New guide to the easiest and most appropriate ways to access data on general and specific subjects covered by the U.S. Government.

The United States Federal Government produces a massive trove of valuable information – but these resources are often difficult to locate and utilize, requiring the addition of another layer of cognizance and expertise to the librarian’s traditional skill set. Finding and UsingU.S. Government Information: A Practical Guide will: Serve as a guide to the vast universe of government information, with a special focus on digital methods of delivery Provide librarians with the tools they need to understand how government information is produced, organized, located, and accessed for most effectual use For those new to the government information landscape and government information specialists alike, this volume will also offer an annotated listing by subject which can serve as a ready-reference tool for some of the most widely-useful government information resources While geared primarily towards reference and instruction librarians, acquisitions and collection development librarians may also find this book useful in making purchasing decisions in light of resources freely available from the US Federal Government

A directory of Internet sites maintained by government agencies and others offering federal and state government information. Includes listings for gopher sites, bulletin boards, the SIGCAT CD-ROM Compendium, the National Association of State Information Resource Executives (NASIRE) StateSearch, and a Congressional directory providing e-mail and other addresses.

Revised and updated, this compendium helps readers identify and understand the scope of key government reference sources-traditional books (including publications catalogs and telephone directories); information clearinghouses; and materials in new formats, such as CD-ROMs, datafiles, and Internet sites. The authors focus on free information and depository materials-both readily available through toll-free phone numbers, mail or e-mail requests to agencies, or federal depository library collections. Materials are fully described in annotations that differentiate between similar materials, identify typical citation formats, and note common abbreviations