Display of the Month - Archives

This page will eventually link to all of the temporary monthly displays put on by Documents staff.

Display of the Month - Current

This page will provide links to materials featured on our temporary display table.

Maps displayed on sixth floor

This page will list maps displayed on the sixth floor of the library tower.

Posters displayed on sixth floor

This page will list the sources for posters displayed on the sixth floor of the library tower.

Resources being added or considered for collections

This page will feature sources of material being either in the process of being added to the government documents collection or being considered for inclusion in either the regular collection or in temporary displays.

Resources shelved on the sixth floor

This page will show resources listed by table.

Staff of the Government Documents Section

Who volunteers at the Second Life Library Government Documents section?

• Alaskan Nighbor - A librarian who lives in Alaska and works at a selective Federal Depository Library. He loves to share information and blogs about federal information policy. He also loves to hike, cook, do astronomy (RL and virtual) and watch science fiction shows.
• Trixie Enzyme - A reference & instruction librarian in DC, who is also the go-to person at her library all govdocs questions. She is obliterating the traditional librarian reputation by being in a band and participating in SL, though she does have cats.

Where else to find government information

If you've been to the Second Life Government Documents section, but couldn't find what you were looking for, or if you're not on Second Life, try these sources for government information:

• Places to Ask Questions
  • Government Information Online - A free, real-time and e-mail service staffed by government information professionals. Scroll down to ask questions by chat or e-mail.
  • FirstGov Question by e-mail - An offical gov't site to take your questions.
  • FirstGov hotline and phone directories - Pick up your phone and ask a question.
  • Your local federal depository library - Use this page to find your nearest Federal Depository Library, who can help by phone, e-mail or in-person with your government information needs.
  • Ask-a-Librarian on the Web - Use this link to find web-based librarians waiting to answer general reference questions.
  • Try your local public library - It's always a good idea to give your own library the first crack at a question. After all, you pay for it! Use this link to find the nearest public library near you.
• Places to do your own research
  • General GPO Access - One stop access to thousands of publications from the Government Printing Office.
  • General FirstGov - Web portal with information by topic for citizens, researchers, government employees and others.
  • Science Science.gov - a gateway to authoritative selected science information provided by U.S. Government agencies, including research and development results.
  • Census American Factfinder - Where you want to go for population and demographic information and anything to do with Census EXCEPT Genealogy.
  • Statistics Fed Stats - Numbers on nearly everything.
  • Congress THOMAS - current federal legislation
  • GAO Reports Government Accountability Office Topic Search - Nonpartisan reports on government operations browseable by topic.
  • CRS Reports Open CRS - Brings together reports on many topics of interest done by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service.
  • Directory US Government Manual - Learn more about the structure of our government and locate government contacts.

  And more...

  • Federation of American Scientists Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Guide - Did you know that most government information is neither classified nor published? But you can ask agencies to provide unpublished information provided it isn't exempted from disclosure.
  • List of Federal FOIA contacts - Once you learn how to make a FOIA request, find out where to file one. Site also has links to "FOIA Reading Rooms" where you can find previously disclosed information.
  • Daniel Cornwall's guide to finding State government information.