Background

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the department within the Library of Congress that works exclusively as a reference and research arm for members of Congress, Congressional Committees and staff. CRS produces a variety of in-depth policy analyses and research on every subject of interest to Congress, including background analyses; pro and con arguments; scientific, economic and legislative analyses; legal research and legislative histories.

Individual reports have always been available by contacting a member of Congress for a copy, but since the reports have never been distributed through the depository library system, we purchase the reports on microfilm.  

 The Microfilm

Major Studies & Issue Briefs of the CRS microfilm collection includes reports back to 1916. The first microfilm set, Major Studies of the Legislative Reference Service/Congressional Research Service, covers reports from 1916-1975, and has been cataloged so that records for individual reports are available.

The Magic record will have the microfilm number and include the reel and frame information.  

The 17-reel microfilm for these records is the first microfilm set in the drawers and the only one without a year on the box.  Each year after 1975 is titled supplement and has the year on the microfilm box.  The first supplement to the original set is 1975-76.  Receipt of the microfilm supplement and its index is several years behind the year of publication of the reports.  

Indexes

Major Studies and Issue Briefs of the Congressional Research Service, 1916-1989 Cumulative Index
Gov Docs Congressional Reference, JK 1108 .G82, v.1-2
Covers almost 5,000 documents that are reproduced in the microfilm collection.  Contains a bibliographic entry, brief abstract, and indexes by subjects and names, titles and report numbers. The microfilm reel number and frame are provided in the indexes and in the bibliographic entry.  

Major Studies and Issue Briefs of the Congressional Research Service, Bibliography and Indexes to the . . . Supplement
Gov Docs Congressional Reference, JX 1108 .G8 (1990-)
Each year an index is published with the microfilm supplement. The index is by titles, report numbers and subjects and names.  Each bibliographic entry provides title, date, document number and a brief descriptive abstract.  The microfilm reel and frame number where the document is located within the companion microfilm is in each bibliograhic entry and also in the indexes.  

Penny Hill Press is a commercial publisher selling CRS reports, and their site provides access to a current index of CRS publications. 

CRS Reports on the WWW

There is pressure on the CRS to make its reports available on the Internet but Congress apparently is blocking this access. See "Why Won't Congress Share What It Knows?" .  

CRS reports in some subject areas are available on the WWW.

• The Committee for the National Institute for the Environment (CNIE) provides access to over 100 CRS documents related to the environment, agriculture, and natural resources, in what will become their National Library for the Environment.

• Gateway Japan has a collection of CRS reports on U.S.-Asia relations, from 1990 on.  

• The Federation of American Scientists has several collections of CRS reports, including Military and National Security; Space and Science; Nuclear, Chemical and Missile Weapons and Proliferation; and Intelligence and Related Issues.

• The  U.S. House of Representatives website has recent CRS reports about the House/Congress.

• The U.S. Senate website also has CRS reports that is keyword searchable and also lists the reports by name, number or subject.
• Senator Tom Daschle provides access to Selected CRS Reports on various topics.