America’s Federal Bookstore Announces

October 2, 2017

Easier Online Access to Federal Publications at https://bookstore.gpo.gov

Regular users and new viewers of the U.S. Government Online Bookstore will be excited to know the website has been redesigned to dramatically improve the “user experience,” especially for mobile users. Plus, our transaction processing system is more secure than ever, and search capabilities have been improved to help you find the content you want.

Large full color book cover graphics help readers find specific subject matter on a wide range of subjects from military history; lifestyle tips on health, nutrition, and exercise; holiday gift ideas; travel to National Parks; even financial tips to improve your family’s quality of life.

Now obtain comprehensive world event coverage. Brought to you by global political and socio-economic experts. Seasoned military and federal career professionals author insightful documentation of the facts and intrigue behind today’s press headlines, providing news and information to anyone who seeks to know “what’s going on” in easy to understand writing styles.

Search the website by by Topic, Federal Agency, or Collection. Or, go directly to a title you seek. Concise and helpful descriptions give you, the user, a quick overview of over five thousand active titles.

Not to mention access to forms, legal rules and regulations that are essential to the legal profession; anyone operating a small business or export company; to educators wanting to provide students with facts and figures direct from the source – our Federal Government and Congress.

Take a few moments. Get to Know Your New U.S. Government Online Bookstore.

You’ll be amazed by the wealth of knowledge about the world that impacts you and your family.

Visit https://bookstore.gpo.gov. Learn something new today!

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Consumers, Mobile and Apps | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Rebuilding after a busy hurricane season

September 26, 2017

This year’s catastrophic impact of hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, has left many communities with the daunting task of having to rebuild.   The Federal government offers help to homeowners directly affected by this season’s hurricanes. Drawing on lessons learned about coastal building damage after past hurricanes, FEMA produced Home Builder’s Guide to Coastal Construction, a 180 page manual including a series of 37 fact sheets to provide technical guidance and recommendations concerning the construction and renovation of coastal residential buildings.

The Guide is a proven success to assist anyone living in an area subject to flood and wind forces; especially along America’s coastal low lands, and vulnerable locales including, Florida, and America’s Caribbean territories of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Whether you’re a builder, contractor, realtor, homeowner, business owner, or working in the construction, real estate, or economic development arena, you’ll find this comprehensive manual and fact sheets present incredibly valuable and immediately useful information aimed at improving the performance of buildings subject to the fury of flood and wind forces found in coastal environments.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS RESOURCE?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Disasters, FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency, Weather and climate | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Constitution and Citizenship Day

September 15, 2017

On September 17, Americans celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. On this special day, all Americans are urged to reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and what it means to be a U.S. citizen.

It’s also a time to recognize people who are taking steps to become legal U.S. citizens. To support the cause for celebrating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day here are some Federal government resources for learners and teachers associated with this important day.

Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence (Pocket Edition). A pocket-size booklet containing the complete text of these two core documents of American democracy, the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence.

The Citizen’s Almanac is a collection of America’s most cherished symbols of freedom and liberty, serving as a modern day lifeline to the rich civic history we all share as Americans. The booklet includes information on patriotic anthems and symbols, citizenship rights and responsibilities, the creation of our founding documents, biographical details on prominent foreign-born Americans, landmark decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court, and important presidential and historic speeches on citizenship.

Civics and Citizenship Toolkit. This toolkit contains settlement information for new immigrants to the United States, information on the U.S. naturalization process, study materials for the naturalization test, reference materials on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and U.S. history, multimedia tools including DVDs and an audio CD, teaching guides and planning resources, flash cards, and books.

Learn About The United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the Naturalization Test. There are 100 civics (history and government) questions on the naturalization test. This booklet contains short lessons based on each of the 100 civics questions. This additional information will help you learn more about important concepts in American history and government.

Civics Flash Cards for the Naturalization Test (2017). These Civics Flash Cards will help immigrants learn about U.S. history and government while preparing for the naturalization test. These flash cards can also be used in the classroom as an instructional tool for citizenship preparation.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, Civics and Citizenship, Hispanics, Teachers and teaching, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Harvey, Irma, and more to come! Be prepared for a busy hurricane season.

September 8, 2017

Agencies of the Federal government are stepping up to do everything possible to help communities in “harm’s way,” with this year’s hurricanes of historic proportion causing devastating impact in Texas, Florida, and other coastal states.

