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The Astate Library was designated a federal depository library in 1913, and it is believed that Representative Thaddeus H. Caraway, Congressman from Jonesboro, was responsible for securing depository library status for Astate. The Dean B. Ellis Library is one of 1,270 federal depository libraries throughout the United States and territories that provide free access to the information resources of the federal government, and one of 13 federal depository libraries in the state of Arkansas. The Library's collection contains more than 100,000 U.S. government publications, in print, microform, and electronic formats.

Stay in and Stay Warm With Free Webinars From GPO This Winter This link opens in a new windowJan 29, 2021

This message has been cross-posted. Please excuse any duplication.

Check out these free, upcoming educational webinars from the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO):

• School, Snacks, Safety, and Sanity: Part 2 of Government Resources for the Smallest Child to the Teen and in Between; Jane Canfield (Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico); Tuesday, February 2, 2021; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (EST)
• askGPO for Federal Depository Libraries; Lara Flint (GPO); Tuesday, February 9, 2021; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (EST)
• The Modernization of Congress and the Impact on GPO and the FDLP; Hugh N. Halpern (GPO); Tuesday, February 23, 2021; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (EST)
• Using Government Art Sources for Chemistry, Geosciences, and Environmental Studies Library Research; Emily C. Wild (Princeton University); Thursday, February 25, 2021; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (EST)
• Better Faster: Using MarcEdit to Process and Enhance CRDP Records; Leslie A. Engelson (Murray State University); Tuesday, March 16, 2021; 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. (EDT)

Two recent, pre-recorded webcasts are also available:

• Engaging with USCIS, Online Tools and Citizenship Resources, presented by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Kristina Carty-Pratt
• Cataloging and Indexing at GPO, presented by GPO’s Jennifer Lindley

Attendees will receive a Certificate of Participation from GPO for each webinar they attend. Closed captioning is available for all webinars. Registrants will be sent access information upon registering.

View the FDLP Academy Training Repository for recorded webinars and webcasts. All are encouraged to share and re-post information about these free training opportunities.

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Commerce Department    

The Commerce Department was formed in 1913 when the existing Department of Commerce and Labor split in two. Now, the department does...a lot, as their description in the U.S. Government Manual indicates: "The Department of Commerce promotes the Nation's domestic and international trade, economic growth, and technological advancement by fostering free enterprise worldwide, supporting fair trade, compiling social and economic statistics, protecting Earth's physical resources, granting patents and registering trademarks, and assisting small and minority-owned businesses."

Within the Commerce Department are:

• Bureau of Industry and Security
• Economic Development Administration
• Economics and Statistics Administration
  • includes the Bureau of the Census
• International Trade Administration
• Minority Business Development Agency
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • includes the National Weather Service
• National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• National Institute of Standards and Technology
• National Technical Information Service
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Did you know NOAA has a database of Wrecks and Obstructions that appear on their nautical charts?  

The Census Bureau provides interesting ready-made infographics and data visualizations.

10 Black history facts you may not know

President's Day (3rd Monday)

Valentine's Day (February 14)

African American History Month

American Heart Month

Need to know what the weather was on the day you were born or another significant day? Climate Data Online from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information provides free access to an extensive archive of historical weather and climate data. 

For example, on February 11, 1986 (the day of Public Law 99-244, creating National Black (Afro-American) History Month) it was snowing in various places in the U.S.: