Though some libraries thrived in 2009, many more took a beating, and the fiscal crises that have struck many states and thousands of municipal governments in 2010 increase the odds that the effects of the new Great Recession will be felt over the long term. The decline in payroll and collections budgets have led to a loss of expertise and key information resources, and the hours of service and range of services provided in all types of libraries have diminished. In such conditions, government information services inevitably suffer at the local level. However, major digital initiatives and steps toward open governance at the federal level have compensated for some of these losses. This year's list of Notable Government Documents includes titles on history, government policy, mental and physical health, biology, global warming, and environmental protection, among other topics. The historical works focus mainly on cultural phenomena, such as architecture and music. While some of the selected works exist only on the Internet or in print, most have both electronic and tangible versions.