You can become better prepared to face potential new storms through preparedness you can take in advance of any future natural disaster such as hurricanes, with help from the government.

At https://bookstore.gpo.gov there’s a variety of publications available providing expert advice on getting ready prior and better prepared after a storm of serious magnitude hits your community. Guidance for contractors, roofers, property restorers, local and state public officials, volunteers, and individuals to better understand how to rebuild and move to a better tomorrow. Here are a few to consider; or go on https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Disaster Preparedness Manual: Natural Disasters, Man-Made Disasters, Patient Fact Sheets. This manual, comprised of three major sections, summarizes actions that Veterans and their families can take to effectively cope with a disaster.  This illustrated reference emphasizes actions designed to prevent or reduce impact of natural or human-caused hazards. Information is also presented to assist those with access and functional needs, including children, people with disabilities, and older adults, as well as pets.

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Lightning, Nature’s Most Violent Storms: A Preparedness Guide, Including Tornado Safety Information for Schools an illustrated guide showcases some facts about weather-related events, and suggests life-saving actions you can take if you find yourself in an unexpected situation resulting from a weather-related event.

Psychosocial Issues for Children and Adolescents in Disasters provides information and guidance for individuals concerned with the mental health needs of children who experience major disasters. This background, training, and experience will vary and may include physical and mental health professionals, professional and paraprofessional social service personnel, school and daycare personnel, clergy, volunteers, and parents.

Do yourself, and America, a favor. Be prepared. Be educated. Be ahead of the next natural disaster where you live. Save lives, including your own.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Disasters, Emergency Response, Environment, Weather and climate | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Women’s Equality Day

August 25, 2017

The women’s march toward equality took great strides forward during the late sixties and early seventies with feminist leaders such as Gloria Steinem coming to the fore and voicing in unequitable terms it was time for gender equality issues to take center stage.

Women across America were spiritually motivated by the feminist anthem recorded by Australian-American artist Helen Reddy, “I am Woman”- Hear Me Roar, a huge hit that reached the Billboard Charts Number One in sales in late 1972.

A musical celebration of the “women’s liberation” movement, during the eighties Reddy was quoted as saying, “To this day I get mail from women who say, I went to law school because of your song.”

Women’s Equality is remembered on August 26th, “Women’s Equality Day”

The GPO Online Bookstore offers titles celebrating the contributions of women in America:

Women in Congress, 1917-2017 (ePub), available for download free. The title contains a revised set of essays that reflect the considerable increase in the number of women in Congress during the last decade.

Invest in Women, Invest in America: A Comprehensive Review of Women in the U.S. Economy,Women on the Frontlines of Peace and Security, provides a comprehensive review of women in the U.S. economy so that policymakers could have a better understanding of women’s essential contributions to our economy and their potential to play a stronger role in our economic recovery.

Women on the Frontlines of Peace and Security. This title helps build our understanding of the importance of women in building and keeping peace is informed by a wide range of experts, from diplomats to military officials and from human rights activists to development professionals. The goal of this book is to bring together these diverse voices.

While “You’ve Come A Long Way Baby” is certainly true, it’s importance for all Americans that progress toward complete equality regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, or any other form of individuality is removed from opportunity to the values of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Congress, Human Rights, Women | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August 23, 2017

For Breastfeeding Awareness Month, new mothers gain breastfeeding advice from US Health and Human Services (HHS), Office on Women’s Health (OWH).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2016 Breastfeeding Report Card, over 80 percent of women in the U.S. initiate breastfeeding. However, barely more than half (51.8 percent) of infants are still breastfeeding at 6 months. Even though the decision to breastfeed is a personal one and a mother should not be made to feel guilty if she cannot or chooses not to breastfeed, mothers still face many barriers such as: lack of knowledge, social norms, stigma, poor family and social support, lactation problems, employment and child care challenges, and barriers related to health practices in hospitals.

Your Guide to Breastfeeding, produced by OWH, provides moms with the support they need to breastfeed successfully. It offers information on how milk is made, tips for making breastfeeding as comfortable as possible, and practical advice for overcoming challenges, latching, using breast pumps, storing milk, breastfeeding in public, handling stress, going back to work, weaning, and more.

