When searching for information produced by a federal or state organization it is important to first figure out "Who cares about this topic?"
Often a quick search in a free search engine, like Google, can result in figuring out which government body may produce the information you seek. Check the next tab "Statistics and Data" for some suggested sites.
Use file type or domain Power Searching in Google to narrow down your results only to the sites related specifically to your research interest. This is especially helpful when searching specific agencies/organizations and State publications.
If I wanted to find information on fishery managaement in New York State for instance, I would use the search string below in a Google search bar in order to only search the NYS DEC website:
site:dec.ny.gov fisheries management (~13,400 results)
If I wanted to find specific datasets or perhaps a pdf, I can also search using file type searching like this:
filetype:pdf site:dec.ny.gov fisheries management (~9,500 results)
Follow Christopher C. Brown's advice from his work Mastering United State's Government Information for even more tips for Power Searching with Google.
Mastering United States Government Information by
This up-to-date guide provides informational professionals and their clients with much-needed assistance in navigating the immense field of government information. When information professionals are asked questions involving government information, they often experience that "deer in the headlights" feeling. Mastering United States Government Information helps them overcome any trepidation about finding and using government documents. Written by Christopher C. Brown, coordinator of government documents at the University of Denver, this approachable book provides an introduction to all major areas of U.S. government information. It references resources in all formats, including print and online. Examples are provided so users will feel comfortable solving government information questions on their own, while exercises at the end of chapters enable users to practice answering questions for themselves. Additionally, several appendixes serve as quick reference sources for such topics as congressional sessions, the most popular government publications, federal statistical databases, and citation of government publications. It serves as a practical and current guide for practitioners as well as a text or supplementary reading for students of library information studies and for in-service trainings. Acts as a training book for public and academic librarians who provide reference services Includes background, with exercises, for professors needing a text to teach government information Provides coverage of the newest electronic resources, with references to print resources Offers exercises to assist in the learning process for these challenging topics
