Online Release of the 1940 Census

The 1940 census will be released online to the public on April 2, 2012 at 9:00 am (eastern). This is the first time a census will be released online. See some interesting comparisons between 1940 & 2010 from the Facts for Features Special Edition news release by the Census Bureau. View this clip from the National Archives to learn about staff preparations & how to use the data. A look back at history will show a poster created to encourage citizens to complete the 1940 census from the Library of Congress.

Gas Prices

Evidently, lots of Alabamians have extra money for gas because they sure aren't slowing down. Anyone else wondering why the price of gas keeps rising? Or, are you looking for tips to lower the amount of gas you purchase each week?

Data Privacy for Consumers

Yesterday, the White House took another step in the direction of creating data privacy for consumers. We Can’t Wait: Obama Administration Calls for A Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights for the Digital Age, blog post includes the background steps with an outline of future steps. The full document, Consumer Data Privacy in a Networked World is available online.

A New Cool App: Amazing Ocean

Granted, this new app from the Department of State and the Smithsonian isn't yet available in iTunes but if you are remotely interested in our oceans then you'll want to access is via the WebApp until it's released. Android users can begin discussing topics such as protecting our oceans, mysteries, and natural disasters.

Japanese Tsunami Debri

It's almost been one year since the earthquake and tsunami occurred in Japan. This post by the NOAA Marine Debris Program shares how the debris that could possibly be washed up on US shores will be dealt with.

50th Anniversary of John Glenn Orbiting the Earth

Today NASA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first American orbiting the earth. John Glenn was the astronaut circling the earth in the Mercury "Friendship 7" spacecraft.

Teachers: Elevate & Respect

The Department of Education is launching the RESPECT Project which will aid the Obama Administration's $5 billion competitive program. RESPECT stands for Recognizing Educational Success, Professional Excellence and Collaborative Teaching and will aid teachers in gaining respect, in learning to not teach to the test, and to bring back creativity and passion into the classroom. The $5 billion competitive program basically encourages EVERYONE involved in education to work together (is that a nod to the golden rule?). Learn more about both initiatives from the Department of Education's press release. Note the related resources box to the right of the release.

The President's Budget

The budget for fiscal year 2013 is now available in a variety of formats along with remarks, discussion, and a bit of history.

• Online from FDsys
• Purchase from U.S. Government Bookstore
• App from GPO 
• Press release about the app
• Slides from Slideshare
• Chat from Storify
• Remarks by the President on the Budget (White House)
• The President’s Budget (Law Library of Congress)

Poets Laureate

Have you ever wondered what on earth does a poet laureate do? Wonder no more by reading the latest post from the blog From the Catbird Seat (Library of Congress).

National Park Service Museum Collections

Now you can search the collections of the National Park Service Museum. You will be able to find images and records by searching for the park name, keyword or other limiters.

War Relocation Authority 1942-1946

Search the War Relocation Authority (Ohio GODORT Digital Collections) database for documents about the relocation of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. Need more information about the relocation itself? Links to background information are available on the search page. SU community members may also use Credo Reference as a reliable source using these phrases internment camps or War Relocation Authority.

Finding Historic American Newspapers

History students take note, the Library of Congress has a digitized collection of historic American newspapers, Chronicling America, from 1836-1922.

Documents of the Month: The Space Shuttle Program - Looking Back

For this month, our display will look back at the space shuttle program.

• Space Shuttle
• The partnership: Space shuttle, space science and space station
• Wings in orbit: Scientific and engineering legacies of the space shuttle
• The space shuttle at work
• Aboard the space shuttle
• Power to explore: A history of Marshall Space Flight Center 1960-1990
• Space shuttle: NASA's answer to operations in near-earth orbit
• Space shuttle food systems
• Shuttle imaging radar view the earth from challenger: The SIR-B experiment
• Life aboard the space shuttle
• Space shuttle avionics system
• Space shuttle: The renewed promise
• Space shuttle
• Space shuttle research reports
• Space shuttle: Activities for primary and intermediate students
• The space shuttle decision: NASA's search for a reusable space vehicle
• Chronology of space shuttle flights 1981-2000
• Space Shuttle Missions
• Centennial of flight, 1903-2003
• Shuttle-Mir: The United States and Russia share history's highest stage

The Super Bowl & Government Documents

Bet you didn't think of all the ways documents are involved with the Super Bowl!

• Game ball (Smithsonian)
• Security
• Department of Homeland Security image
• FBI podcast
• Food Safety (USDA)
• Score a Food Safety Touchdown at Your Super Bowl XLVI Party (FSIS)
• Safe Handling of Take-Out Foods (FSIS)
• Wings! Poultry: Basting, Brining, and Marinating (FSIS)
• 6 NASA technologies in play at the Super Bow (GCN)

New Documents on Display

Our new documents are now on display. Thanks to Rebekah Wood for making this possible.

• Operation Unified Response: Air Mobility Command’s Response to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake Crisis
• Beneath the Surface: Thirty Years of Historical Archaeology in Skagway, Alaska
• When Biospheres Collide:  A History of NASA’s Planetary Protection Programs
• Then Came the Fire: Personal Accounts from the Pentagon, 11 September 2001
• A Primer for Women’s Health
• Bumble Bees of the Eastern United States
• The First 109 Minutes: 9/11 and the U.S. Air Force
• How We Can Protect Our Children from Secondhand Smoke: A Parent’s Guide

You will be able to locate the new documents on top of the bookshelf to the right of the government documents counter.

Unknown Pill Identifier

Here's a resource for our pharmacy and nursing students, Pillbox. This nifty database helps you to identify an unknown pill. Keep in mind that it's still beta and is not yet ready for clinical use.