This free publication is available two ways:

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: This week’s blog contributor is Maureen Whelan, Senior Marketing Team Leader for GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office in Washington, DC. Maureen oversees print and digital content dissemination strategy and manages third party free and paid content distribution through platforms and vendors, such as Apple iBookstore, Barnes and Noble.com, Google Play eBookstore, Ebscohost databases, Overdrive, and more.

Leave a Comment » | Children, Department of Health & Human Services, Family, Parenting, Women | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

GPO Has You Covered for the Great American Eclipse

August 16, 2017

On August 21, 2017, the entire United States will be looking to the skies for a phenomena that rarely happens. For the first time in almost 100 years, the total eclipse will occur primarily in the U.S. and could be one of the most important astronomical events of the century for our country.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released several printouts and downloadable content to use in the build up to this historic event. By visiting eclipse2017.nasa.gov, you can learn all about the importance of this particular eclipse, where to best view it, and when it should occur in your location.

GPO’s Federal Depository Library Program hosted a free webinar on the upcoming eclipse, “Government Information on the Great American Eclipse.” It was presented by Linda Zellmer, Government Information & Data Services Librarian / Liaison to Physical & Natural Sciences & Agriculture at Western Illinois University. Access the recording of the session and the accompanying slides. You can also visit nationwide Federal depository libraries to access more information on the eclipse from NASA.

Being able to unite the masses in the interest of science can be pretty rare, but as this is a particularly rare event, it has even drawn the honor of being formally recognized on the House floor as representative Mike Bost likened the event to the “astronomical Super Bowl.” The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) is proud to offer the digital copies of these rare instances on govinfo.gov.

The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP) also has several items that pertain to the eclipse such as:

In the U.S. Government Bookstore, you can find several items from NASA that should be able to keep the magic of the Great American Eclipse going for the rest of the year. You could check out the Astronomical Phenomena for the Year 2017, which offers dates for solar equinoxes, solstices, and phases of the Moon along with other dates for various planetary phenomena and interesting astronomical information for the year.

There’s also the popular title NASA’s Journey to Mars: Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration, which communicates NASA’s strategy and progress to learn about the Red Planet, to inform us more about our Earth’s past and future, and may help answer whether life exists beyond our home planet.

If you’re more of a visual learner, there is also the NASA Science 2017 wall calendar that covers fascinating images of the earth, heliophysics, astrophysics, Pluto’s “Heart” and other planetary images and more.

The collections never end, and with GPO’s help you can make learning about space and astronomy a fun journey for your entire family.

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Scott Pauley is a Writer and Editor in GPO’s Library Services and Content Management office.

Leave a Comment » | NASA, Science & Technology, Technology | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Arts in the Parks

August 9, 2017

Since 1916, The National Park Service (NPS) has been conserving, preserving, and making its National Parks, National Historic Sites, and National Monuments accessible. The Library of Congress has a collection which provides an overview of the American conservation movement which inspired the Government to preserve and protect America’s natural resources. In addition to working to physically maintain sites, the NPS strives to keep and curate the stories and images created in and inspired by its more than 400 sites which include: national parks, preserves, monuments, historical parks, and other sites. The Arts in the Parks Program  provides links to resources ranging from sculpture gardens to grants for artists.

The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont, has more than 500 works of art including nature and landscape paintings by artists of the Hudson River School. See the book Art and the American Conservation Movement to learn more about their collections and the movement.

William Henry Jackson lived in the West while working for the U.S. Geological Survey. As a professional photographer, he captured some of the earliest images of Yellowstone Park, the Tetons Mountains, and Mesa Verde. He also sketched and painted. An Eye for History: The Paintings of William Henry Jackson showcases his collection which is now owned by the Scotts Bluff National Monument’s Oregon Trail Museum.

The book Treasured Landscapes: National Park Service Art Collections Tell America’s Stories and the accompanying online exhibit bring together artwork from more than 50 NPS museum collections.

A Photographer’s Path: Images of National Parks Near the Nation’s Capital uses photographs to capture the beauty of NPS sites in the National Capitol Region.

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Cynthia Earman is a Cataloging & Metadata Librarian in the Library Services & Content Management division of the U.S. Government Publishing Office.

Leave a Comment » | Art, Department of the Interior, Libraries, National Park Service, National Park Service | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Parents’ Day – July 23

July 21, 2017

Parents’ Day celebrates and recognizes the important role of responsible parenting in every day family life. Families are a fundamental human institution, bonded by unconditional love and commitment.

