Home » Posts tagged 'mobile access to info'

Tag Archives: mobile access to info

Our mission

Free Government Information (FGI) is a place for initiating dialogue and building consensus among the various players (libraries, government agencies, non-profit organizations, researchers, journalists, etc.) who have a stake in the preservation of and perpetual free access to government information. FGI promotes free government information through collaboration, education, advocacy and research.

Read the Congressional Record on the go!

Want to read the Congressional Record on the go? Well now you can with this Congressional Record iphone/ipad app created by the Library of Congress under the guidance of the Committee on House Administration. The app pulls data from ?the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, and the Government Printing Office. With the app, the reader can:

  • Browse editions of the Congressional Record by date: January 4, 1995 (the 104th Congress, 1st Session) to the present
  • Perform keyword searches within individual documents or sections within documents
  • Share documents via email
  • Save documents to your preferred iPad PDF reader
  • Identify the latest bills and resolutions considered daily on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Identify the latest bills, resolutions, treaties, and nominations considered daily on the floor of the U.S. Senate

The [[Congressional_Record|Congressional Record]] is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session.

Ten Federal Government Mobile Apps

The Feds have lots of mobile apps at apps.usa.gov. Information Week highlights some favorites in an article: 10 Handy Mobile Apps From Uncle Sam, including:

  • The FBI’s popular Ten Most Wanted list
  • FBI’s Child ID app (lets parents carry pictures and vital information such as weight and height about their children in case of emergency. It provides tips on how to keep children safe and what to do if they go missing, with fast access to law enforcement authorities via email and phone.)
  • Science.gov (search scientific information from more than 50 databases and 2,100 government-affiliated websites.)
  • Cancer.gov (provides a dictionary of terms, and news and information on cancer types, diagnoses, treatments, and how to treat side effects.)
  • Smithsonian Institution’s Access American Stories (companion for visitors to the American Stories exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.)
  • Airport Wait Times (provides estimates of the wait times–the estimated time from landing until passengers are screened by Customs agents–for arriving flights at 23 international airports based on averages and time of year, not real-time data.)
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development: The Edge (online magazine with news and information on housing and community development issues and regulations.)
  • IRS Jobs (jobs at the IRS.)
  • NARA DocsTeach (documents of historical significance.)
  • Smokey Bear

FEMA Launches New Mobile Web Site For Smartphones

FEMA Launches New Mobile Web Site For Smartphones, news release, Federal Emergency Management Agency, April 28, 2010.

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate announced the launch of FEMA’s new mobile Web site, m.fema.gov. The mobile Web site makes it easier to access critical information regarding emergency preparedness and what to do before and after a disaster right on a smartphone.

Cell phone computing for libraries

Following up on a recent Pew study on wireless Internet use (see: Minorities embrace internet via handheld devices), here is a presentation on Current Mobile Trends in Libraries:

Gerry summarizes a lot of what we know about trends in use of mobile devices like cell phones for access to the Internet and gives examples of services for cell phones already being offered by arXiv.org, IEEE, PubMed, Project Gutenberg, OPACS, and others. Gerry also examines the Kindle, reference services, and virtual learning.

There is a lot of useful information here. Whether you are already providing mobile services or just thinking about it – or even if you think you are unalterably opposed to the idea – this is worth a look.

The DC Radio Dial for Federal Government News

Those of you who reside like I do in the DC area can probably skip this post. Those of you outside of the area might like to learn about a few over-the-air radio stations we have.All of them stream. Lots of government info.

1) Washington Post Radio (1500 AM, 107.5 FM)
Lots of interviews. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/wtwpradio/index.html
Streaming info:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/wtwpradio/listen.html

2) WTOP 103.5 FM
http://www.wtopnews.com
The all-news, all the time station.
Streaming Info:
http://www.wtopnews.com/?sid=599366&nid=162

3) Federal News Radio (WFED)
http://federalnewsradio.com/
Steaming of WFED
http://federalnewsradio.com/?nid=249

4) C-SPAN Radio
http://digbig.com/4rspj
Schedule: http://www.c-span.org/Radio/web/schedule.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CSR
One thing C-SPAN Radio offers, replays of the Sunday AM talk shows.

Also, mobile access to information is something I’m personally very interested.

This site: http://tuned.mobi
makes streaming audio very easy to stream to both mobile devices and regular tools with just one click. All of the stations listed are located in:
Sites in:
+ U.S.
+ Canada
+ UK
+ Ireland
+ Australia

Again, a great tool to stream radio, saving time, avoiding pop-ups and other registration.

Archives