From Gov Docs to Fun Dcs! Using Government Information to Enhance

your Library and School

Sonnet Ireland Head of Federal Documents & Microforms Earl K. Long Library University of New Orleans LLA Conference

March 7, 2013

Who are you?

I'm the Head of Federal Documents & Microforms for the Earl K. Long Library at the University of New Orleans.

We've been a depository since 1963, and we have a 93% selection rate. That means that we receive 93% of what the government puts out.

What are you going to teach us?

Today, you are going to learn how to access government information/resources that suit the needs of your students!

Some of these resources are even great for the school or parents.

Why are you showing this to us?

Because the term "Government Documents" terrifies even the bravest of librarians...

But it shouldn't! This stuff is easy to find and use!

Who can we use this for?

Everyone! That's the beauty of government information...there's so much of it! You can use gov info for...

Science

History

Social Studies

Art

Math

Health/PE

Economics

Reading

And much, much, MUCH more…

How can we access this great stuff?

Easily! Today, you will learn...

How to find great stuff in the GPO catalog

How to find great stuff through Google

How to order FREE materials from a variety of places

Which sites to use as your go-to resources

1. How to find great stuff in the GPO Catalog

First, go to Catalog.gpo.gov

Then search for terms like... Coloring

or Activities or Kids

Then limit to Internet Publications

1. How to find great stuff in the GPO Catalog

Limiting to Internet Publications guarantees that you will be able to access these great resources.

However, if you see something you like that isn't available online, you can call your local depositories to see if they have it. Then you can come in and scan or copy it.

2. How to find great stuff through Google

Go to Google.com to search for resources with terms like...

Kids site:.gov or kids activities site:.gov or Louisiana kids site:.gov or New Orleans Kids site:.gov

2. How to find great stuff through Google

Interested in a certain age range? Try substituting kids for...

Teens site:.gov

or grades k-3 site:.gov or tweens site:.gov or preteens site:.gov

2. How to find great stuff through Google

What's with all the site:.gov, you ask? This is a limiter in Google that search specifically for websites that are .gov, as opposed to .com. You can do a broad search for government information with site:.gov. You can also search specific government sites with this function: Like site:state.gov for the U.S. Department of State.

2. How to find great stuff through Google

Looking for something more specific? Try searches like...

Kids NASA site:.gov

or kids site:nasa.gov or kids epa site:.gov or Kids site:epa.gov

2. How to find great stuff through Google

Need ideas for which agencies have the best sites? Try... National Aeronautics and Space Administration Environmental Protection Agency Federal Bureau of Investigation Centers for Disease Control Central Intelligence Agency U.S. Dept of Agriculture

2. How to find great stuff through Google

Another great way to search? Using .org. These sites aren't always reliable (think Wikipedia), but many are (like PBS).

Use the same terms you used for the .gov searches, just substitute .gov with .org.

3. How to order FREE stuff

You wouldn't believe how easy it is. Many sites (.govs and .orgs) offer FREE materials to schools. I kid you not! Here are some of my favorites...

3. How to order FREE stuff

Publications.USA.gov Store.SAMHSA.gov C-SpanClassroom.org

4. Go-to Resources: .gov Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids bensguide.gpo.gov Library of Congress: Kids and Families

www.loc.gov/families Kids.gov Kids.clerk.house.gov usa.gov/Topics/Teens.shtml www.FindYouthInfo.gov

4. Go-to Resources: Specific .govs

StopBullying.gov/kids Teens.drugabuse.gov Ready.gov/kids Read.gov/kids USmint.gov/kids SolarSystem.nasa.gov/kids

4. Go-to Resources: Louisiana .gov

Louisiana.gov Kids' Page louisiana.gov/Explore/Kids_Page/ Secretary of State's Louisiana Coloring Book www.sos.la.gov/Portals/0/allaroundla/coloringbook/color/

4. Go-to Resources: .org

KidsHealth.org PBSKids.org Kids.JDRF.org KidsClick.org (SLIS @ Kent State University)

4. Go-to Resources... Shameless Self-Promotion...

Gov Info 4 Schools govinfo4schools.blogspot.com

Federal Documents @ Earl K. Long Library feddocs.blogspot.com

Twitter: @feddocs

Thank you!

Sonnet Ireland Head of Federal Documents

Earl K. Long Library, University of New Orleans sebrown3@uno.edu

http://www.linkedin.com/in/sonnet

And again....

Gov Info 4 Schools govinfo4schools.blogspot.com

Federal Documents @ Earl K. Long Library feddocs.blogspot.com

Twitter: @feddocs and @sonnetireland