- Librarian recommendations
- General government sites
- Government officials
- Government statistics
National
State and local
International - Politics and candidates
- State and local government
State of Illinois
County of Cook
Village of Skokie
Other local information - Taxes and tax forms
Federal and state
Illinois - United States government
General information
Directory and contact information - Voting and elections
- World government
More and more valuable information is being posted on the Internet by federal, state, and local governments. Here you can find state and federal tax forms, information on government officials and political candidates, unclaimed property, and sales of government surplus.
The federal government is also a compiler of a vast amount of statistics on a wide range of topics. An excellent compilation of these and other useful statistical Web resources can be found at the University of Michigan's Statistical Resources on the Web. The United States Census has also created the American FactFinder site which allows users to create custom demographic profiles with maps for states, counties, and individual towns, down to the block level.
Web resource 
Available with Skokie Public Library card 
Available in Library only
Librarian Recommendations
These article databases and websites have been selected by librarians at Skokie Public Library as outstanding resources and good places to start a search for government information.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
From the United States Department of Labor, this well-designed site offers key labor and employment statistics including the latest unemployment rate, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Product Price Index (PPI), industry and wage data, and much more. Site visitors can create detailed tables of specific local data.
Cook County Election
Department
This website provides information about Cook County polling places, the candidates, and the candidates' views.
Directory of
Elected Officials in Cook County
From the Cook County Clerk's office, this online directory includes listings of trustees from library districts, municipalities, park districts, and sanitary districts. The site also includes a directory of Cook County party officials.
Skokie Government and Politics Center from SkokieNet
This site contains the ordinances of the Village of Skokie, a directory of elected officials, information on local agencies, and links to governmental websites in the area.
State of Illinois
The official website for the state of Illinois includes facts about Illinois and links to information about living, working, visiting, and learning in Illinois; business, technology, government, and more.
United States Census Bureau
Find population statistics for areas around the country and links to the latest economic census information on this official website from the United States Department of Commerce.
USA.gov
USA.gov is the official portal for United States Federal Government information. Subject information and links are arranged in an easy-to-use menu.
Village of Skokie
The official Village website includes information about Skokie and Village departments.
General Government Sites
GovBenefits.gov
GovBenefits.gov is a screening tool to help you find state and federal government benefits that you may be eligible to receive.
Government Information Online
Government Information Online (GIO) is a free national online information service supported by nearly thirty public, academic, and state libraries. Participating librarians specialize in finding government information sources of all kinds, and will try to answer your questions through chat or email.
Government Sales & Auctions
This federal portal provides information on the sale or auction to the general public of all types of public assets and surplus from federal, state, local, or international governments.
University of
Michigan Documents Center
This website is a central reference and referral point for government information, whether local, state, federal, foreign, or international.
Government Officials
The Congressional Directory
Find names, addresses, phone numbers, and general information for members of Congress and other key members and elected officials of the federal government.
Directory of Elected Officials in Cook County
From the Cook County Clerk's Office, this online directory includes listings of trustees from library districts, municipalities, park districts, and sanitary districts. The site also includes a directory of Cook County party officials.
Elected Officials from the Village of Skokie
The names and brief biographies of the current mayor and village trustees of Skokie.
Illinois General
Assembly
This site contains information about members of the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives, district maps, recent Public Acts, and information about current and recent bills.
Illinois
State Telephone Directory
The Illinois State Telephone Directory provides contact information for state agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as for most state employees.
Government Statistics
National Statistics
Census 2000: A Guide to
Demographic Information
This descriptive guide for finding regional statistics and demographic information from the United States Census and other agencies includes links, contact information, and advice on how Skokie Public Library can help you find additional regional information.
Bureau of Justice
Statistics
From the United States Department of Justice, this online source for crime statistics includes information about law enforcement, the courts, and a link to the Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
From the United States Department of Labor, this well-designed site offers key labor and employment statistics including the latest unemployment rate, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the Product Price Index (PPI), industry and wage data, and much more. Site visitors can create detailed tables of specific local data.
Demographic Profiles from the U.S. Census Bureau
This site provides a neat, four-page summary of year 2000 census data for all places, counties, MSAs, PMSAs, and townships within a state.
FedStats
Use this site to find statistics from more than one hundred United States federal agencies. Information is searchable by agency, topic, or geography.
STAT-USA/Internet
A database from the United States Department of Commerce that provides information on business, trade, and the economy. It is divided into two sections: "State of the Nation" which focuses on economic indicators for the United States and "Globus/NTDB" which deals with international trade.
Statistical Resources on the Web
From the University of Michigan, this online collection of statistics covers agriculture, business and industry, consumers, cost of living, demographics, foreign governments and trade, health, housing, labor, and more.
