Office of the Federal Register (NARA/GPO) Places New U.S. Gov’t Manual on Web For 1st Time

From a NARA Announcement:

Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero has announced the first-ever Web release of the new United States Government Manual (the Manual), the official handbook of the Federal Government at www.usgovernmentmanual.gov online.

The new Manual, created by the Office of the Federal Register with the Government Printing Office, provides timely access to descriptions of the many organizations, programs, and leaders of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the Federal Government. The new online Manual presents information in a standardized format, using extensible markup language (XML). Uniform data fields make it possible to display changes quickly, and also provide bulk access to XML data through Data.gov and FDsys.gov.The database tracks vacancies and replacements to maintain current listings of top officials in the both the Obama administration and the 112th Congress. The Manual also provides useful information about quasi-official agencies, international organizations with U.S. membership, and Federal boards, commissions, and committees. The Office of the Federal Register will continuously update this online version – a marked improvement over the annual snapshot of the printed edition.

“Sources of Information” headings list addresses and telephone numbers of each agency for employment, Government contracts, publications, films, and other public services. The Manual provides easy access to agency organizational charts, definitions of commonly used Federal abbreviations and acronyms, and a detailed section on Federal agencies that have been terminated, transferred, or changed in name since March 1933.

The announcement is also posted on the Office of the Federal Register Blog.

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