Government Information Library Presentation September 21, 2009

Durham / UOIT Library

Reference Desk Computers to search our collection Reference Books kept on 1st floor behind Reference Desk.

Circulating books in the stacks on the second and third floors Majority of journals and magazines, etc. available electronically Book Stacks

Dixon-Alger Reading Room (Fireplace Room)

Seating for work-stations, with Internet access Wireless network connectivity Study Hall

Group Study Rooms Group study rooms – use the library website to reserve one Some restrictions apply!

Quick Test! Find – Who is the MPP for Beaverton?

Strategy for Finding Information Follow these four steps: 1. Getting Started – Plan your Search 2. Gathering Information 3. Analyzing and Evaluating 4. Presenting Information and Citing Sources

Published Government Information Parliamentary Documents – Debates, bills, statutes, gazettes News Releases Departmental Reports & Publications – Periodical (newsletters, updates, bulletins) – Print and electronic reports Print versions of government publications are interfiled with the library collection. Find references to them in the Library Catalogue.

Unpublished Government Information Website bulletins Web-based databases & repositories Blogs Party and Leader Websites

Types of information Reference – People – Political landscape (# of seats per party, etc) Activities – The legislative process – bills, laws, etc. – News – statements, events – Campaigning

Who are people? Party leaders Cabinet ministers Ministry heads Members of parliament Senators **Do they represent a political party??

Searching Think before you search. I.E. – If you need something about the military, that’s a federal government responsibility; Health is a provincial responsibility, etc.

Step Two: Finding Information Use search engines WISELY – search for the government, party or department, then look within that site for specifics Use site-specific search tools – Tend to be buried within sites – Not searchable through Google

Prepared Lists of Links Library Website – Resources/Government Information – Resources/Subject Guides/News and Current Affairs

Quick Test! Find – Who is the MPP for Beaverton? – Need a postal code…. – Get an address just in case…. – Use Elections Ontario site…

Practice Questions Who is your MP if you live in Orillia (and your postal code is L3V 7T5)? What is your riding actually called?

Practice Questions How many Independents sit in the House of Commons?

Practice Questions Has Christine Elliott posed questions or spoken on issues recently in the Ontario Legislature? If so, what has she said?

Step Three: Analyzing and Evaluating Perspective Purpose Point of view

Liberal Party of Ontario Google “liberal party of ontario” Check out: – – If you join the party on each of these websites, what entity are you joining?? Is it the same??

Step Four: Present and Cite According to your professor’s instructions Use appropriate citation styles – Guides available on library website and at Reference Desk