Government  Information

                    This page is being developed to assist ANYONE who wants to tap into the vast wealth of government information but needs basic starting points.  Directories, search engines, statistical sources and other links were chosen to assist the user who may be unfamiliar with the breadth and depth of resources available from governmental sources.  While most of the information is from governmental sites, there are some high-quality educational (.edu) or commercial (.com) access points.  (Acrobat Reader is required to download PDF files from many sources.)
 
Search Engines Directories - General Directories - Subject Statistics
Census Country Information Coal In the News
Online Publications Portals West Virginia K-12 (Homework, etc.)
Health Info Consumer Info Maps  


SEARCH ENGINES

Google UncleSam -- searches only government & military sites 

Government Infomine -- high quality annotated sites

SearchGov -- searches government or military and  educational sites as well as locates federal and state agencies 



DIRECTORIES - GENERAL

FirstGov -- Official starting point for basic federal information

US Federal Government Information - Vanderbilt Univ.

GovEngine -- Federal, state & local government information

GPO Access -- official information from legislative, executive and judicial branches

GovSpot - StartSpot Network - guide to selected federal and state information - (slow loading) 


DIRECTORIES - SUBJECT -- These three directories are in-depth A-Z guides to government information.

University of Louisville

University of Colorado

St.Mary's University

Browse Topics - Oklahoma St. University - official site

                Other useful starting points:

FirstGov for Science - basic starting point for pure and applied sciences

Federal Citizen Information Center - practical consumer information on home, family, money, etc.


STATISTICS

FedStats -  official guide to agencies with statistical functions

Univ. of Michigan Statistical Resources - statistical information by general topics & specific subjects

Statistical Sources - University of Louisville - Subject-oriented guide to statistical sources

Government Statistics - Vanderbilt University - General topics & specific subjects

 
CENSUS

Census Bureau Home Page - easy-to-use gateway to census information

Historical Census Information-1790-1960


MAPS -- Sites in this category require high speed connections; dial-up may not work

National Atlas - USGS

WV Conservation Service Map Viewer - based on Google Earth; may need to 'Print Screen' with program
          like PrintKey


COUNTRY INFORMATION

Background Notes - Dept. of State - short current descriptions of foreign countries

World Factbook - thumbnail sketches of all foreign countries

Narcotics Control Reports - by Country - annual report on illicit drug activity and money laundering in 140 countries

Country Studies - Library of Congress - in-depth reports on major countries

Human Rights Country Reports -annual

International Religious Freedom - annual

Foreign Government Resources - Univ. of Michigan

 
COAL

Coal & Coking on the Internet - mega site on all aspects of coal - (PopUps are distracting.)
          There are many dead links, but this is the only comprehensive free source of coal information.

Coal Home Page -  Energy Information Admin.

WV Geological Survey - includes some links to coal information

Mine Safety & Health Administration

Office of Surface Mining

Coal - University of Louisville


CONSUMER INFO

ConsumerAction.gov - resources for purchasing products, making complaints, etc.

Household Products Database - lookup safety information for household cleaners, auto products, pesticides, etc.

Recalls.gov - centralized source for consumer products, drugs, automobiles, etc.


HEALTH INFO

HealthFinder - health-related sites and organizations for general public

MedlinePlus - basic information about diseases, medications, etc.

National Cancer Institute -- information for patients and families

Medicare -- comprehensive guide to senior health care concerns

National Institute on Drug Abuse -- information about drug abuse and prevention tips

CDC Traveler's Health -- health precautions for international travel

Surgeon General Reports, etc. -  reports and publications on timely health issues

SmokeFree -- focused guide to quitting and links to other resources

Clinical Trials -- check for patient participation in current medical research

FoodSafety - links to federal food safety information sites

Toll-Free Numbers -- 800 number access for diseases and public health concerns

 
IN THE NEWS

Documents in the News - University of Michigan - current events 

Hot Topics - University of Louisville - subject index


ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

Electronic Publications - Univ. of Michigan- selective alphabetical list

Master Index - University of Virginia - includes publications & valuable sites

                    The next two links are to magazines, newsletters, etc.

Government Periodicals - University of Louisville

U.S. Government Periodicals on the Web - Auburn University


PORTALS - A portal is a gateway to various sources of information on a particular topic or subject.

Federal Government Sources
Government Portal Websites - lists a few specialized portals

Thomas - uncomplicated guide to Congress and legislative matters

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance  - focuses mostly on sources for state & local governments
                    - some individual assistance under Direct Loans link in User's Guide

Business Laws - legal & regulatory information for small businesses

Regulations.gov - one-stop site for locating government regulations and public comments

National Weather Service

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Forms.gov - IRS and other

FedLaw - topical guide to U.S. law - (Slow loading)

Faq.gov - guide to frequently requested information by topic and by agency

GeoData - guide to geographic information from federal agencies

InfoUSA - central location of basic information about the United States

Other Sources
C-Span - focus on current events with links to government agencies

Federal Government Agencies - Louisiana State Univ. - organized list with search engine

Federal Government Agencies - Evergreen State College


WEST VIRGINIA

WV State Directory - official state agency links

State & County QuickFacts - Census Bureau

WV Economic Profiles - Federal Reserve, Richmond

Regional Economic Conditions - FDIC

WVU Bureau of Business & Economic Research

LawSource - WV

WV Division of Culture & History

WV Newspapers

WV Geological & Economic Survey

National Weather Service - Charleston, WV

 
K-12 (Homework, etc.)

Ben's Guide to U.S. Government - Government Printing Office - K-12 plus parents & teachers

FirstGov for Kids - General Services Administration - mostly for K-8 - (Some commercial sites listed are not free.)

Gateway to Educational Materials - lesson plans, etc. for K-12, Vocational. Adult & Higher Education - (Some resources are free.)

Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plans by Subject - alternative source to Gateway

Homework Spot - K - 12

Government Sites for Kids - Univ. of West Georgia

Students.gov - education, career & military service information

Kids in the House - education site from House of Representatives


Government Information is provided to public libraries and public schools by the West Virginia Government Documents Librarians group.