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Librarians' Internet Index - Websites You Can Trust

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State & Local Government

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 Websites presented in alphabetical order

2002 Census of Governments view detail comment email this

"A Census of Governments is taken at 5-year intervals as required by law....The census covers three major subject fields - government organization, public employment, and government finance." The census will be completed in 2003; as of this writing, it primarily includes "official counts of the number of state and local governments and tabulations of governments by state, type of government, size and county location."
http://www.census.gov/govs/www/cog2002.html
Topics: Government, Government, Statistics

Last updated Sep 11, 2002


50states.com: States and Capitals view detail comment email this

Facts about the states, including state songs, flowers and birds, maps, political representatives, links, and more.
http://www.50states.com/
Topics: Government, Ready Reference & Quick Facts

Last updated Jul 24, 2005


carfree.com view detail comment email this

The author of Carfree Cities "proposes a delightful solution to the vexing problem of urban automobiles." He presents designs, details on existing carfree areas, methods of moving people and freight, objections to the concept, recommended reading and Web sites, and the Carfree Times newsletter. Searchable.
http://www.carfree.com/
Topics: Government, Government, Social Science

Last updated Jul 17, 2002


Cyburbia: The Urban Planning Portal view detail comment email this

A main feature of this site is its annotated Planning Resource Directory of "Web sites and mailing lists relevant to planning, urbanism, land use, smart growth, and other topics related to the built environment." The site also has discussion forums, an editorial corner, and links to related news.
http://www.cyburbia.org/
Topics: Communities & Groups, Government, Social Science

Last updated Nov 28, 2004


Digital Town Hall: How Local Officials Use the Internet and the Civic Benefits They Cite from Dealing with Constituents Online view detail comment email this

This "survey of mayors and city council members of the National League of Cities about their use of the Internet shows that local officials have embraced the Internet as part of their official lives and most now use email to communicate with constituents." From the Pew Internet Project. Opens directly into PDF file.
http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Digital_Town_Hall.pdf
Topics: Government, Government

Last updated Jun 13, 2004


Government Performance view detail comment email this

This organization's mission is "to improve service to citizens by strengthening government policy and performance." The "Grading the States" report "evaluates how well states manage their money, people, information and infrastructure -- four areas critical to ensuring that states' policy decisions and practices actually deliver their intended outcomes." Includes information about research methodology. From The Pew Center on the States.
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeID=36072
Topics: Government, Government

Last updated Aug 13, 2008


Government Technology view detail comment email this

Online edition of the print magazine "that provides top government executives with the applied knowledge and tailored solutions they need to shape the future of their agencies and departments." Contains news, articles, white papers, reports, case studies, and more. Topics include homeland security, privacy, storage, transportation, and workforce. Registration (free) required to access some parts of this site.
http://www.govtech.com/gt/
Topics: Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties, Government, Government, Magazines, Terrorism

Last updated Aug 10, 2009


A Guide for Establishing a Local Assistance Center view detail comment email this

This 2003 document presents guidelines for setting up a local assistance center (LAC) to provide "a single facility at which individuals, families and business can access available disaster assistance programs and services." Discusses participation (by local, state, and federal agencies), operating roles and responsibilities, management, planning and operations, logistics (including site selection), and more. Opens directly into a PDF file. From the California Governors Office of Emergency Services (OES).
http://www.oes.ca.gov/Operational/OESHome.nsf/PDF/A%20Guide%20for%20Establishing%20a%20Local%20Assistance%20Center/$file/LACguide.pdf
Topics: Government, Science

Last updated Jun 13, 2006


Harvard Design Magazine view detail comment email this

Selected articles from the magazine on topics in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design and planning. Issue themes include sustainable design, design in Eastern Europe, and housing and community. From the Harvard Design School at Harvard University.
http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/research/publications/hdm/
Topics: Architecture, Gardening, Government, Magazines, Social Science

Last updated Aug 4, 2009


Institute of Urban & Regional Development (IURD) view detail comment email this

IURD "serves faculty and students of the University of California, Berkeley, conducting research into processes of urban and regional growth and decline, and effects of governing policies on the patterns and processes of development." The site provides information on current research in areas such as sustainable growth, urbanization, transportation alternatives, and disaster preparedness. Also includes annual report, newsletter, publication list, and related links.
http://www-iurd.ced.berkeley.edu/
Topics: California: Education, Communities & Groups, Government, Government, Home & Housing, Home & Housing, Science, Science, Social Science

