industry information for one industry and one zip code for one year.
3. View multiple zip codes for one detailed industry (6-digit NAICS) for one year.
--Amy
Andrea.Sevetson@census.gov
301-763-5207
Census Atlas of the United States
=========================
The Census Atlas of the United States is intended for a general-interest audience. It includes maps, figures, and text selected and organized to increase public understanding of population and housing characteristics across the U.S. and also to answer the map user's natural question, How does my community compare with other communities?
The Census Atlas is a high-quality reference book, a systematic collection of information emphasizing spatial distribution and patterns from 1790 to 2000. The book uses the full range of topics from Census 2000 plus historical data that provide temporal context for Census 2000 population and housing results.
The Census Atlas gives a lively and coherent picture of the U.S. population and housing in a product that integrates text and figures with maps. The book illustrates what the Census Bureau does: collects data that provides a continuous record of the population and captures the cultural moment.
The Census Bureau has not published a statistical atlas since the 1920s.
Approximately 350 pages
Hardcover
Price: $95.00
ISBN: 1-58769-010-1
Size: 12 ¼ x 15 ¼
Reference Atlas; Historical Geography; Social Sciences; Demography
Note: all FDLP libraries will get one copy through the FDLP, however if you aren't an FDLP library, or would like an additional copy, sign up at: http://questionweb.com/83208/censusatlas.asp
2002 Economic Census:
=========================
Home page:
http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/
2002 Economic Census Conferences
http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/ec02conf.htm
Release Schedule:
http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/g02sched.htm
Slide presentations:
http://www.census.gov/epcd/ec02/ec02slides.htm
Check http://www.census.gov/newonsite/ regularly for the new PDF reports
American FactFinder (AFF):
=========================
The new "Population Finder" tool is available on the Census Bureau's homepage, and on the American FactFinder site on the top left corner. This tool allows you to select a state, county, city, or ZIP Code area and get the latest population estimate as well as 1990 and 2000 census counts. You're also just a click away from rankings for these areas according to population size.
In addition, click on "Search by address" in the American FactFinder and then enter an address. You can get quick access to data about the tract the address is in plus all the tracts in the county
There will be an update for AFF in August. In addition to many other things, look forward to: LARGER maps, more data in ACS, and when you look at the fact sheets, the second tab will be for 2004 instead of 2003 as the new ACS release will be used. Keep an eye on the "what's new" section on AFF for additional details.
American Community Survey:
=========================
2003 ACS Data Move to American Fact Finder (AFF) Web Site. The complete line of 2003 ACS data products now resides on AFF at: http://factfinder.census.gov/jsp/saff/SAFFInfo.jsp?_pageId=sp1_acs.
The 2004 ACS data will be released this August to the AFF Web site. Be sure to check back for the latest information on your community. There will be an "ACS Alert" with details about the data release early this summer. (Subscribe at: http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Special/Alerts.htm)
Current Population Survey (CPS) Table Creator :
=========================
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/cpstc/cps_table_creator.html --
Need to generate customized data tables to meet your specific needs? Here are just a few things you can generate from the CPS Table Creator; poverty rates for Asian females by education level, health insurance coverage rates for people 65 or older by race, the number of people with work disabilities by sex and Hispanic origin, or the number of families by family income level and by number of related children under 18.
The CPS Table Creator gives you the ability to create tables in seconds in your web browser from the Current Population Survey's Annual Social and Economic Supplement. CPS Table Creator has 48 variables available with emphasis on poverty and health insurance data. Click on CPS Table Creator's "detailed examples" link to help get started.
Foreign-Born Population of the United States, Current Population Survey -
March 2004
=========================
Detailed Tables (PPL-176) http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/foreign/ppl-176.html
The latest foreign-born data from the Census Bureau includes statistics on generations: first, second, and third. The tables look at marital status, household type, educational attainment, owner/renter status, earnings, occupation, poverty status, and other topics. According to the data, poverty status is less likely for both men and women from generation to generation. These data allow you to compare generations and to compare them with the rest of the population. Other statistics deal with citizenship, year of entry, and region of birth. All the files are in CSV, Excel, and PDF format for your convenience.
Metro Area Definitions Used in American Community Survey Data: Vintage June
1999
========================================================
As metropolitan areas around the country change, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issues new definitions of these areas listing all the component areas. For Census 2000 data products, the Census Bureau used the metro definitions current at the time of the data collection -- those that OMB issued in June 1999.
After the census, OMB released new definitions of metro areas reflecting major changes in the underlying concepts, as well as definitions for "micropolitan areas." The Census Bureau subsequently released Census 2000 population data for these areas.
In the American Community Survey, we have been using the June 1999 definitions of metro areas. The 2005 data products (to be released in the summer of 2006) will be the first to reflect the new definitions.
For more information on the old and new definitions for metropolitan areas, visit the Census Bureau home page and click on "M" in "Subjects A to Z." Then click on "Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas."
State and County Quickfacts
=====================
(available from the right side of the Census Bureau homepage) now has a link to cities. QuickFacts now includes data for cities and towns with more than 25,000 people. (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/)
Historical Census Scans
====================
Newly available as part of the scanning project:
1890 Decennial Census reports are complete as far as we have them.
1900 to start soon!
Just released:
=========================
Statistical Abstract 2004-2005 CD-ROM
Upcoming:
=========================
County & City Data Book, Update!
A new edition is planned for 2006 (2000 is the most current), and will include 2002 economic census results and updates for most of the other sources and variables except the decennial census. Scheduled for later this year is the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book. Also, the USA Counties database (www.census.gov/statab/www/county.html) will be updated and released later this year.