Government Info Pro

Government Blog Spotlight: PEO Soldier Live

Interested in military blogs? Check out the PEO Soldier Live blog. The blog covers topics such as warrior systems, weapons, sensors and lasers, protection and individual equipment. "Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier is the Army acquisition agency responsible for everything a Soldier wears or carries." (About, PEO Soldier Live) Visit the Program Executive Office Soldier website to learn more. 

Recent PEO Soldier Live blog posts include:

• Equipment Piece of the Week: Air Warrior (AW)
• Equipment Piece of the Week: Non-Maneuverable Canopy (T-11) Personnel Parachute System
• Equipment Piece of the Week: Tactical Communication and Protective System (TCAPS)
• Equipment Piece of the Week: Soldier Power
• Equipment Piece of the Week: Interceptor Body Armor (IBA)

You can subscribe to the PEO Soldier Live blog via RSS feed and follow @PEOSoldier on Twitter.

Government Blog Spotlight: GPO Government Book Talk

You're going to want to check out GPO's Government Book Talk blog if you have an interest in government publications. It covers a lot of ground as it highlights government publications on a wide variety of topics. The posts provides lots of detail and background information. The blogger is GPO employee, Jim Cameron.

Here's some basic information about the blog:

Our goal is to raise the profile of some of the best publications from the Federal Government, past and present.  We’ll be reviewing new and popular publications, providing information about new publications in the offing, and talking about some out-of-print classics. The goal is to spotlight the amazing variety of Government publications and their impact on ourselves and our world – and have fun while doing it. (About, GPO Government Book Talk)

Recent posts include:

• A Botanic Garden for the Nation: “National benefits to be derived from exploration” by guest blogger, Nancy Faget.
• “Out of Many, One”: Citizenship and the Constitution
• Getting Ready for the Next Quake
• 9/11 at the Pentagon – 10 Years Later

You can subscribe via email or RSS feed.

Government Blog Spotlight: USAID IMPACTblog

The USAID IMPACTblog covers topics relating to USAID's role in providing assistance to countries suffering from the after-effects of disaster, struggling with poverty, or striving towards democratic reforms.  Here's some basic information about the blog:

USAID finds itself at a unique moment of opportunity. A powerful consensus has formed at the highest levels of the US government that development is vital to the shared interests of an interconnected world. The scale and complexity of the challenges we face are daunting—a billion people live in hunger and the threats posed by climate change are growing–but the tools, resources and capacity to solve these big problems have never been greater. Our success lies in the hands of the talented, dedicated men and women who serve at USAID. Their stories of success, failure, and mid-course corrections to help the world’s poor will be the focus of IMPACTblog. (About This Blog, USAID IMPACTblog)

 Recent posts include:

• New Partnership to Support Child Welfare Reform Launched in Russia
• U.S. Pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
• Food Security Month @ USAID: Expanding Our Toolkit in the Fight Against Global Hunger
• USAID Assistance in Pakistan



Government Blog Spotlight: Gov Gab Turns Three and Runs a Guest Post Contest

One of my favorite government blogs is Gov Gab. This blog covers so many topics and showcases so many different aspects of government information in a way that is very accessible. There is a whole team of bloggers on Gov Gab and they give the blog real personality and perspective.

They just celebrated their 3 year anniversary and they are celebrating by running a special contest that you can participate in called:  Share Your Story: GovGab Guest Writer Challenge.  Maybe you can write the winning guest post!

If you want to hear the Gov Gab bloggers talking about Gov Gab and their use of social media, you can listen to the the very lively interview they did with me on the Government Info Pro Podcast. 

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

You can listen to this Government Info Pro podcast episode right from the embedded player below, download it from the mp3 link provided and listen at your convenience, or subscribe to the Government Info Pro Podcast on iTunes.