Last updated Sep 6, 2006


Locate In-Person Services Near You view detail comment email this

Annotated listings for locators and directories to government agency offices and services such as Better Business Bureaus, Social Security offices, disaster recovery centers, passport application facilities, embassies, motor vehicles offices, and post offices. Listed alphabetically. From USA.gov (formerly FirstGov.gov), the U.S. government's official Web portal.
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Find_Services.shtml
Topics: Federal (U.S.) Government, Government

Last updated May 2, 2007


Louisiana Parish Government view detail comment email this

"Forty-six of ... [Louisiana's] 64 parishes operate under the general law providing for the traditional police jury form of government. The other 18 operate under home rule charters including four city-parish consolidations, Orleans, East Baton Rouge, Terrebonne and Lafayette." This site provides an overview of police jury system form of government, a parish directory, links to legislative updates, and news. From the Police Jury Association of Louisiana.
http://www.lpgov.org
Topics: Government

Last updated Oct 26, 2005


Marion Brechner Citizen Action Project (CAP) view detail comment email this

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


Mayors at a Glance view detail comment email this

A quick and easy way to search for a mayor by name, city, state, or by city population. Returns your query with a photo (if available), email address, phone number, fax, election date, and city website link. In addition, the mayoral elections database lets you search latest election results. From the United States Conference of Mayors.
http://www.usmayors.org/meetmayors/mayorsatglance.asp
Topics: Government, Government

Last updated Jun 28, 2008


National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) view detail comment email this

NASBO is an association of the heads of state budget offices.  "As the chief financial advisers to our nation's governors, NASBO members are active participants in the public policy discussions." The site features links to state budget offices, information briefs (on topics such as revenue and taxation and Medicaid), current news from the federal government, historical fiscal surveys of the states (1977-2000), and related information. Some materials are only available to members.
http://www.nasbo.org
Topics: Government

Last updated Dec 13, 2005


National Association on Counties (NACo) view detail comment email this

This site offers news, data, and statistics about counties. From the section called U.S. Counties , retrieve "information on counties, such as county officials, courthouse addresses, county seats, cities in a county." Find economic and demographic data, county ordinances, policies, Model County programs, and more. Browsable by state, and searchable.
http://www.naco.org/
Topics: Government, Government, Statistics

Last updated Jun 5, 2002


National Conference of State Legislatures view detail comment email this

An extensive, searchable site containing legislative reports, current legislation, many state surveys, and current election information. Policy Issues looks at various topics of concern to the states, including agriculture, culture, health, criminal justice, economics, budget, and more. State Legislatures contains information on campaign reform, staff directories, legislative salaries, and more. Past news is archived (select More News... ) to July, 1999.
http://www.ncsl.org/
Topics: Government, Government

Last updated Nov 17, 2004


National League of Cities (NLC) view detail comment email this

This organization "is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. ... [and it] serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 18,000 cities, villages, and towns it represents." The site features city facts, links to member websites, research reports and related publications, and advocacy and position information on topics such as education, the environment, and transportation and infrastructure.
http://www.nlc.org/
Topics: Government, Government

Last updated May 26, 2008


Oregon Blue Book view detail comment email this

The online version of "the official state directory and fact book about all levels of government in Oregon." Includes an extensive directory of Oregon-related topics of interest; biographical sketches of notable Oregonians; historical Oregon trademarks; and state agencies, boards, and commissions. Elementary school students will find ample information for school reports. Searchable.
http://bluebook.state.or.us/
Topics: Government, U.S. History By Place

Last updated Feb 26, 2004


PLANetizen: The Planning and Development Network view detail comment email this

This "public-interest information exchange for the urban planning and development community" includes daily news, job listings, commentary, and an events calendar. Searchable.
http://www.planetizen.com/
Topics: Communities & Groups, Government, Social Science

Last updated May 22, 2002


PlannersWeb view detail comment email this

"Designed for citizen planners, including (but certainly not limited to) members of local planning commissions and zoning boards." Covers "topics such as: how to deal with the media; the basics of putting together a comprehensive plan; conflicts of interest & ex-parte communications; running an effective meeting; developing good staff-commissioner relations -- and many, many more." From the Planning Commissioners Journal.
http://pcj.typepad.com/
Topics: Government, Government, Social Science

