Government Information Research Guide

Government information is a publication or an information resource (such as a CD-ROM or WWW site) created, issued, published or financed by a government agency. Such agencies can be at international, national, state, regional, county, or local levels. In addition to typical government documents such as laws, congressional hearings, and court reports, there are a variety of materials on a wide range of topics. These include such things as census data, economic data, educational reports, environmental studies, industrial surveys, health information, marketing research, legal materials, and statistics on just about any subject imaginable – such as Art and American Culture.

Many times, facts or information being sought are located in specific resources such as particular government agency publications or electronic database files. Many government agencies, that collect and disseminate information, maintain World Wide Web sites on the internet. There are a number of pointer sites that have been organized by governmental entities, academic institutions and libraries.  Government Information is a changing medium. The traditional forms of paper publications have been migrating for over 20 years to multiple formats which include microfiche, CD-ROM and increasingly, databases maintained by agencies and the U.S. Government Printing Office on the WWW.

Government information is also considered to be a primary source. Primary sources are defined as the raw, unanalyzed material that is the starting point and basis of all good research.  A primary source can be anything that offers a first-hand account, such as letters, maps, photographs, paintings, a poem, the manuscript of a novel, a newspaper advertisement, a diary, census data, statistics or a report.  A primary source is an original, a one-of-a-kind, or the first of its kind.

Finding Government Publications
Finding Federal Government Information Finding International Government Information Finding State & Local Government Information	Finding Legislative Information Finding Statistics Finding Government Information Facts
Selected Journals	WWW Resources
Guide to Citing Electronic & Print Resources

Mary Martin is the subject specialist for Government Information. If you would like to ask a question, make an appointment for individual assistance or schedule a class, you can telephone her at 621-8923, or send an email message to mary.martin@libraries.claremont.edu.

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