Tutorials,
Guides, & How-to's

VIRGINIA STATE PUBLICATIONS

The Library is a full state depository. Most Virginia publications are shelved in the general collection, however, some key documents are located at the Reference desk. This guide will list tips on finding print and Internet materials.

Using the library's online catalog to find Virginia documents housed in the Library. Whenever possible "hotlinks" will also be provided in the library's online catalog to facilitate access to online versions of Virginia publications.

Use "Title search" if the exact title of the publication is known

Use "Author search" if looking for a specific state agency
e.g., Virginia. Marine Resources Commission
Virginia. Dept. of Education (Note: Department should always be abbreviated as Dept.)

Use "Keyword search" for multiple topics
e.g., Virginia and SOL*
Chesapeake Bay and VIMS

Use "Subject search" if no title or agency is known (note this requires using specific subject headings). Find the appropriate Library of Congress subject heading and use the subdivision, -Virginia.
e.g., Child abuse-Virginia
Teachers-Certification-Virginia
Wetlands-Virginia

KEY INTERNET RESOURCES

KEY LIBRARY PORTAL:
From the Library's home page under " Resources"; select "Government Resources"; then "Virginia State Government".
This portal provides one-stop searching for selected key web sites of the Commonwealth.

KEY STATE PORTAL:
The Commonwealth of Virginia's official web site provides access to numerous state agencies, services, laws and publications. In addition to conducting academic research, users may find some sites helpful for obtaining information regarding registering to vote, filing taxes and handling motor vehicle transactions.

LEGISLATION:
Legislative Information System
Search for full-text and status of bills, laws and resolutions in current and past sessions.

Selected Searchable Databases: (Coverage includes sessions from 1994 to the present.)
* Bills and Resolutions (session legislation)
* Code of Virginia (statutory law)
* Reports to the General Assembly : List of Legislative Studies (House and Senate documents)
* Virginia Administrative Code (state agency rules)

REGULATIONS:
The Virginia Register of Regulations (main web page; overview and links to supporting sites)
Virginia Register of Regulations (online version of the publication with full text from 1998 to present)
Virginia Regulatory Town Hall (search proposals to change Virginia Regulations)

STATISTICS:
VASTAT provides statistical data from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia

VIRGINIA LEGISLATION (in PRINT at the Library)

LAWS

Acts of Assembly (KFV 2406 .V5 1871-1928, 1930 to present) (3rd floor)
The chronological arrangement of laws passed by the Virginia General Assembly.

Code of Virginia (Ref KFV 2430 .A24) in reference
The laws of Virginia are organized into Titles by general subject matter. The year and chapter references at the end
of a section are to the Acts of Assembly (e.g., 1984, c.779; 1992, c.85).

BILLS, JOINT RESOLUTIONS, RESOLUTIONS * Library no longer receives these in print*

Final Cumulative Index of Bills, Joint Resolutions, Resolutions and Documents. In addition to a subject index, there is a Patron Status Report, a Bill History Report and the Acts of Assembly Chapter Report. There is also a directory of Delegates and Senators, and a one-page overview of how a bill becomes a law in Virginia.

* KFV 2410 .F56 (1964, 1966, 1968, 1970-71, 1973-2002 / historic holdings in print)

HOUSE AND SENATE JOURNALS (3rd floor)

These are the records of the daily sessions of the General Assembly, including votes on legislation.

* House Journal (J 87 .V6c scattered holdings prior to 1936, 1936 to present)
* Senate Journal (J 87 .V6b scattered holdings prior to 1936, 1936-1950, 1952 to present)

HOUSE AND SENATE DOCUMENTS (J 87 .V9h 1950 to present) (3rd floor)

These are studies and reports that are submitted to the General Assembly/Governor. They provide background for legislation. House Document No. 1 for each year is the Budget Bill. Senate Document No. 1 is always the Governor's address to the General Assembly.

REGULATIONS

Virginia Register of Regulations * The Library no longer receives these in print*
Published biweekly, with a quarterly index. Contains full text of state agency proposed and final regulations, emergency regulations and Executive Orders issued by the Governor.
*KFV 2436 .V57 (historic holdings in print from 1984-May 2003)

Executive Orders are also in the Report of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
* J 87 .V94A (1926/27-1929/30, 1935/36 to present)

Administrative Law Appendix (Ref KFV 2430 .A24 Appx.)
A finding guide to existing regulations of administrative agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Appendix describes the powers of each agency, the availability of its regulations and a list of its regulations.

NOTE: Many excellent resources are available on the Internet. Use the Library's homepage on the Web at http://www.lib.odu.edu as a gateway.