Celebrate Constitution Day (Tues. Sept. 17)! Very special guest presentation at 12:30!

Join us in celebrating the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution (Sept 17, 1787).
We will be marking the anniversary by giving out free pocket Constitutions to anybody who visits our Constitution trivia table (Monday from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm).

We will have a very special guest at the Library today. The Father of our Country, George Washington, will be making a special appearance today as he will appear at the front of the library with a short address about the Constitution!  Afterwards he will be available to pose for photos.

Please also visit our Constitution Day guide at http://libguides.frostburg.edu/constitution. It contains a variety of links and videos to help you learn more about the Consitution. A display is also available, located immediately inside the library entrance.

CRS Reports - Great Sources for Research and Topic Ideas!

A long-time hidden treasure is now being made more accessible to the general public! Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports are now being shared with the public whenever possible.

CRS Staff perform the research that assists Members of Congress and Congressional Committees with information to help with important legislative decision-making. You can see some of the more recently published reports here.

 

To get an idea of the variety of information available, here is a sample list of reports:

•  The Internet of Things: Frequently Asked Questions
•  Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh: His Jurisprudence and Potential Impact on the Supreme Court
•  Brexit Deal Rejected: What Now?
• An Electric Grid Based on 100% Renewable Energy?
•  Issues in Autonomous Vehicle Deployment
• School Resource Officers: Issues for Congress
•  Nutrition labeling of Restaurant Menu and Vending Machine Items
• Housing Issues in the 115th Congress 

These reports can be used on their own as high-quality sources of information, idea-generators for new and interesting research topics, and as a resource to understand current discussions taking place in Congress!

Since the Ort Library is a member of the Federal Depository Library Program, these titles will also appear when you search the Library's OneSearch discovery tool or Catalog USMAI.

The Library of Congress is also taking steps to make older CRS Reports available through this site. Meanwhile, selected older reports are available through a variety of web sites including:

• University of North Texas Digital Library's CRS collection
•  EveryCRS Report.com
• National Agricultural Law Center
•  Federation of American Scientists 

  We hope that you find these helpful! Enjoy!

Happy Constitution Day! Visit library for voter registration, Constitution trivia, and free pocket Constitutions!

Join us in celebrating the 231st anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution  (Sept 17, 1787) We will be marking the anniversary by giving out free pocket Constitutions to anybody who visits our Constitution trivia table (Monday from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm).

Volunteers from the Office of Civic Engagement will also be available to help you register to vote. We have an election coming soon, this is your chance to make sure that you're ready for it!

Please also visit our Constitution Day guide at http://libguides.frostburg.edu/constitution. This year, we have added a page featuring the Supreme Court, including links where you can learn more about the nomination of a Supreme Court Justice.

We also have a display located immediately inside the library entrance. This year it features signers of the Constitution from Maryland.

Census Workshops - Wednesday August 22

The Ort Library is pleased to announce that we are once again hosting workshops to help you learn about the Census Bureau’s data tools.  Nesreen Khashan, Data Dissemination Specialist from the US Census Bureau will present a morning workshop on household data and then an afternoon session on business and economic data.

The workshop registration is free and they will take place on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 at the Lewis J. Ort Library’s Library Instruction Center.

9:00 a.m. – Noon – Household / Demographic Data

1:00-3:00 p.m. – Economic/Business Data

You are welcome to register for either one or both workshops.

These workshops are open to the public. Due to limited seating, registration is required. You are welcome to register for one or both sessions. Register and watch for updates at http://libguides.frostburg.edu/censusworkshop.

     

Federal Government Shutdown Updates - Alternative Resources

During the Federal government partial shutdown, some online resources may be affected.  Please monitor this list for potential workarounds.  If the agency that you seek is not included, please contact Lisa Hartman, Reference Librarian & Government Documents Coordinator (lahartman@frostburg.edu, 301-687-4734), or the reference desk (libref@frostburg.edu, 301-687-4424), for potential alternative sources.  

This post will be updated as new information becomes available.


