Need government information?

It’s week 2 of classes and the federal government shutdown.

We would like to remind you that the D’Angelo Law Library is OPEN and ready to help you find the information you need. We are experts at tracking down alternative sources if the information or report you need is currently not online. Stop by the reference desk or contact us at Ask A Law Librarian for more information. 

As a reminder, many units of government or websites are open: 

The Federal Judiciary remains open until  October 15, 2013 when the Judiciary will reassess its situation and provide further guidance. PACER docket information is still available to law students through the Bloomberg Law dockets. 

The Supreme Court of the United States will continue to conduct its normal operations through October 11. The Court building will hear the scheduled oral arguments today, the official beginning of the Court’s Term.  A further update will be provided in the event the lapse of appropriations continues beyond October 11.  

The Library of Congress is shut down, with the exception of Legislative website THOMAS.gov and beta.congress.gov which are open and being updated.  

FDsys will continue to process and post Congressional materials only. Federal Register services on FDsys will be limited to documents that “protect life and property”. The remaining collections on FDsys will not be updated until funding is restored.

One go-to source that we librarians use is the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine which includes captured government sites. 

The Library also subscribes to commercial databases that provide access to government information:

For more commentary on the web regarding the shutdown, see GovTrack.us’s Legislative status during the shutdown and Sunlight Foundation’s What Happens to .gov in a Shutdown?

If you are interested in learning more about the shutdown, check out this CRS report issued September 25, 2013.