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GPO Access for free - HOW TO



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TAXPAYER ASSETS PROJECT - INFORMATION POLICY NOTE
Crown Jewels - GPO Access

November 1, 1994

-    Instructions to access Senate and House Bills, the
     Congressional Record and the Federal Register for free
     through the Internet on the Government Printing Office (GPO)
     Access system.

As previously announced on TAP-INFO, the GPO in conjunction with
the Depository Library Program (1,400 libraries providing public
access to government information) has set up two internet sites
to access:

1. All published forms of Senate and House Bills (103rd Congress)

2. Congressional Record and Index (1994 - )

3. Federal Register (1994 - )


Attached are instructions on how to access these systems.  Demand
for these new systems is great so expect congestion.  The GPO has
plans to open more sites in the near future.  If you have any
questions about the GPO Access system, you can call or email the
GPO at (202)512-1530 or help@eids05.eids.gpo.gov.

               Michael Ward -- mike@tap.org or (202) 387-8030

------------------  -------------------------- ------------------

[Note: I do not include key strokes where there are no options,
ie., "Hit enter to scroll to the next screen."]

Columbia Online Information Network

1.   Telnet to:          128.206.1.3

2.   Login as:           "guest"

3.   Select:             "5"  Government Center

4.   Select:             "2"  Access the Government Center

5.   Select:             "4"  United States of America

6.   Select:             "1"  GPO Access (Congressional Bills,
                              Federal Register, etc.)

7.   Enter your terminal setting (most of the people I know use
     vt100)

8.   At this point, you will be provided with a numbered list of
     databases which you can access. To select a database: 
          a.  use the arrow keys to highlight a database, then 
          b.  use the space bar to asterisk that choice, then    
          c.  hit enter.

9.   You will be prompted to enter keyword/s to retrieve an index
     of documents to your screen. [If you are looking for a
     particular bill, ie., S. 540, I found it useful to use the
     syntax "s. ADJ 540" (All booleans, such as ADJ (adjacent
     to), must be in all capitals).]

10.  The system will return an index of all of the documents that
     contain the keywords. Enter the number of the document that
     you want to look at and hit enter. 

11.  To save a document, go back to the index by typing "q" and
     then: 
          a. highlight the document by using the arrow keys or
          typing the document's number (the left most number on
          the screen.), then 
          b. enter "m" (to mail it), then
          c. enter your entire email address.

12. You must logoff the system before hanging up. To do this:
          a. select "q", then
          b. select "x", then
          c. select "y" 



                    Seattle Public Library

1.   Telnet 198.137.188.2

2.   Login as:           "library"

[There are several terminal emulation questions. Most people I
know use vt100]

3.   Select:             "14" Internet & Seattle Community Net.

4.   Select:             "1" Internet & Seattle Community Network

5.   Select:             "3" Govt. Prt.Off. Online Access Service

6.   Select:             "c"  connect

7.   Enter your terminal setting.

8.   At this point, you will be provided with a numbered list of
     databases which you can access. To select a database: 
          a.  use the arrow keys to highlight a database, then 
          b.  use the space bar to asterisk that choice, then    
          c.  hit enter.

9.   You will be prompted to enter keyword/s to retrieve an index
     of documents to your screen. [If you are looking for a
     particular bill, ie., S. 540, I found it useful to use the
     syntax "s. ADJ 540" (All booleans, such as ADJ (adjacent
     to), must be in all capitals).]

10.  The system will return an index of all of the documents that
     contain the keyword/s. Enter the number of the document that
     you want to look at and hit enter. 

11.  To save a document, go back to the index by typing "q" and
     then: 
          a. highlight the document by using the arrow keys or
          typing the document's number (the left most number on
          the screen.), then 
          b. enter "m" (to mail it), then
          c. enter your entire email address.

12. You must logoff the system before hanging up. To do this:
          a. select "q", then
          b. select "q", then
          c. select "3".    


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