Information for Free!Information for Free!Direct from your local, state, and Federal GovernmentsDirect from your local, state, and Federal Governments

…and International, too!…and International, too!

• First…buy this:First…buy this:

Uncle Sam’s K-12 Web:Uncle Sam’s K-12 Web:

Government Internet Resources for Government Internet Resources for Educators, Students, and Parents Educators, Students, and Parents

(compiled by Laurie Andriot)(compiled by Laurie Andriot)

Why would students want to Why would students want to discover the wild world of discover the wild world of government information?government information?

• Because it’s Because it’s good good for them!for them!• They’re future taxpayers!They’re future taxpayers!• The price is right…most of it’s freeThe price is right…most of it’s free• Access to government information is essential Access to government information is essential

to the maintenance of a responsible to the maintenance of a responsible governmentgovernment

• An informed citizenry helps maintain the social An informed citizenry helps maintain the social contract between GOVERNMENT and those contract between GOVERNMENT and those governed by itgoverned by it

Let’s keep America informed!Let’s keep America informed!…and we’ll start with a history lesson here……and we’ll start with a history lesson here…

• The Federal Depository Library Program makes The Federal Depository Library Program makes available to the public no-fee access to available to the public no-fee access to information produced by Federal agenciesinformation produced by Federal agencies

• Access is through 1,339 depository libraries Access is through 1,339 depository libraries located throughout the U.S. and its possessionslocated throughout the U.S. and its possessions

• Each library tailors its selection of Federal titles Each library tailors its selection of Federal titles to meet the information needs of its to meet the information needs of its communitycommunity

Guiding Principles and Core ValuesGuiding Principles and Core Valuesof the Federal Depository Library Programof the Federal Depository Library Program

• No-fee access to government information is a No-fee access to government information is a right of the peopleright of the people

• The government has an obligation to provide The government has an obligation to provide broad, ongoing public access to its informationbroad, ongoing public access to its information

• All information products that meet statutory All information products that meet statutory criteria are to be included in a program of criteria are to be included in a program of dissemination and accessdissemination and access

• The cost of permanent access to government The cost of permanent access to government information products will be borne by the information products will be borne by the government and government and notnot the end-user the end-user

Depository Libraries:Depository Libraries:Putting a Face to the InformationPutting a Face to the Information

• Depository libraries are key agents in Depository libraries are key agents in the life cycle of government information, the life cycle of government information, providing a customer focusproviding a customer focus

• Depository libraries make government Depository libraries make government information available without charge information available without charge and work to minimize any and all and work to minimize any and all barriers to accessbarriers to access

Depository Libraries:Depository Libraries:Future ShockFuture Shock

• The goal of depository libraries is to The goal of depository libraries is to assure current and permanent access to assure current and permanent access to informationinformation

• This process continues a federally This process continues a federally mandated role in providing permanent mandated role in providing permanent access to information in all formatsaccess to information in all formats

• In 2001, close to 80% of new In 2001, close to 80% of new government titles were “issued” government titles were “issued” electronically, via the Internetelectronically, via the Internet

The Future is Here and NowThe Future is Here and Now

Just…AskERIC (www.askeric.org)Just…AskERIC (www.askeric.org)

AskERIC for:AskERIC for:Lesson PlansLesson Plans

AskERIC Lesson Plans:AskERIC Lesson Plans:U.S. Government (grades 3-12)U.S. Government (grades 3-12)

Let’s go visit the White HouseLet’s go visit the White House@ www.whitehouse.gov@ www.whitehouse.gov

Here’s the White HouseHere’s the White House“Kids Only” site“Kids Only” site

whitehouse.gov’swhitehouse.gov’sResources for Teachers and ParentsResources for Teachers and Parents

Presidential pets (India the cat, and Presidential pets (India the cat, and Ofelia, the Longhorn steer who lives Ofelia, the Longhorn steer who lives

in Texas) “run the show” for kidsin Texas) “run the show” for kids

Casa Blanca:Casa Blanca:The White House in SpanishThe White House in Spanish

And…back around to theAnd…back around to theU.S. Department of Education…U.S. Department of Education…

www.ed.gov/offices/OERI/ECI/fedkids.htmlwww.ed.gov/offices/OERI/ECI/fedkids.html

Get ‘em while they’re young…Get ‘em while they’re young…Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for KidsBen’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids

bensguide.gpo.gov/index.htmlbensguide.gpo.gov/index.html

And…lest we forgetAnd…lest we forgetthe Humanities…the Humanities…

link to EdSiteMent link to EdSiteMent (sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities)(sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities)

@edsitement.neh.gov@edsitement.neh.gov

Yet more lesson plans…Yet more lesson plans…check out the subject navigatorcheck out the subject navigator

Take a trip around the worldTake a trip around the worldon the United Nation’s CyberSchoolBuson the United Nation’s CyberSchoolBus…and the Curriculum links in particular…and the Curriculum links in particular

www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/index.htmlwww.cyberschoolbus.un.org/index.html

Let’s go back to Arkansas now…Let’s go back to Arkansas now…at www.accessArkansas.orgat www.accessArkansas.org

When all else fails…When all else fails…www.google.comwww.google.com

search for “government kids”search for “government kids”

Call me/e-mail me/write meCall me/e-mail me/write meif you have questions:if you have questions:

Sarah SantosSarah Santos

Head of Government DocumentsHead of Government Documents

University LibrariesUniversity Libraries

University of ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas

Fayetteville 72701Fayetteville 72701

ssantos@uark.edussantos@uark.edu

479.575.5516479.575.5516

My thanks to…My thanks to…

The 9The 9thth Annual Annual

Hot Springs Technology InstituteHot Springs Technology Institute

Annual ConferenceAnnual Conference

June 19-20, 2002June 19-20, 2002

Hot Springs, ArkansasHot Springs, Arkansas