Government Information   Tags: business, census, constitution, economics, fdlp, geography, gis, maps, statistics, stem  

Search for U.S. federal, state and local information.

About Federal Depository Libraries

Do you want to learn more about the US Presidential Election?  Do you need to understand how a bill becomes a law? Are you interested in historical photographs?  Are you a student looking for information about financial aid? 

Oakton Community College Library is one of the nation’s nearly 1,250 designated libraries in the Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP) with government information to help you answer these questions.

• What is the FDLP?  The Federal Depository Library Program was established by Congress in 1813 to ensure that the American public has access to its Government's information. 
• What is in a Depository library?   Federal depository collections are filled with information on careers, business opportunities, consumer information, health and nutrition, legal and regulatory information, demographics, and many other subjects in print and on-line.
• What if I just want on-line information?  No problem.  You can find links to departments, agencies, and reports.

How to use this LibGuide

When you click on one of the topic tabs above, you will be directed to introductory information, links to RSS feeds for current news, a featured moving image, a Google Uncle Sam search box for U.S. government information, links to the Library catalogs, and catalog search tips. 

Additionally, under each tab, you will find links to specific resources such as electronic documents, Websites, recommended books and articles, and tutorials organized by type of resource, subtopic, or user.  If you need help navigating this LibGuide, please ask a Reference Librarian for assistance.

We're glad you asked.  The Documents MECC Building is

• A good reason to stretch your legs between classes.
• A good reason to enjoy a breath of fresh air.
• The physical location of most of the Library's government documents.

The answer is all three.  The Library has a shared housing arrangement with the Northwest Municipal Conference, which is located in the MECC building on campus. Many of our government documents are shelved there. Ask a Reference Librarian for help if you need to access a document at MECC.

Need information about the State of Illinois or the Oakton District?  Looking for international documents or NGOs?  Check out the Library's Website.

Questions about your research? 

If you are on the Oakton Des Plaines or RHC Skokie Campus, you can visit the Oakton Library Reference Desk any time between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm Monday - Thursday, 8:00 am and 6:00 pm on Fridays, or 9:00 am and 3:00 pm on Saturdays.

Or, schedule a free Research Consultation on campus with a librarian by calling the Oakton Library Reference Desk at 847-635-1644 at the Des Plaines Campus or 847-635-1474 at the RHC Skokie Campus.  Have your research assignment handy so you can describe what information you need when you set up the consultation.

Not on campus?  Please call the Oakton Library Reference Desk at 847-635-1644 at the Des Plaines Campus or 847-635-1474 at the RHC Skokie Campus.

No time to chat?  Oakton students and personnel can use the Online Library Reference Form.  Requests will be answered within two days, excluding holidays and days when classes are not in session.

If you need help requesting books in I-Share or have questions about interlibrary loan, please call (847) 635-1642.