GOVERNING MANKIND (or, how using

government information can raise my grades)

“All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on

the education of youth.” Aristotle

WHAT WILL THIS SESSION DO FOR YOU?

This brief session will answer the following questions and introduce you to resources that may set you on the road to governing mankind… or more likely to a better mark

Why use government information? What kind of information do governments produce? How do I find the information I need? If I need more, where can I get help?

FIRST A LITTLE MADGIC…

The Maps, Data and Government Information Centre (MADGIC) on the main floor of the Library is the best place to start your search for government information!

Today we will concentrate on online resources but remember there is much, much more…

BUT WHY SHOULD I USE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION?

Governments generate information on almost every subject you can think of!

Government information is considered to come from an authoritative source (sometimes influenced by political concerns, of course )

Government information is often the most current information on a topic

Governments develop policies and publish legislation, reports, and statistics that support these policies

If you are in any of these programs, government information is for you

Architecture / Biology / Business / Canadian Studies / Chemistry / Civil Engineering /Criminology and Criminal Justice / Cultural Mediations / Economics / Environmental Science / Geography and Environmental Studies / History / Industrial Design / International Affairs / Journalism and Communication / Law / Political Science / Public Policy and Administration / Social Work / Sociology / Women’s Studies

WHAT KINDS OF INFORMATION DO GOVERNMENTS PRODUCE?

Information that is collected/published is from:

legislatures (bills, statutes, parliamentary debates and committee reports)

a department or other administrative operation (annual reports, economic statements such as budgets and public accounts)

investigations (commissions of inquiry, task forces)

government funded research on policy issues

Information is also collected by special purpose government sources like Statistics Canada (census) or mapping agencies Natural Resources Canada (maps and atlases)

INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE GREAT FOR

COMPARISONS

Government information also comes from international organizations whose members are governments such as:

the United Nations

the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

the European Union

World Bank

THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION, WHERE DO I START?

USE THE LIBRARY’S CUSTOM SEARCH ENGINES TO MAKE YOUR WEB

SEARCHING EASIER

FOR EVEN BETTER RESULTS

Use filters to narrow a Google search both within the custom search engines and for a general Google search

Click on ‘advanced search’ or ‘search within results’ to get the option to add a domain name, for example gov.uk (to limit search to British government reports)

YOU CAN ALSO USE OUR GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

WEB GUIDES FOR SPECIFIC TOPICS

DON’T FORGET THAT EVERYTHING ISN’T ONLINE!

NEED HELP CITING YOUR GOVERNMENT SOURCES?

REMEMBER THE LIBRARY STAFF IS HERE TO HELP YOU

Working with government information can be confusing

Don’t delay! Ask for help as soon as you encounter a problem or if you can’t find what you need

You can visit, call, or chat online with staff at the MADGIC information desk or email one of the government information specialists

Need help?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

Please make time to visit MADGIC and take advantage of the valuable resources

the library provides for you