When people imagine what our library offers, it’s easiest to consider the many shelves of books, the computer stations, and even the RCU Dabble Box in the basement; that being said, many people are unaware of the many online resources that the library offers as well. Although library patrons may be familiar with a handful of our online resources, such as the MORE catalog or Libby, there are plenty that are offered by L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (LEPMPL) that get highlighted far less often.

For the ninth blog post in this series highlighting online library resources, I would like to take some time to focus on our Government Websites section. Although all of this information can be relatively easy to find through the power of the internet, the library took the liberty of compiling information relating to the federal, state, and local government all into one easy-to-navigate webpage.

Once at the government website’s page, you’ll see that the first tab of  three holds links that are all related to the federal government. These resources cover a wide array of services: census information, immigration and citizenship, social security, the white house, congress, senate, and the house of representatives. Most importantly, there is also a link for USA.gov, which is a great resource to check out if there are multiple government-related topics you are looking to get information about. Although the library has many quick links for resources, USA.gov works as a launching point to find any federal government resources you might need that go beyond what the library has readily available. This includes topics such as disability services, traveling information, housing assistance, and more!

The second tab on the webpage handles everything related to the state government in Wisconsin. This tab focuses a little bit more on statistical information and legal topics, such as legislation, government data, and official documents. A majority of this information revolves around the Wisconsin Blue Book, which started in 1853 and keeps track of any and all information that legislatures or citizens might be interested in. The Wisconsin Depository Program is also highlighted here and is a service that provides copies of government documents within two days, either through depository libraries or online at the Wisconsin Digital Archives. One of the most helpful links on the page simply goes to the Wisconsin.gov website. Similar to USA.gov, Wisconsin.gov is also a great resource if you’re looking for anything relating to our state government, including job searches and traveling information!

The third and final tab on the webpage provides everything having to do with our local government. This includes links to the school district, city council, community information, voting information, and even a directory to get in contact with local government officials. Most importantly, like with USA.gov and Wisconsin.gov, some of the most helpful links will be the city and county of Eau Claire webpages. Each are great places to start looking for any information related to the local government, including public notices, city meetings, and other events!

If you have any questions regarding these resources, feel free to contact the reference services department of LEPMPL in person on the second floor of the library, through email at reference@eauclaire.lib.wi.us, or over the phone at 715-839-5004.