| LII.org (Home) | About LII IPL.org Suggest a Site Subscribe to New This Week Contact |
|
|
 |
|||
|
|||
|
|||
|
|
|||
Public Records
 Websites presented in alphabetical order CAL-FOI Archive 
 "A collection of documents and links to Internet sites on First Amendment, public records, open government and similar issues of concern to reporters." Sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California chapter. http://journalism.berkeley.edu/resources/foi/ Topics: California: Government, California: Law, Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties, Government, Government Last updated Jan 16, 2009 FOIAdvocates
This site on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has a guide to state public records laws, sample FOIA request and appeal letters, links to the text of the act and other online resources, a bibliography, and a FAQ. From a legal firm specializing in FOIA issues. http://www.foiadvocates.com/ Topics: Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties, Federal (U.S.) Government, Government Last updated Jan 2, 2003 Free Public Records Directory
Collection of links to U.S. federal and state "real and personal property records, recorded documents, jail and inmate records, sex offender records, wanted persons records, and many more free public records." Links are organized by state and county and are searchable by ZIP code or city. Also includes links to news about public records. From a company that provides witness location and skip tracing services. http://publicrecords.onlinesearches.com Topics: Government Last updated May 30, 2006 Free Public Records Online
"A core group of links to free government searchable sites along with some important non-government sites" for the United States and Canada. Topics include vital statistics and legal, professional, and financial information. Listings are browsable by jurisdiction. From a publisher of sourcebooks used for locating public records. http://www.brbpub.com/freeresources/pubrecsites.aspx Topics: Government, Government Last updated May 5, 2008 Freedom of Information Act: Alcatraz Escape
Over 1,700 pages of digitized FBI documents concerning the 1962 escape from Alcatraz Prison by Frank Lee Morris, John William Anglin, and Clarence Anglin. From the Freedom of Information Act site, Federal Bureau of Investigation. http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/alcatraz.htm Topics: California: Government, California: Law, Government, Government, Notable People Last updated Aug 9, 2004 Freedom of Information Act: John Lennon
Digitized FBI documents from an "investigation conducted when the FBI learned that John Lennon contributed $75,000 to a group planning to disrupt the Republican National Convention in 1972." From the Freedom of Information Act site, Federal Bureau of Investigation. http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/lennon.htm Topics: Government, Government Last updated Dec 11, 2005 Freedom of Information Act: John Steinbeck
Nearly 100 pages of digitized FBI documents on the author John Steinbeck, "never the subject of an FBI investigation, [although] his name came to the FBI's attention on several occasions during the 1940's as a result of his association with communist front groups." Unfortunately, the first several pages, and some others, are difficult or impossible to read. From the Freedom of Information Act site, Federal Bureau of Investigation. http://foia.fbi.gov/foiaindex/steinbeck.htm Topics: Government, Government Last updated Aug 9, 2004 The Freedom of Information Act: The Basics [UK]
Official British government information about this act, which "gives right to access information held by public authorities" in the UK. Includes instructions for requesting information and details about implementation of the act passed in November 2000 and in full effect January 2005. From the office of the Information Commissioner. http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/freedom_of_information/the_basics.aspx Topics: Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties, Government, Government, Law by Place (U.S. States & non-U.S.) Last updated Nov 15, 2006 LegiStorm
This website provides "a database of congressional staff salaries." Searchable, or browse by last name, state, representative or senator, or U.S. Senate and House of Representative committee, leadership office, or administrative office. Staff listings include start and end dates for positions, titles, and salaries. Also includes a foreign gifts database. Data is obtained from official government records. From a sister group to a company "supplying a wide range of technical, policy and strategy papers." http://www.legistorm.com/ Topics: Federal (U.S.) Government, Government Last updated Jul 3, 2008 Marion Brechner Citizen Action Project (CAP)
This project's goal is to allow citizens "to better understand public access to local government information in all 50 states." Includes ratings that are based on the analysis of statutes, constitutions, and case law. Also includes summaries of "sunshine" laws, and comparisons of state laws. The "I can help you get started" section is not very useful; use the categories to the left instead. From the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. http://www.citizenaccess.org Topics: Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties, Federal (U.S.) Government, Government, Law by Place (U.S. States & non-U.S.) Last updated Apr 4, 2005 The National Archives: The Cabinet Papers, 1915-1978