Parents’ Day was established in 1994.  In a time where society had become increasingly self-centered, President Bill Clinton signed a congressional resolution to commemorate Parents’ Day in an effort to promote family commitment and parental responsibilities.

At GPO we offer publications to further the appreciation and understanding of what great parenting can realize, to self, to your children, and the community. Take a look.

Parent Power: Build the Bridge to Success

Good advice for parents on how you can help your children be successful at each stage of their school life: from preschool, elementary school, middle school to high school. The booklet stresses the importance of a parent or caregiver’s influence and involvement in his/her child’s education process and schooling activities.

Parent’s Guide to Childhood Immunizations

In this colorful booklet parents will learn more about the role vaccines play in keeping  their children healthy.

Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child about Alcohol

This guide is geared to parents and guardians of young people ages 10 to 14. It’s a handy booklet designed to help parents teach kids about the dangers of drinking alcohol.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Children, Family, Parenting, Teachers and teaching | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Get Outdoors this Summer with Help From GPO

July 19, 2017

July is National Parks & Recreation Month in the U.S., which delivers a reminder of the staggeringly beautiful images from the thousands of national parks around our great Nation. Perhaps this is the year that you finally pack up the family in the car or RV and spend a long weekend camping in the hills and enjoying the incredible wonder that is our naturally beautiful landscape.

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) is here to help you with the research and planning that can make any summer vacation into the one you tell stories about for years to come. The most important step of that epic road trip is first and foremost choosing where to go and where to stay. The U.S. Government Bookstore offers more than a few options on how to figure that out.

The National Parks Index offers a complete administrative listing of the National Park System and can help you figure out which parks are in your area and what they have to offer. Also, if you’re a more visual person, there is the National Park System Wall Map Poster which would allow you map out your trip visually, and you could even hang it on the wall in your house and use pushpins to track your progress in visiting all the parks our country has to offer.

While you’re on your trip, you may want to bring along a camera to capture some of the breath taking scenes you’re sure to see. The best photographers know that the key to beautiful pictures is the inspiration, and the book A Photographer’s Path: Images of National Parks Near the Nation’s Capital is full of incredible photos that are sure to light your creative fires and inspire you to take a couple of photos worthy of printing and hanging on your wall.

Another great thing our national parks offer is free or discounted fees to visit for active duty and retired military members due to the National Parks Freedom Pass Act which was passed by the House of Representatives in 2011.

To find other bills and laws that Congress has passed to protect and preserve our park system, visit govinfo.gov and search “national parks.”

You can also search the Catalog of U.S. Government Publications to find a list of titles that will allow you to learn more about the parks and monuments available near you, like:

Make GPO your first stop when planning your next national park trip, and visit our sites to learn more about the great history of our Government preserving the parks for our future generations. Happy camping!

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Click on the Links: For the free resources, click on the links above in the blog post.

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Scott Pauley is a Writer and Editor in GPO’s Library Services and Content Management office.

Leave a Comment » | Family, National Park Service, National Park Service, Travel and Tourism | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Smart Irrigation Month

July 14, 2017

July is Smart Irrigation Month, a great time to bring awareness to the importance of using water wisely. To help in this effort, Government Book Talk reviews an Army Corps of Engineers publication about water resources and environmental planning.

Harry E. Schwarz and the Development of Water Resources and Environmental Planning: Planning Methods in an Era of Challenge and Change

Harry Schwarz was a devoted photographer of nature and considered the first practitioner in a major Federal agency to adopt and implement many new ideas and methods of water resources and environmental planning pioneered by Professors Arthur Maass and Gilbert White.  Schwarz’s contributions relate particularly to water quality, the assessments of environmental impacts, and the visual and cultural aspects of the environment.

This comprehensive resource touches upon the problems with environmental engineering and offers some solutions in water and natural resources planning. Environmental science students, advocates, utilities professionals, and land developers may find this historical view of America’s river basins and information for evaluating structural plans and assessments that can impact environmental and water quality helpful to their research.   This narration includes case studies, such as greenhouse effects that may have an effect on drinking water.  Within this section, global warming and climate changes on water supplies are introduced, and evaluated.  Additionally, this volume covers information about flood frequencies in a Major Drainage Basin, reflections on water and environmental planning, effects of urbanization on streams, the North Atlantic Regional Case Study, and more. You will learn many of Schwarz’s contributions through his government service with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to move science forward, especially in the areas of environmental science, conservation, and natural resources planning.

