What is Government Information?
The United States government collects and produces a vast amount of information. This includes information required for conducting
government business and information produced to educate or share information about government programs, laws, rules, and regulations,
our country's history, plus much more.
Most federal sources, including websites, will tell you where they got their information. With this detail you have an authoritative
source for the information, as well as a phone number for information contact in somes cases.
Why Use Government Information?
Librarians find many reasons to use, and even prefer, government information to other types of information. Here are some
of the many reasons you can recommend government information to your customers or turn to government information as your source
when answering reference and research questions:
1. Government information touches many topics. It's comprehensive and diverse. Government information covers many topics of interest to your customers. Even information about the arts and culture can
be found in government information, and certainly, it's available in the areas of health & medicine, military, history, environmental
studies, finances, education, agriculture, and most other areas one can imagine.
2. Government information directly applies to our customers and it affects their lives. At one time or another, people will need to apply for government benefits or fill out a government form (think of income
tax time), be curious about science or gardening, want to learn about fuel economy when buying a new car or learn whether
there has been a product recall, start a business and seek help or want to conduct market research, and so on. Government
information often supplies a critical piece to satisfy the need of the customer.
3. Government information can be considered a more authoritative source than most other source types. This makes it ideal for research. In fact, much of the information is prepared in cooperation with research institutions,
state data departments, and others who help prepare the information products.
4. Government information is available in many formats, particularly online, which makes it easy to find and use. Online information is offered on websites, in databases, and in other formats that can be used 24/7 from anywhere with a
connection.
5. Government information is, in most cases, free. Occasional inforamtion products are created on a cost-recovery basis, but for the most part, government information has already
been paid for by the citizens, and is available to them as a right and privilege.
The Gi21 project features modules that focus on unique subject areas and includes tips and tools for using these sources,
with exercises and help screens. Encourage the librarians you train to understand the benefit of government information in
these subject areas, and learn to use information to best help their customers.
How is Government Information organized?
Government Information is produced and organized by agency. Each agency of the government has various rules that apply - information
they must collect or provide, as well as their overall mission.
- United States Government Manual
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/gmanual/index.html
People can learn about the mission of each government agency and/or department by viewing the United States Government Manual. As the official handbook of the Federal Government, the Government Manual provides comprehensive information on the agencies
of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies, international
organizations in which the United States participates, and boards, commissions, and committees. The Manual begins with reprints
of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The new edition of the Manual is available annually in late
summer.
The manual can be searched (specific items) or browsed (chronological access to contents). Searching is available from 1995-96
edition forward; browsing is available from 1997-98 edition forward. Each entry provides some or all of the following information
about an agency or other government entity: Agency name, physical address, URL, key personnel, description of the mission
of the agency, origin of the agency, directorates and components (similar to "subsidiaries" or "sub-departments" including
offices of the agency), sources of Information about the agency, and means of contact for obtaining more information.
Exercise: What date did the Department of Homeland Security come into existence?
(Hint: Many ways to find this answer - can search or browse the latest edition.)
Exercise: Who were the Supreme Court Justices during the 2003/2004 year?
