Featured Government Website in July

DATA.gov is a resource designed to increase public access to valuable, machine readable datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Data are values or sets of values representing a specific concept or concepts. Data.gov includes searchable catalogs that provide access to "raw" datasets and various tools. In the "raw" data catalog, you may access data in XML, Text/CSV, KML/KMZ, Feeds, XLS, or ESRI Shapefile formats. Datasets and tools available on Data.gov are searchable by category, agency, keyword, and/or data format.

Data.gov offers data in three ways: through the "raw" data catalog, using tools, and through the geodata catalog. The "Raw" Data Catalog provides an instant download of machine readable, platform-independent datasets while the Tools Catalog provides hyperlinks which may lead to agency tools or agency web pages that allow you to mine datasets.

For more information on how to use Data.gov, please view the tutorial.

Source: Data.gov

Featured Government Website in February

FedStats.gov - a gateway to federal statistics


FedStats provides access to the full range of official statistical information produced by the Federal Government without having to know in advance which Federal agency produces which particular statistic. With convenient searching and linking capabilities to more than 100 agencies that provide data and trend information on such topics as economic and population trends, crime, education, health care, aviation safety, energy use, farm production and more, FedStats is your one location for access to the full breadth of Federal statistical information.

FedStats provides information for Federal agencies that are listed in Statistical Programs of The United States Government and reporting expenditures of at least $500,000 per year in one or more statistical activities.

How do you find information on FedStats?

• Topics A to Z: Direct access to statistical data on topics of your choice.
  


• Program/Subject Areas: Link to summaries of the major statistical programs including agriculture, education, energy, environment, health, income, labor, national accounts, safety, and transportation.
  


• Agencies: If you know the name of the agency, you can select it from the agency list, browse key statistics, and look up contact information.
  


• Search: Enter your key words or phrases. FedStats searches all of the linked agencies. Here are some useful search tips.
  


• Press Releases: The latest news and announcements from individual agencies.
  


• Data Access Tools: Selected agency online databases.

How do you find information for your county or State on FedStats?

Use MapStats to profile your State, county, Federal judicial district, or congressional district. Just select the name from the menu or use the map provided for your State.

If you want to know more about federal statistical information, please contact Liya Deng, Government Documents Librarian, via email @ deng_l@mercer.edu.

Government Information All in One Place -- USA.gov

Are you looking for one place to get fast answers to your questions about government benefits and services? From Social Security benefits to government jobs to tips on cutting energy costs, USA.gov has you covered. USA.gov is the official portal for all federal, state, and local government information -- all in one easy location.

This official source arranges Government information by topic. Topics cover: Benefits and Grants; Consumer Guides; Defense and International; Environment, Energy, and Agriculture; Family, Home, and Community; Health and Nutrition; History, Arts, and Culture; Jobs and Education; Money and Taxes; Public Safety and Law; Reference and General Government; Science and Technology; Travel and Recreation; and Voting and Elections.

This official web portal also provides direct access to government information by organization, such as A-Z Agency Index, Federal Government, State Government, Local Government, and Tribal Government.

You can easily locate the answers to more than 2500 questions in the FAQs. In addition, you may want to check out some news through links of Today's Government News and What's FREE This Month.

Ready to take advantage of this valuable resource? Please watch USA.gov Tutorials.

National Climatic Data Center Online Document Library

Being a depository library, Tarver Library has access to a fee-based database provided by the National Climatic Data Center.

The National Climatic Data Center(NCDC) is part of the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Environmental Sateliite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). NCDC is the world’s largest active archive of weather data. The Online Document Library provides access to datasets and publications of the Center.

NCDC Online Document Library includes six components of the National Climatic Data:

Local Climatological Data
Climatological Data
Monthly Climate Data for the World
Monthly Normals
Storm Data
Hourly Precipitation Data

Access is only available from within the Jack Tarver Library. Please stop by and see a reference librarian for access.

DARTS - Depository Access to Reports, Technical and Scientific

A pilot project between NTIS and GPO, Depository Access to Reports, Technical and Scientific (DARTS) provides access to government-produced technical information.

DARTS features full text of over 240,000 online titles from 1964-2000 posted by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). NTIS's technical reports cover a wide variety of sciences, including physics, chemistry, environmental science, and the health, behavioral, and social sciences.

DARTS is provided by the Department of Commerce only to participating Depository libraries and requires a password that can only be obtained from librarians at the participating libraries.

Access is only available from within the Jack Tarver Library. Please stop by and see a reference librarian for access.

Hot Document in September

The World Factbook 2008

The World Factbook is a great source for information on countries and territories around the world. It provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 266 world entities. It features full-color maps and flags of all nations and geographical entities.

The 2008 version features several new additions. In the Geography, two fields focus on the vital resource of water: Total renewable water resources and Freshwater withdrawal. In the Economic category, three fields added for: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home, Stocks of direct foreign investment - abroad, and Market value of publicly shares. Concise descriptions of all majors religious included in the Noted and Definitions.

Want to know more about this title? Please view this link for a brief history of how facts are gathered for The World Factbook. This book is also located in our Government Documents area.