Fundamentals of Government Information

Government data and resources are uniquely useful to researchers and other library users. But without a roadmap, sifting through the sheer quantity of information to find the right answers is foolhardy. The first edition of this text is well established as an essential navigational tool for both LIS students and professionals; now this newly revised, peer-reviewed update is even more attuned to new sources and types of government information and how best to locate them. Unmatched in its scope, this book covers such key topics as the history of government information, from its colorful beginnings to the era of Wikileaks, Edward Snowden, and data breaches; how to think like a government documents librarian in order to find information efficiently, plus other research tips; all types of law resources and information, including public laws and the U.S. Code, Case Law and the judicial branch, and regulations; Congressional literature, from bills and committee hearings to the U.S. Congressional Serial Set; patents, trademarks, and intellectual property; census data, educational information, and other statistical resources; health information, with an in-depth look at the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the trend toward and impact of online medical records; science, environmental, and energy resources from agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Exercises throughout the text support instruction, while the approachable and well-organized style make it ideal for day-to-day reference use.