Industries related to water utilities include local government utilities; water, sewage, and other systems; and water and sewer system construction, natural resource planning, environmental engineering, and more. Project management planning, formula mathematics for chemical compounds, system’s analysis, knowledge of ground water contamination structures, construction engineering, and natural resources planning skill sets may be required for knowledge within these occupational areas.

Multiple appendices are included in this authoritative work to showcase Schwarz’s personal chronology and professional bibliography, his personal memoirs and reflections, oral history interview, and the biographical sketches of Arthur Maass and Gilbert White, pioneer scientists, within this field that may interest other environmental scientists, advocates, and students hoping to follow in Schwarz’s footsteps to pursue a career in water resources planning and operations..

Purchase your personal copy of Harry E. Schwarz and the Development of Water Resources and Environmental Planning today!

HOW DO I OBTAIN THIS RESOURCE?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: This week’s blog contributor is Maureen Whelan, Senior Marketing Team Leader for GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office in Washington, DC. Maureen oversees print and digital content dissemination strategy and manages third party free and paid content distribution through platforms and vendors, such as Apple iBookstore, Barnes and Noble.com, Google Play eBookstore, Ebscohost databases, Overdrive, and more.

Leave a Comment » | Department of Defense, Environment, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Fourth of July

June 30, 2017

“Taxation without representation”; the battle cry in America’s Thirteen Colonies when forced to pay taxes to England’s King George III despite having no representation in the British Parliament. As dissatisfaction grew, British troops were sent to quell the growing movement toward rebellion. Repeated attempts by Colonists to resolve the crisis without military conflict proved fruitless.

On June 11, 1776, the Colonies’ Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia to form a committee to draft a document formally severing ties with Great Britain. The committee included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman and Robert R. Livingston. Jefferson, who was considered the strongest and most eloquent writer, crafted the original draft document. The Continental Congress officially adopted a final version July 4, 1776.

How do you celebrate our freedom? With just hot dogs and burgers and fireworks? You might want to consider the hundreds of thousands of Americans now serving overseas to protect our way of life while we relax in the yard or at the beach this holiday weekend.

Get involved as they are. Take a step forward in understanding how America came to be, or read how our ever-vigilant military leaders give advice and counsel to our nation’s leaders. Reading to open the eyes of all Americans to the challenges we must face as a nation bound together as one.

Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States

A pocket-size booklet containing the complete text of these two core documents of American democracy: the Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States.

The Citizen’s Almanac: Fundamental Documents, Symbols, and Anthems of the United States U.S.

This pro-Americana booklet has been primarily designed for naturalized citizens as they enter into citizenship life within the United States of America.  The Citizen’s Almanac contains information on the history, people, and events that have brought us where we are today as a beacon of hope and freedom to the world. The contents of this booklet will serve as a constant reminder of the important rights and responsibilities immigrants will now have as a U.S. citizen.

Charting a Course: Strategic Choices for a New Administration Defense Dept., National Defense University

The new administration takes office in a time of great complexity. Our new President faces a national security environment shaped by strong currents: globalization; the proliferation of new, poor, and weak states, as well as non-state actors; an enduring landscape of violent extremist organizations; slow economic growth; the rise of China and a revanchist Russia; a collapsing Middle East; and a domestic politics wracked by division and mistrust. While in absolute terms the Nation and the world are safer than in the last century, today the United States finds itself almost on a permanent war footing, engaged in military operations around the world.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at http://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Shop our Retail Store: Buy a copy of any print editions from this collection at GPO’s retail bookstore at 710 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20401, open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Federal holidays, Call (202) 512-0132 for information or to arrange in-store pick-up.

Order by Phone: Call our Customer Contact Center Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5:30 pm Eastern (except US Federal holidays). From US and Canada, call toll-free 1.866.512.1800. DC or International customers call +1.202.512.1800.

Visit a Federal depository library: Search for U.S. Government publications in a nearby Federal depository library. You can find the records for most titles in GPO’s Catalog of U.S. Government Publications.

About the author: Blogger contributor Ed Kessler is a Promotions Specialist in GPO’s Publication and Information Sales program office.

Leave a Comment » | Civics and Citizenship, U.S. History | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

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