United States Census Bureau
Find population statistics for areas around the country and links to the latest economic census information on this official website from the United States Department of Commerce.
United
States Gazetteer
From the United States Census Bureau, use this site to find census data for towns, counties, or Minor Civil Divisions (MCDs).
State and Local Statistics
Northeastern Illinois
Planning Commission (NIPC)
The NIPC is the official planning agency for the six-county Chicago metropolitan area. Their website contains valuable statistics and maps for the area.
International Statistics
International Data Base (IDB) from the US Census Bureau
The International Data Base (IDB) provides demographic information for 224 countries and areas of the world including estimates and projections of: population by age and sex; birth, death, and growth rates; migration rates; infant mortality; life expectancy; and fertility rates.
OFFSTATS
Click on the name of a country and OFFSTATS will link to websites that offer free and easily accessible social, economic, and general data from official sources including those that provide both current data and time series.
United Nations Statistics Division
The Statistics Division compiles statistics from many international sources and produces global updates, including the Statistical Yearbook, World Statistics Pocketbook, and yearbooks in specialized fields of statistics.
Politics and Candidates
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
This database provides biographical information for presidents, vice presidents, speakers of the house, delegates, senators, and representatives from 1774 to the present.
Congress.org
Congress.org provides information on elections and candidates running in elections around the country. It also contains information on Congressional representatives by district and includes voting records.
Cook County Election
Department
This website provides information about Cook County polling places, the candidates, and the candidates' views.
Illinois State
Board of Elections
This site contains up-to-the-minute campaign and election information including information about candidates, redistricting, and campaign finance disclosures.
Politics1
This directory of United States political parties includes detailed information about both large and small political parties.
Project Vote Smart
Search this website to find state and federal elected officials for addresses and zip codes throughout the country.
Search for your Districts/Officials from the Illinois State Board of
Elections
New districts took affect in January 2003 and this website allows users to search by address to find the numbers of their newly redistricted Illinois Senatorial and Representative Districts and United States Congressional Districts.
State and Local Government
State of Illinois
Cash Dash
Search for unclaimed property in Illinois on this website sponsored by the Illinois State Treasurer's Office.
CyberDrive Illinois
CyberDrive is the Illinois Secretary of State's website. Resources include with information about driver's facilities, license plates, and links to the Illinois State Library.
Illinois Documents at Skokie
Public Library
Skokie Public Library is an "Illinois Documents Depository Library" and includes in its collection many items published by the Illinois government. For more information, see Finding Illinois Documents at Skokie Public Library and on the Web and Highlights of the Illinois Documents Collection.
Illinois General
Assembly
This site contains information on members of the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives, district maps, Public Acts, and information about current and recent bills.
Illinois
State Telephone Directory
The Illinois State Telephone Directory provides contact information for state agencies, boards, and commissions, as well as for most state employees.
State of Illinois
The official website for the state of Illinois includes facts about Illinois and links to information about living, working, visiting, and learning in Illinois; business, technology, government, and more.
County of Cook
Cook County
Assessor's Office
Search for assessed values of homes in Cook County or learn about the assessment and appeal processes at this site.
Cook County Election
Department
This site contains results from the latest election and links to election sites of neighboring counties.
Cook County Information
Center
The Information Center includes sections on County demographics, links to County agencies, and information about meetings, finance, and employment opportunities.
Cook County Recorder of Deeds
Search this site for documents filed in Cook County including mortgages, bankruptcies, and more.
Directory of Elected Officials in Cook County
From the Cook County Clerk's Office, this online directory includes listings of trustees from library districts, municipalities, park districts, and sanitary districts. The site also includes a directory of Cook County party officials.
Village of Skokie
Skokie Government and Politics Center from SkokieNet
This site contains the ordinances of the Village of Skokie, a directory of elected officials, information on local agencies, and links to governmental websites in the area.
Skokie Park District
This site contains information on park district programs and facilities along with annual reports and budget information.
Village of Skokie
The official Village website includes information about Skokie and Village departments.
Other Local Information
City of Chicago Zoning Ordinance
From the City of Chicago Department of Zoning, this online version of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance includes zoning maps.
Taxes and Tax Forms
Federal and State Taxes
AARP Tax-Aide
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers this free service for anyone in need of tax help. Tax-Aide can answer most of the tax issues faced by middle- to low-income taxpayers, with special attention to those aged sixty and older.
City-Wide Tax Assistance Program
A non-profit organization that provides financial consulting services to low-income clients, including free assistance for tax and student aid form preparation.
Internal
Revenue Service Forms and Publications
Download IRS forms and publications for current and past years from the Internal Revenue Services website.
