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Government Information "Ask a Librarian" Service

By Katie

If you ever have any research needs in government information, Wyoming has several depository libraries more than willing to help. Just in case, though, here is another great service you can take advantage of when you need government information.

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The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) joins the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and Federal Depository Libraries around the country to provide an online reference service to the American public. This unique free web based "Ask a Librarian" service will give the public an opportunity to ask librarians questions about government resources. An example of how this service works: with the current process in the Presidential elections, the public may have questions about the primaries, caucuses and Electoral College process. A librarian is available at <http://govtinfo.org> to answer those or any other questions about the government.

"This service enables GPO and the depository libraries to help Americans answer questions about their democracy by connecting them to the expertise offered by Government reference librarians," said Ric Davis, Acting Superintendent of Documents. "This is another example of the strong partnership GPO has with the Federal Depository Library community in their commitment of Keeping America Informed."

UIC will manage and maintain this service called "Government Information
Online: Ask a Librarian". GIO is supported by nearly 20 public, academic and state libraries throughout the country. Librarians are specialized in finding government information on any topic.

"GIO promotes and complements the growing digital initiatives of both UIC and GPO as well as the digital Government information provided through the Federal Depository Library Program," said Mary Case, University Librarian at UIC. "We are pleased to be able to collaborate on this exciting initiative with GPO, our Committee on Institutional Cooperation colleagues and a growing number of depository libraries around the country."

Full post as published by Law Library Letter on February 25, 2008 (boomark / email).