Last updated Dec 5, 2008


Rebuilding New York--Post 9/11 view detail comment email this

A collection of links to articles on "issues related to Rebuilding NY and the War on Terrorism." by scholars of The Manhattan Institute for Policy Review. The articles are in such publications as the institute's City Journal , several New York newspapers, The National Review , The Wall Street Journal , and others.
http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/rebuilding_new_york.htm
Topics: Government, Government, Social Science, Terrorism

Last updated Jan 31, 2003


Sister Cities International view detail comment email this

"Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, to promote cultural understanding and to stimulate economic development." The site contains a FAQ, a directory of sister cities, information on programs, and more.
http://www.sister-cities.org/
Topics: Government, International Governments

Last updated Aug 22, 2005


Smart Growth America view detail comment email this

This group "is a coalition of nearly 100 advocacy organizations that have a stake in how metropolitan expansion affects our environment, quality of life and economic sustainability." The site features an image library, data bank, reports, and excerpts and links to articles on housing, the economy, the environment, historic preservation, social equity, transportation, land conservation, health, and more.
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/
Topics: Environment, Government, Government, Social Science, Technology

Last updated Oct 6, 2003


State and Local Government on the Net view detail comment email this

Includes organized links to state (agencies, legislative, judicial, executive, boards & commissions), regional, counties, cities, and other sites. The Web sites are primarily those controlled and managed by state and local agencies. Includes some topical pages, such as arts and agriculture. Searchable and browsable.
http://www.statelocalgov.net/index.cfm
Topics: Government, Government

Last updated Sep 25, 2003


State List: The Electronic Source of State Publications view detail comment email this

"This site provides links to state publication checklists and shipping lists that are currently available on the Internet from 37 states." Browseable by state. From the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
http://www.library.illinois.edu/doc/researchtools/guides/state/statelist.html
Topics: Government

Last updated Sep 28, 2009


Stateline.org: Politics and Policy News, State by State view detail comment email this

A "non-partisan, non-profit online news publication that reports each weekday on state government." Contains original articles, and links to local state newspaper stories and editorial cartoons. Browsable by state, and issue (including elections, crime, and energy). Also features comparative statistical data on education, the environment, health care, politics, and other topics for all 50 states. Includes archive of Stateline.org stories and "the full text of the governor's state of the state addresses." Searchable.
http://www.stateline.org/
Topics: Government, Government, Statistics

Last updated Jan 19, 2006


Turning Around Downtown: Twelve Steps to Revitalization view detail comment email this

"The appeal of traditional downtowns — and the defining characteristic that sets those that are successful apart from their suburban competitors — is largely based on what can be summarized as walkable urbanity." This March 2005 report provides step-by-step instructions for creating this sort of downtown, with suggestions for creating public-private partnerships, urban entertainment districts, rental housing markets, and related strategies. Includes related resources. From the Brookings Institution.
http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2005/03downtownredevelopment_leinberger.aspx
Topics: Government, Government, Social Science

Last updated Dec 1, 2007


The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) view detail comment email this

This is the "official nonpartisan organization of the nation's ... cities with populations of 30,000 or more." The site provides news, and describes key programs and provides publications in areas such as sustainable development, working families, and homelessness and hunger. Also includes a best practices database and links to websites of member cities.
http://usmayors.org
Topics: Environment, Government, Poverty, Social Issues

Last updated Aug 1, 2005


Urban Planning, 1794-1918: An International Anthology of Articles, Conference Papers, and Reports view detail comment email this

This site consists of "primary source material for the study of how urban planning developed up to the end of World War I. They include statements about techniques, principles, theories, and practice by those who helped to create a new professional specialization." Searchable and browsable. From Cornell University.
http://www.library.cornell.edu/Reps/DOCS/homepage.htm
Topics: Government, Government, Social Science

Last updated Jul 7, 2004


Vital Communities: Resources for Community Revitalization & Reinvention view detail comment email this

This site documents "the work being done in some cities and towns and to provide information that can inspire and assist other communities in reinventing their surroundings." Includes links to Web sites about smart growth, sustainable communities, and the new urbanism. The "Resources" area provides high quality links to government and association sites and community development tools. Browsable and searchable. From the Davenport (Iowa) Public Library.
http://www.vitalcommunities.com/
Topics: Communities & Groups, Government, Social Science

Last updated Dec 10, 2003




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