U.S. Government on the Web: Getting the Information You Need Second Edition (Paperback)

by Peter Hernon (Author), Robert E. Dugan (Author), John A. Shuler (Author)
Key Phrases: informational matter, committee home pages, depository library program, United States, White House, Library of Congress (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
This book identifies quick and useful paths to inexpensive and reliable information for students and teachers. The use of blue for URLs and section headings improves the appearance of this new edition and makes it very user-friendly. It includes the Bush administration and the 107th Congress, a detailed analysis of policies regarding e-government, expanded coverage of the Freedom of Information Act and examples of Web sites devoted to it, and statistics on specific topics. The question about why a print source is needed to navigate the Web is answered with methods for conducting a search that will have the best chance for locating information to meet a specific need. The author reminds us that we may miss valuable content by not differentiating between a report and a hearing. "Search Engines: Negotiating the Information Maze" presents the "why" of using government sources as well as a discussion of general search engines and Internet portals. "Web Pages for the Nation's Youth" will be of special interest. This broad heading includes aeronautics, alcohol and drugs, art, coping with natural disasters, energy and the environment, maps, geography and earth sciences, museums, social studies, transportation, and wildlife in captivity. The book concludes with an overview of Web-browser hardware and software.

Mary Lankford, Texas Education Agency, Austin

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
The authors, all librarians, have produced a comprehensive guide on U.S. government information on the World Wide Web, covering the expected ground quite competently (Congress, GPO Access, statistical sources, the presidency, and major agencies) and including excellent discussions of geographic information, the courts, and sites recommended for children, parents, and educators. Each URL cited in the text is highlighted in bright blue, and each chapter is accompanied by a web site guide. Although a commendable effort, this compares unfavorably to other printed guides in several respects, particularly Greg Notess's Government Information on the Internet (Bernan, 1997) and Evan James's Government on the Net (LJ 8/98), both of which cover nonfederal government sources and describe nongovernment information providers in greater depth. While this reviewer prefers to use web gateways such as the Federal Web Locator over consulting a printed guide, this is recommended as a quick reference to libraries wanting detailed descriptions and analyses of federal web sites, the guide's strong point. The authors promise a related web site will provide updated URLs between print editions of this book.APatrick Ragains, Univ. of Nevada, Reno
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 405 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited; 2nd edition (June 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156308886X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563088865
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,290,544 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable guide to goverment documents, November 27, 2007

By	C. Tobey "chiefbroad" (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: U.S. Government on the Web: Getting the Information You Need Third Edition (Paperback)

One of the few textbooks I have not sold once the class was over, this guide is exhaustive and reader-friendly. I will be sure to invest in updated versions, which I hope Hernon et al. are working on. All librarians should have access to a copy of this book, especially public libraries.