"Core records of the British Cabinet from 1915 to 1978 have been digitised, and their full text is searchable online." Includes conclusions of cabinet meetings, cabinet memoranda, cabinet secretaries' notebooks, and cabinet office precedent books. Search, or browse a selection of papers by themes covering the United Kingdom and the world, the economy, and society and the welfare state. Also includes background on cabinet government and maps. From the National Archives, UK. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/cabinetpapers/ Topics: Government Last updated Jan 7, 2009 Open Government Guide
"A complete compendium of information on every state's open records and open meetings laws. Each state's section is arranged according to a standard outline, making it easy to compare laws in various states." Formerly titled Tapping Officials' Secrets. Written by "Volunteer attorneys, expert in open government laws in each state and in Washington, D.C." http://www.rcfp.org/ogg/ Topics: Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties, Federal (U.S.) Government, Government, Law by Place (U.S. States & non-U.S.) Last updated Jan 24, 2009 Public Libraries Briefcase: Finding & Using Public Records
March 2006 overview of sources for public records, "'records maintained by government agencies that are open without restriction to public inspection either by statute or by tradition.' ... Public records are most frequently used to find information about businesses, such as financial condition, or about people, such as background checks." Includes annotated links to starting points for locating public records. From the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of the American Library Association (ALA). http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/sections/brass/brasspubs/publibbrief/no14march2006/plb200603.cfm Topics: Government Last updated Dec 2, 2008 Public Records Online
Portal to official state Web sites and available tax assessor and recorder offices databases. "Public records information that you may find includes copies of deeds, parcel maps, GIS maps, tax data, ownership information and indexes, and will vary to the extent that the particular office has developed their site." Environmental Issues provides a state-by-state directory of government and nonprofit agencies as well as commercial sites that deal with environmental conditions that may affect real estate. http://www.netronline.com/public_records.htm Topics: Finance, Government, Government, Housing Last updated Nov 10, 2004 searchsystems.net
This is a directory of public records databases worldwide. Most of the databases are for U.S. states and the District of Columbia and Canadian provinces. Depending on the area, there are licensing records, court records, unclaimed property, sex offender registries, etc., as well as some county-level databases. There is also a mixed bag of nationwide searches (such as the Social Security Death Index and Martindale-Hubbell directory of attorneys). http://www.searchsystems.net/ Topics: Government, Government Last updated May 23, 2004 Treasures From the National Archives
"The National Archives of England, Wales and the United Kingdom ... span[s] 1000 years of British history, from Domesday Book of 1086 to government papers recently released to the public." View images of original documents and artifacts by theme or date, or browse the online exhibitions that cover a variety of historical topics and feature photos, original documents, and film clips. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/museum/ Topics: Government, History By Place, Libraries & Archives by Type, Photograph Collections: Regional Last updated Apr 30, 2006 United States Senate Office of Public Records [Lobby Filing Disclosure Program]
"In accordance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 the Secretary of the Senate has initiated this program to allow the public to view filings received by the Office of Public Records." View digitized images of lobby reports by name (registrant, client, lobbyist), client country or state, filing year (1998-present), and other criteria. Includes instructions for using the program. From the U.S. Senate. http://sopr.senate.gov/ Topics: Federal (U.S.) Government, Government Last updated Sep 28, 2006 Washington State Digital Archives
Search Washington state marriage, naturalization, census, death, birth, military, and institution records, as well as other miscellaneous historical records (such as oaths of office). Details about the record sets can be found by following the links under the "Collections" heading. Viewing of records requires download of free DJVU software. From the Washington Secretary of State. http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov Topics: Government Last updated Jan 2, 2006 |
|||
| Copyright © 2009, Librarians' Internet Index, LII. All rights reserved. Financial support for LII (Librarians' Internet Index) comes from the The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology and the IPL Consortium. LII is hosted by The iSchool at Drexel, College of Information Science and Technology. |