Yahoo! Finance: Taxes
Use this handy Web directory to help prepare your tax returns. It contains calculators and checklists to organize your papers along with links to state and federal tax resources.
Illinois Taxes
Illinois Sales Tax Rate Reference Manual
A guide in PDF format to various Illinois sales tax rates broken down by municipality and county.
Note: Requires Adobe Reader.
Illinois Tax Forms
From the Illinois Department of Revenue, this collection includes tax forms for individuals, businesses, tax professionals, and local governments.
United States Government
General Information
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance
Browse this website to learn all about financial and non-financial assistance programs administered by departments and agencies of the federal government.
CQ
Researcher
CQ Researcher covers current and controversial issues of the day with
complete summaries, insight into all sides of the issues, bibliographies,
and more.
Skokie Public Library's guide to this database available
Federal
Register
The Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents from 1995 to the present.
Forms.gov
A forms catalog provides citizens and businesses with a common access point to federal agency forms including tax forms, social security forms, small business forms, and more.
GovBenefits.gov
GovBenefits.gov is a screening tool to help identify federal and state funded benefit programs.
GovLoans.gov
A gateway to federal loan information, GovLoans.gov has information on government loan programs in various departments.
GPO Access
Courtesy of the United States Government Printing Office, connect to government databases including the Congressional Record, the Code of Federal Regulations, and the Federal Register.
GPO Monthly Catalog from OCLC FirstSearch
This online catalog of United States government publications includes
Congressional reports, hearings, debates, and records; judiciary materials;
and documents issued by executive departments (Defense, State, Labor, Office
of the President, etc).
Coverage: 1976 to the present
OpenCongress.org
An interactive website, OpenCongress is designed to help you keep track of Congressional happenings, your elected officials, and the issues in Congress. The site contains blogs and forums on candidates and the issues.
Regulations.gov
Regulations.gov is part of an Initiative to provide citizens with one-stop Web access to all proposed federal regulations and to give citizens the ability to submit comments on all federal agencies' rulemakings.
THOMAS:
Legislative Information on the Internet
Find information on bills before Congress, committees, Congressional Record issues, and directories for the Senate and House of Representatives.
USA.gov
USA.gov is the official portal for United States Federal Government information. Subject information and links are arranged in an easy-to-use menu.
The White House
As the official website for the president, this site has information on the Cabinet, current news, executive orders, and executive nominations and appointments.
Directory and Contact Information
The Congressional Directory
Find names, addresses, phone numbers, and general information for members of Congress and other key members and elected officials of the federal government.
Federal
Agencies Directory
Use this handy search tool to find links to federal information and specific agencies.
Voting and Elections
Chicago
Sun-Times Elections
The latest regional and national election news is provided by this Chicago Sun-Times website.
Congress.org
Congress.org provides information on elections and candidates running in elections around the country. It also contains information on Congressional representatives by district and includes voting records.
Cook County Election
Department
This website provides information about Cook County polling places, the candidates, and the candidates' views.
FactCheck.org
A nonpartisan, nonprofit, "consumer advocate" site for voters that monitors the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.
Illinois State
Board of Elections
Find information about Illinois elections, ballots, voters registration, and campaign disclosure statements at this website.
The League of Women Voters
This non-profit organization's website provides information on elections, the candidates, and voter's registration at the federal, state, and local levels.
Project Vote Smart
Project Vote Smart is a citizen's organization dedicated to providing accurate and unbiased electoral information. The website offers information about candidate backgrounds, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances, and performance evaluations.
Quick Answers to Common Questions from the Federal Election Commission
This site provides a schedule of primary elections, campaign finance information, candidate filing information and news relating to upcoming elections.
SkokieVotes
SkokieVotes is the Library's own information portal for information on the upcoming elections. Includes information on voter registration, candidate positions for local and national races, and all the latest political news.
VoteForJudges.org
VoteForJudges.org is a non-partisan group supported by many non-profit organizations to provide voter education for the upcoming judicial elections.
Voterinfonet from
the Cook County Election Department
For Cook County residents, type in your address to locate your polling place and get sample ballots and voter guides.
World Government
Embassy World
This directory and search engine provides links to the world's embassies and consulates.
Foreign Affairs Online
This site offers information on international law, think tanks, National Government Organizations (NGOs), the United Nations, and a selection of political maps.
Official Documents of the United Nations
This site provides access to "official United Nations documentation, beginning in 1993" with older documents added daily.
RULERS
This website contains lists of heads of state and heads of government of all countries and territories. In most cases, information dates back to around 1700.
World Leaders
This site, published and updated weekly by the CIA, provides up-to-date lists of key government officials by country.