United States Federal Government Information: Select Collections and Agencies
Federal Agency Resources
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
- CIA LibraryThe CIA releases millions of pages of documents each year and frequently releases items of public interest on this website. The Library contains a wealth of information, from unclassified current publications to basic references, reports and maps.
- Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading RoomDo UFOs fascinate you? Are you a history buff who wants to learn more about the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam or the A-12 Oxcart? Have stories about spies always fascinated you? You can find information about all of these topics and more in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Electronic Reading Room.
- Studies in IntelligenceUnclassified extracts and articles from classified studies.
Housing and Urban Development
- HUD Office of Policy Development and ResearchOne-stop resource for community development and housing research.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Mission transcriptsThe Mission Transcript Collection includes scanned transcripts from recorded air-to-ground transmissions and from tapes recording the words of the astronauts while onboard the Mercury through Apollo missions. The collection contains 80 transcripts (approximately 45,000 pages of text). Some of the transcripts include a detailed explanation of the contents.
- Technical Reports"NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) provides access to aerospace-related citations, full-text online documents, images, and videos. The types of information included are: conference papers, journal articles, meeting papers, patents, research reports, images, movies, and technical videos – scientific and technical information (STI) created or funded by NASA."
Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is responsible for the management and conservation of most federal lands and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, territorial affairs, and insular areas of the United States.
- National Minerals Information CenterPart of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This center provides statistics and information on the worldwide supply of, demand for, and flow of minerals and materials essential to the U.S. economy, the national security, and protection of the environment.
U.S. Energy Information Administration
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent and impartial energy information to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.
- EIA HomepageBrowse and view data by energy source, topics and geography.
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
"The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the "congressional watchdog," GAO examines how taxpayer dollars are spent and provides Congress and federal agencies with objective, reliable information to help the government save money and work more efficiently."
- GAO HomepageAccess publications and latest announcements from the GAO.
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
"The Congressional Research Service (CRS) serves as shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. CRS experts assist at every stage of the legislative process — from the early considerations that precede bill drafting, through committee hearings and floor debate, to the oversight of enacted laws and various agency activities."
- EveryCRSReport.comProvides access to non-partisan reports prepared by the Congressional Research Service. The reports provide analysis of issues of public debate. Can search by subject or browse by topic.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an American scientific and regulatory agency charged with forecasting weather, monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions, charting the seas, conducting deep-sea exploration, and managing fishing and protection of marine mammals and endangered species in the US exclusive economic zone. The agency is part of the United States Department of Commerce.
- NOAA HomepageLatest news and access to other NOAA resources.
- Climate Data Onlinefree access to NCDC's archive of global historical weather and climate data in addition to station history information. These data include quality controlled daily, monthly, seasonal, and yearly measurements of temperature, precipitation, wind, and degree days as well as radar data and 30-year Climate Normals. Customers can also order most of these data as certified hard copies for legal use.
Select Collections
List of federal document collections relating to popular, focused research topics.
Native Americans
- Bureau of Indian AffairsUnder the Department of the Interior, their mission is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes and Alaska Natives.
- Rights of Native AmericansFrom the National Archives Records of Rights online exhibit. This exhibit includes stories on: recognition of tribal sovereignty; protection of land rights; survival of indigenous culture.
- American Indian and Alaskan Native DocumentsThe digitized collection at the Donald E. Pray Law Library, College of Law at the University of Oklahoma includes versions of Native American and Alaskan Native documents contained in volumes of the U.S. Congressional Serial Set from 1817-1899. These documents contain contemporaneous documentation of political, military, and governmental activities related to indigenous peoples of the continental United States and Alaskan territory during the 19th century.
- GovInfo Native American and American Indian Related PublicationsNative American and American Indian related digitized publications and official documents of Congress and Federal agency publishers available through govinfo.
- NARA's Compilation of Periodical Literature: American Indian ClusterNational Archives compilation of citations of American Indians.
- Native American Constitution and Law Digitization ProjectThe Project was created as a cooperative effort between the University of Oklahoma College of Law Library and the National Indian Law Library (NILL), to provide access to the tribal constitutions, codes, and other legal documents.
Impeachment
- Bowdoin Library's Congressional Documents: ImpeachmentAn excellent compilation of Congressional documents for each presidential case.
- GovInfo Impeachment Related PublicationsBills, rules, precedents, and other documents related to impeachment inquiries and proceedings.
Additional Links
Notable and/or frequently requested links and government information.
- USA.govThe federal government's attempt to create a one-stop shopping mall for all its information. USA.gov is one of the most comprehensive US Government Web sites, but expectations that you might find all data in one place is unrealistic. Shoppers must often visit multiple malls before making purchases. Select Explore Topics to view information under broad headings.
- The Center for Legislative Archives"The Center for Legislative Archives, a part of the National Archives and Records Administration, preserves and makes available to researchers the historical records of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate."
- Science.gov(Science.gov Alliance--a partnership of 14 federal agencies and 18 scientific and technical organizations). Links to scientific and technical information on over 2,100 Web sites and over 50 databases. Use advanced search to limit information to specified areas.
- United States Copyright Office"The Copyright Office is responsible for administering a complex and dynamic set of laws, which include registration, the recordation of title and licenses, a number of statutory licensing provisions, and other aspects of the 1976 Copyright Act and the 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act. By statute, the Register of Copyrights is the principal advisor to Congress on national and international copyright matters, testifying upon request and providing ongoing leadership and impartial expertise on copyright law and policy." The link above takes users to the office's circulars guide.
- Census Bureau Reports about GovernmentsReport topics include: Census of Governments, Elections & Elected Officials, Employment & Payroll (of federal, state, and local governments), Federal Programs, Finances of States & Local Governments, Government Organization (includes the number of governments, types of governments, powers and responsibilities of governments), Property Valuation, Public Pensions / Retirement Systems of Governments, School Finance, Taxes
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) serves the President of the United States in overseeing the implementation of his or her vision across the Executive Branch. OMB’s mission is to assist the President in meeting policy, budget, management, and regulatory objectives and to fulfill the agency’s statutory responsibilities.
Librarian
Publication Highlight
Government Issue: comics for the people, 1940s-2000s
Since the 1940s, federal and state government agencies have published comics to disseminate public information. Comics legends Will Eisner and Milton Caniff produced comics for the army. Li'l Abner joined the navy. Walt Kelly's Pogo told parents how much TV their kids should watch, Bert the Turtle showed them how to survive a nuclear attack, and Dennis the Menace took "A Poke at Poison." Smokey Bear had his own comic, and so did Zippy, the USPS mascot. Dozens of artists and writers, known and unknown, were recruited to create comics about every aspect of American life, from jobs and money to health and safety to sex and drugs.