1/22/18 8:30 am update:

• General information on federal government - http://usa.gov is still functional.
• Census
• Census.gov is still functioning
• American Factfinder is still functioning.
• Alternative non-federal sources:
• Maryland State Data Center
• Missouri Census Data Center
• Stats America - http://www.statsamerica.org/ 
• Census/Investigative Reporters & Editors: http://census.ire.org/ 
• Census Viewer: http://censusviewer.com/free-maps-and-data-links/  
• Crime Statistics 
•  FBI Uniform Crime Reporting is still functioning
• Alternative non-federal sources:
• National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (Univ. of Michigan) - http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/NACJD
• Education
• ERIC is still functioning
• Various Statistics
  • Quandl (Archived Datasets from a variety of agencies - http://www.quandl.com/
  •  Beyond.gov (USC Aiken) - https://library.usca.edu/c.php?g=155790&p=1022005,  - A variety of alternatives to federal government agencies for federal government information.

Additional sources of information about the shutdown:

• "Dark websites"
• NSF.gov 
• As of 1/22/18 at 8:00 am, many of the agency web sites that were dark during the 2013 shutdown are still functioning. However, they are most likely not being regularly updated. (Many agencies have a message stating this on their home page.)

Veterans Day - Resources for Vets and Dept. of Defense display

Best wishes to our veterans as we recognize Veterans Day on Saturday, November 11!

Please stop by to visit the display which highlights our Department of Defense documents as well as 242nd birthday of the US Marine Corps! The display is located on the 5th floor of the library.

If you or any of your friends or family are a veteran, we hope you enjoy this display.  Also, feel free to check out these other resources that provide information about services and resources for veterans:

• Veterans.gov - This web site is published by the US Dept. of Labor, and focuses on employment information for veterans.
• My HealthEVet - Published by the Veterans Health Administration, MyHealthEVet you tips and tools to help veterans partner with their health care teams.
• Veterans Benefits Administration - Provides an overview of benefits available to veterans. 
• USA.gov - Compilation of Federal links of interest to veterans.

Many of the documents featured in this display are from our Federal documents collection. This year marks our 50th year as a member of the Federal Depository Library Program! Watch for more information about this anniversary soon!

US Government Publications Office (GPO) visits Ort Library on March 4

The Ort Library was pleased to host a visit from representatives from the US Government Publishing Office (GPO).  The Ort Library is a member of the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) which is managed by GPO.

Representatives from GPO (L-R): Laurie Hall, Ashley Dahlen, Lisa Hartman (FSU), and Lara Flint

Laurie Hall (Managing Director of Library Services & Content Management, Ashley Dahlen (Senior Outreach Librarian), and Lara Flint (Outreach Librarian) stopped by for a tour and informal meeting where we discussed topics such as accessibility of the collection to the public and new resources that will soon be available to aid in managing depository collections.

The Lewis J Ort Library was designated as a selective depository in 1967 with the support of Charles Mathias, Jr. from the US House of Representatives.  As a selective depository, the Library selects about 34% of the government documents provided by GPO.  The Ort Library is a part of the MD-DC-DE region, with the regional depository located at the McKeldin Library at University of Maryland College Park.  The Regional Depository collects 100% of the items published by GPO.

The Ort Library is also a Maryland State Depository.  Our main collection of government documents can be found on the 2nd floor of the Library.  Please feel free to stop by and check out the collection at your convenience.  To learn more about the depository and government information resources, please see our Government Documents LibGuide.

The US Constitution is 228 years old today. Happy Constitution Day!

Today marks the 228th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution (Sept. 17, 1787).

Every year on this date, we commemorate this occasion and honor the Founding Fathers who signed this important document by celebrating Constitution Day!

Please join us in the celebration by visiting our online library guide as well as our display cases.

The display cases with additional information and library resources about the Constitution can be found on the 5th floor of the Ort Library.

