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By: Nicole | April 18, 2008 | Category: General

BabyMany Gov Gab regulars might know that our Friday blogger, Sommer, has been expecting her first baby. Her son, Andrew, arrived late Wednesday night, and Sommer will be spending the next few months enjoying his company (and changing his diapers!).

In the meantime, I’m thrilled to be your temporary Friday blogger. I’m looking forward to sharing tidbits of information and pointing you to government services in your area. For example, did you know that this week is National Library Week? It’s true. And it seems like the perfect time to remind you that many libraries have government publications, like the Consumer Action Handbook, available in their reference sections.

Library ShelfNational Library Week is designed to promote library use and support, and I feel more than qualified to help. Even as a kid, I loved to read. In fact, on a soggy spring day in fourth grade, I managed to get myself locked in a public library after closing time. Boy did that emergency exit alarm cause a ruckus.

Despite this slightly traumatic experience, I’ve decided to celebrate National Library Week by highlighting two free online services. First, "Ask a Government Information Librarian" gives you immediate access (by chat or e-mail) to librarians who are experts in government information and resources. Want to know more about the Presidential election process or where to get a passport form? Want to ask about the history of the Social Security Administration? Go ahead. Test their knowledge. If you have a more detailed research question, "Ask a Reference Librarian" gives you access to researchers at the Library of Congress.

If you’re looking for more information about libraries across the country, don’t forget to check out USA.gov’s Libraries page, which lists government and public libraries and allows you to locate the ones closest to you.

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: congress   government   information   library   reference   research  

Comments (4):

blue comment bubble Posted by LIBRART LIB on April 18, 2008 at 01:10 PM EDT

WE SHOULD CELEBRATE OUT LIBRARIANS WHY THEY'VE BEEN A MAJOR PART OF OUR LEARNING PROCESS. SEE TO GET OUR BOOKS THEY ASSIST MAKE IT EASIER LET US KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER BOOKS ON THE TOPIC OR COMMING OUT AND MANY OTHER GREAT HELPS.. I GO TO THE LIBRARY AT THE U OF M FLINT AND MOTT COLLEGE AND THE LIBRARIANS ARE JUST GREAT AND VERY FRIENDLY

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blue comment bubble Posted by StAnne03 on April 18, 2008 at 05:46 PM EDT

While the Usa.gov website is really good, why is there no assistance for the middle class family? These are presented as the families most hard effected by today's American economy, but there's no help or loan/grant assistance here for us. Is there anyplace else I might look?

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blue comment bubble Posted by Nicole on April 22, 2008 at 09:37 AM EDT

Hi StAnne03. Thanks for your comment. I agree that it can be difficult to find assistance for middle class families. One page that could help is USA.gov's benefits page, http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml. It includes a list of many different assistance programs for the public, including middle class families. You might also want to read more about the economic stimulus package which will provide rebate checks based on your 2007 tax returns. Read the details on the IRS website, http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=177937,00.html.

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blue comment bubble Posted by Talking Books Librarian at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/ on April 22, 2008 at 05:57 PM EDT

Hi, I was thrilled to see your post on National Library Week. Thanks for helping get the word out! I also like to help make people aware of the free Talking Books Program too - it's through the Library of Congress - to find out more info, feel free to check out my blog at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/ or go to http://www.loc.gov/nls/

Thanks again!

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