The Interior Library provides a full range of professional reference and research services to U.S. Department of the Interior employees, throughout the nation, who rely upon the Library to maintain and locate materials in print, microform, and electronic media to support their research.

Librarians can assist Interior Department employees with research strategies on our online catalog, on our subscription databases, and on the Internet. Librarians can also direct Library users to the judicial, regulatory, and legislative materials in our Law collection and help locate materials in the general collection and periodical collection.

Librarians will make referrals to the appropriate agencies, organizations, and libraries that can provide requested information. Organizations and Federal agencies are welcome to request library tours.

DOI employees may contact the Reference Desk with questions or requests via telephone, mail, fax, or send e-mail. Field employees are welcome to submit research requests or call with their research queries. Please use a research request form (available in pdf format) or when using your own format, be sure to include all of the necessary information as shown on the form.

Access to Databases and the Internet

Several on-site computers with Internet connections are available to all patrons. These computers may be used to access online databases that otherwise are available only to Departmental employees. Patrons may also use CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs available in the Library's collections. On-site access is provided to CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs on a wide range of subjects including geology, geography, mining, wildlife and oil and gas.

DOI employees may contact a reference librarian to request searches of Westlaw and LEXIS-NEXIS databases.

Photocopying

The Library provides photocopiers and microfilm and microfiche reader-printers. No fees are collected for copies made on the premises. The general public is asked to contribute paper to replace copies made and should consult a reference librarian before making copies. Copyright restrictions apply to all photocopies.

Westlaw Patron Workstation Access

The Library has acquired free IP-authenticated access to Westlaw at the DOI Library's patron workstations. No user ID or password is needed, and patrons may use Westlaw's All Primary Law National Practice collection, which combines all federal and state primary law into a single, integrated legal research tool that includes the following:

50 State Caselaw - Appellate and trial court cases, includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands

50 State Administrative Codes and State Administrative Executive and Municipal Materials - Includes administrative regulations and registers, attorney general opinions, insurance bulletins and administrative decisions on securities, and environmental and workers' compensation matters.

Federal Caselaw - Includes U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Courts, and specialized case law.

United States Code Annotated - Includes Titles 1-50, the Constitution, federal court rules, and notes of decisions for current coverage of cases construing and applying federal statutory law.

CFR and Federal Register - Access to the Code of Federal Regulations and Federal Register (back to July 1980), along with other federal administrative and executive materials.

All are integrated with KeyCite and include full-text plus editorial enhancements such as the West Key Number System and case synopses and headnotes. This subscription also includes Westlaw's StatutesPlus feature, offering links to documents on Westlaw related to federal and state statutes for faster interpretation, including cases, analysis, legislative history, law reviews, statutes, administrative codes, Key Numbers, and more.

Additional resources available as part of the All Primary Law National Practice collection include the Congressional Record (back to 1985), the Federal Acquisition Regulations, West's McKinney's Forms, U.S. Attorney General Opinions (since 1977), Comptroller General Decisions (since 1921), Federal Court Rules, and United States Code Legislative History (since 1948).