 

 The library guide is available at http://libguides.frostburg.edu/constitution with additional library and online resources, including videos, about the Constitution and Constitution Day.  Find entertaining games and videos help you test your own knowledge and learn even more about the Constitution!


At Sept 17 at 2:00 PM through live streaming, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will be presenting a talk related to his book,  The Court and the World: American Law and the New Global Realities.  More information and a link to the presentation can be found here: http://constitutioncenter.org/calendar/justice-stephen-breyer-the-court-and-the-world.  Additional live streamed events can be found here: http://constitutioncenter.org/experience/programs-initiatives/constitution-day-livestreams.
 
Happy Constitution Day!

Featured Online Resource - The Writer's Guide to Government Information

There are many resources available for locating government information, but for a different point of view, you might be interested in checking out The Writer's Guide to Government Information.

This guide was written by Daniel Cornwall, a librarian with the Alaska State Library and the University of Alaska in response to fiction writers' need for information to supplement their stories. 

While this resource can be very useful to writers wanting to expand on a particular topic, it is also simply a great resource to learn about subjects that may be of interest to you!

Some categories of information on the guide include:

• Military history
• "What if your story isn't set on Earth?" (astronomy, space habitats, etc.)
• World of espionage - background and tools
• Faking one's own death
• "Kids have problems too - kidnapping"

 So, whether you're striving for quality information in your novel, or would simply like to browse some interesting online resources from the government, you might want to take a look!

Every week, the Ort Library brings you a new and outstanding resource from the Web or from one of the library's databases. To get an archive of all FOR entries, click here. Also, you can suggest a website that provides well-organized access to useful info.

American FactFinder Workshops - April 3, 2015

The Lewis J Ort is providing free training on American FactFinder on Friday, April 3, 2015.

American FactFinder is the US Census Bureau's web site for locating a variety of information such as demographic, housing, and economic statistics.

The Library will be hosting two workshops.  The morning workshop provides an introduction the Census data and the use of the web site.  The afternoon session is for intermediate users of the service.  You are welcome to register for one or both workshops.  Registration deadline is Friday, March 20, 2015.

• Presenter: Nesreen Khashan, Data Dissemination Specialist, US Census Bureau
• Date: Friday, April 3, 2015
• Workshop 1:  9:00 am - 12:00 noon - Census Bureau Housing and Demographics Statistics Introduction
• Workshop 2: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Census Bureau Statistics—Demographics and Economic Programs for Intermediate Users

Additional information, including workshop descriptions, flyer, and registration form can be found here: http://libguides.frostburg.edu/affseminar. 

Featured Online Resource: The US Government Manual

An essential title in our collection of government resources is the US Government Manual.

The most recent print copy can be found in our Reference collection with the call number: JK421 .A3.  Older copies are available in the Government Documents collection under the Superintendent of Documents (SuDoc) Number: AE 2.108/2:.

However, this is also available online, and the most recent copy can be found at the Government Manual website (http://www.usgovernmentmanual.gov).

The Manual includes text of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence.  You can use this resource to learn about the 3 branches of the federal government as well as the divisions within each branch.  There is even a section that explains how agencies have changed over time through name changes and moving within the government structure.

If you would like to look at past government manuals online, they can be found at the Government Printing Office's FDsys (Federal Digital System) website.  Currently, they have the manuals back to 1995-96.

Take advantage of this resource just for the general information, to learn more about a specific part of the federal government, or to supplement your class research!

Every week, the Ort Library brings you a new and outstanding resource from the Web or from one of the library's databases. To get an archive of all FOR entries, click here. Also, you can suggest a website that provides well-organized access to useful info.

Halloween - Information Resources from the Federal Government

If you're planning to celebrate Halloween this year, or even if you would just like to learn more about it, take a look at the many Web resources that the federal government is providing!

Halloween Pumpkin with Candy Image from FDA's 

Halloween Safety Tips for Parents web page.

For safety concerns, you can find resources from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and more about topics such as food, make-up, and pedestrian safety as well as advice for purchasing decorative contact lenses.

