Government publications use their own system, the Superintendent of Documents Classification System (SuDocs). The ODU Libraries are a partial depository for government publications. All of these materials are indicated by their SuDocs call number.

SuDocs call numbers usually begin with the letter of the department, agency, or bureau producing the document, followed by numbers and almost always a colon.

e.g., ED 1.332:T22 = a report by the Department of Education called "Teacher attrition and mobility").

Click here for more explanation about the SuDoc system.

Note that government publications will use Library of Congress subject headings along with headings developed by many other government agencies (e.g., National Library of Medicine Subject Headings, National Agricultural Library Subject Headings, NASA Thesaurus Terms, etc.).