The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) releases a new photo history of the agency. Picturing the Big Shop is a collection of 200 photos, including many that have never before been published, comprising the historical record of everyday life at GPO from 1900 to 1980. This GPO “family album” provides, in black and white and sepia, a revealing look at the equipment, the buildings, and the working lives of the men and women of GPO over the years who helped carry out the agency’s mission of Keeping America Informed. Keeping America Informed: The U.S. Government Publishing Office, A Legacy of Service to the Nation, 1861-2016 can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/021-000-00217-8

The Plum Book is published by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and House Committee on Oversight and Reform alternately after each Presidential election. The Plum Book is used to identify Presidential appointed and other positions within the Federal Government. The publication lists over 9,000 Federal civil service leadership and support positions in the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government that may be subject to noncompetitive appointment. The duties of many such positions may involve advocacy of Administration policies and programs and the incumbents usually have a close and confidential working relationship with the agency head or other key officials. The Plum Book was first published in 1952 during the Eisenhower administration. When President Eisenhower took office, the Republican Party requested a list of government positions that President Eisenhower could fill. The next edition of the Plum Book appeared in 1960 and has since been published every four years, just after the Presidential election.

Abstract: This pocket guide was developed to present technical information and data taken partly from the NIOSH/OSHA Occupational Health Guidelines for Chemical Hazards in ready reference tables for workers, employers and occupational health professionals. Chemical names and synonyms, exposure limits, chemical and physical properties, recommended protective clothing and respirators, exposure routes, signs and symptoms, target organs, and first aid procedures are supplied for 397 federally regulated chemicals or types of chemicals ound in work environments.