Educational and fun facts about Halloween and its history are available from the Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Humanities, and even the Census Bureau and State Department.

If you have children (or if you don't!), you may want to take a look at some fun web sites such as Spooky Space Sounds from NASA!

States are also contributing to the fun.  Are you feeling hungry for Deep Fried Pumpkin Brains?  If so, Virginia's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services can help you out!

All of these websites, and many more have been compiled at USA.gov at their Halloween topic page.

Federal Government Shutdown Update (Updated 10/10/13)

Updated 10/4/13, 10/6/13, 10/7/13, 10/10/13

You may have noticed that some of your favorite Federal government web sites are not available due to the government shutdown.

USA.gov is still running, and has an update page summarizing Federal government services that have been affected by the shutdown: http://www.usa.gov/shutdown.shtml.

Alternate Resources:

Census Information

• The Missouri Census Data Center (http://mcdc1.missouri.edu/cgi-bin/applinks/menu.py) is mentioned as a very good source of American FactFinder Information, but don’t forget to check any of the other state data centers as well.  Like Maryland’s Data Center (http://www.mdp.state.md.us/msdc/), they will probably house some information on their own server (which should be accessible) as well as provide links to the Federal data (which might not be available).  Since the Census Bureau’s directory of state data centers is not working, just Google your state of interest plus “data center”, and it should be easy to find.
• StatsAmerica: http://www.statsamerica.org/
• Oxford University Press and the Social Explorer team will open up access to Social Explorer<http://www.socialexplorer.com/> - the premier US Census demographics website - for the next two weeks. Social Explorer offers users Census data from 1790 to 2010 and American Community Survey data from 2005 to 2012. For access to Social Explorer, simply email onlinereference@oup.com to request a username and password.
• Census/Investigative Reporters & Editors: http://census.ire.org/ 
• Census Viewer: http://censusviewer.com/free-maps-and-data-links/  

Crime Statistics

• National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (Univ. of Michigan) http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/NACJD/

Various Statistics

• Quandl (Archived Datasets from a variety of agencies) http://www.quandl.com/ 

Education (ERIC)

• EBSCOhost has made its ERIC database available during the shutdown: http://www.ebsco.com/freeERIC. 

Additional sources of information about the shutdown:

• Marcia Gorin, of Florida State University, has created a guide with additional information and updates regarding the shutdown: http://guides.lib.fsu.edu/governmentshutdown.
• Government information from non-government sources guide, USC-Aiken, Kathy Karn-Charmichael: http://researchguides.usca.edu/content.php?pid=220482&sid=2006467
• Alternate Government Research Sources, Mississippi State Univ: http://guides.library.msstate.edu/altgovsources 
• Federal Libraries affected by shutdown (courtesy Special Libraries Association: http://govinfo.sla.org/2013/10/03/federal-government-shutdown-operating-status-of-federal-libraries
• List of agencies not available at this time from Arkansas Tech University: http://blogs.atu.edu/library/2013/10/02/the-shutdown-breakdown/
• Government Shutdown Guide (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison): http://researchguides.library.wisc.edu/govshutdown 

The following is a list of some web sites that were "dark" as of 10/2/13:

• USGS.gov
• Bureau of Economic Analysis (bea.gov)
• Business.gov
• Census.gov (Maryland State Data Center, http://www.mdp.state.md.us/msdc/, has some information housed on their web site.  (However some links point to Census.gov data.)
• Copyright.gov (Website available but not being updated as of 10/7/13.)
• Data.gov
• Disability.gov
• ERIC (eric.ed.gov) - See above, under Education, for EBSCO access.
• FCC.gov
• FTC.gov
• Library of Congress (loc.gov) Up as of 10/7/13!
• NASA.gov
• National Park Service (nps.gov)
• NIMH.gov
• NIST.gov
• NOAA.gov is offline but you can still get to weather.gov 
• NSF.gov 
• Nutrition.gov 
• USDA (usda.gov)

       (Thank you to Gretchen Gould of Univ. of North Iowa for this information.)