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 But you can ask agencies to provide unpublished information provided it isn't exempted from disclosure.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.