Information Services

Resources in this category:

The Agricultural Marketing Service
http://www.ams.usda.gov/

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), an agency of the USDA, is responsible for developing quality grade standards for agricultural commodities, administering marketing regulatory programs, marketing agreements and orders, and making food purchases for USDA food assistance programs. Site provides organizational information (staff names, phone numbers, and email addresses); program specific information (i.e., Cotton, Science and Technology, Transportation and Marketing); Resources (i.e., Market News Report); and Job Openings and Internships.

Consumer.gov
http://www.consumer.gov/

A hub for consumer related concerns which links to federal agencies that regulate and review consumer goods and safety standards. Supports education and consumer awareness campaigns, providing up-to-date information.

Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/

FEMA is an independent agency of the federal government designed to be a "comprehensive, risk-based, emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery." This site has information on disaster assistance, current weather storms updates, news, flood insurance informaiton (aimed at both the public, local and state governents, and lenders) , as well as career opportunities, a kids section and updates on FEMA projects.

Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room
http://foia.fbi.gov/

The FBI has placed on-line some of its most frequently-requested documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). FBI Documents related to celebrities, spies, gangsters, crime, and unusual phenomena are available for your perusal.

Links to the Past
http://www.cr.nps.gov/

"Information and news from the National Park Service programs in archeology, ethnography, historic landscapes, historic structures, history, and museum management."

National Archives and Records Administration
http://www.archives.gov/

Includes a comprehensive list of archival information maintained by various branches of the Federal government, as well as online exhibits, educational material, and information about programs and events sponsored by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).

National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/

"NCES is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data that are related to education in the United States and other nations." Look here for statistical information on all levels of education. The site includes an encyclopedia of education statistics, an FAQ, activities for children, and a catalog of NCES publications.

National Transportation Statistics
http://www.bts.gov/publications/national_transportation_stat...

"Compiled and published annually by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics (NTS) presents detailed national-level data on the U.S. transportation system, its economic performance, safety record, energy use, and environmental impacts."

SEC Filings & Forms (EDGAR)
http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml

Contains a searchable database for collecting and retrieving publicly available electronic filings submitted by corporations to the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1993 to the present. Non-electronic filings, filings that are not available to the public, and any data prior to 1993 are not included.

U.S. Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/

The U.S. Census Bureau collects data about the people and economy of the United States and produces a wide variety of statistical data products and reports, such as the Statistical Abstract of the United States, FedStats, Trade Statistics, and an up-to-date population clock. A great source for population, genealogical, and geographical information.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm

The official homepage of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly the INS). This site provides "timely and accurate basic immigration information and forms to current and prospective immigrants. Equally, the site is designed to draw people into the details and issues of immigration, to provide them with general information, stimulate discussion for informed debate and/or further research." All INS forms are available here, along with policy and procedural information on INS programs. The site also has Teacher and Student Resources, and a series called This Month in Immigration History.

U.S. Department of Education
http://www.ed.gov/index.jhtml

Compiles a variety of information relating to government initiatives and educational programs at all levels, education-related grants (look under OERI) and statistics (NCES), and departmental publications. News bulletins about department activities are added frequently. Statistics retrieval is unreliable, but otherwise the information provided seems current. It also provides access to individual state education departments. Searchable index and searchable department phone directory available.

U.S. Energy Information Administration
http://www.eia.doe.gov/

The Energy Information Administration is a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy. It "regularly reports data about the supply, consumption, distribution, and price of energy in the United States. The statistics cover petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, and various forms of renewable energy (solar, wood, wind, etc.)."