MP3 File

Government Blog Spotlight: In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress

There's a new government blog in town:  In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress. Here's some infomation on this new blog:

In Custodia Legis is Latin for in the custody of the law. One role of the Law Library of Congress is to be a custodian of law and legislation. As part of this, our team of bloggers covers current legal trends, collecting for the largest law library in the world, a British perspective, a perspective from New Zealand, developments and enhancements in THOMAS, and cultural intelligence and the law.{In Custodia Legis About Page]

The bloggers for In Custodia Legis are: Kelly Buchanan, Christine Sellers, and Andrew Weber.

Andrew and Christine wrote about social media usage at the Law Library of Congress in a 2010 Best Practices of Government Libraries article entitled: Showcasing the Value of the Library Through Social Media. You'll find it on page 80 of 2010 Best Practices of Government Libraries.

Government Blog Spotlight: Fast Lane

Thinking about cars, planes, boats, and trains? Then you are going to want to pay a visit to the official blog of the U.S. Department of Transportation: Fast Lane.

Secretary Peters states in the first post for the blog:

Our entire transportation system is at a critical point in its evolution, and I am excited about the transformation taking place every day. I can’t wait to begin sharing with you the innovative things we are doing at the Department to make our roads, skies, rails, and seaways safer and more efficient. (Welcome to the Fast Lane)

Here are some examples of recent articles:

• What we know about bike infrastructure: people want it
• Panama Canal: engineering achievement, economic engine, and just plain magnificent
• America's waterways, poised to deliver the goods
• DOT posts Open Gov plan; concrete steps promise transparency, collaboration, citizen participation

Government Blog Spotlight: 2010 Census: The Director's Blog

If you are interested in the 2010 Census, then check out 2010 Census: The Director's Blog, the official blog of Robert M. Groves, Director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Here is a little information about their approach to social media:

The purpose of the Census Bureau’s Web 2.0 presence that includes social media channels is to engage residents from across all walks of life in an online platform where they can learn about and share their important topics regarding Census Bureau programs and services. (Census Bureau Social Media Channels Comment Policy)

Here are some examples of recent articles:

• Counting Those Not in Traditional Housing Units
• Foreclosures And Vacant Housing Units Affect The Census
• Thinking of The Genealogists of 2082
• So, How do You Handle Prisons?

Government Blog Spotlight: COLLABORATE

The National Archives is making interesting use of a blog with COLLABORATE by using it as a collaboration tool.

COLLABORATE serves as the virtual meeting place for members of the National Archives education team in Washington, DC, and colleagues from schools, institutions, and organizations across the nation to share innovative ideas and best practices. These conversations will serve as a basis for an exciting new web site and will also offer important feedback and commentary on the site as it develops. (COLLABORATE ABOUT page)

Government Blog Spotlight: Armed with Science

If you are interested in science, technology, and the military then check out Armed with Science from the U.S. Department of Defense. 

Armed with Science highlights the importance of science and technology to military operations and celebrates those involved in cutting-edge research, development, and education. (Armed with Science)

For more information on the background of Armed with Science and to meet the contributors see the Armed with Science About Page.

Here are some examples of recent articles:

• New Army Simulator Sharpens Driving Skills [Interview]
• Wednesday Webcast: Teaching Vehicle Control to SAVE Soldiers Lives
• Computer Game Trains "Art of Battle Command"
• Defense Media CTO: Clouds on the Horizon

Government Blog Spotlight: NASA's Marine Debris Blog

If you are interested in environmental or marine issues, you may want to take a look at this government blog: NOAA's Marine Debris Blog from the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program serves as a centralized marine debris capability within NOAA in order to coordinate, strengthen, and increase the visibility of marine debris issues and efforts within the agency, its partners, and the public. [NOAA's Marine Debris Blog]

Recent posts include:

• Tackling Marine Debris - Hawai‘i Style!
• "Plastic Beach" - or, how my internet searches got a lot more interesting!
• What is the difference between the "gyre" and the "garbage patch"? Or are the same thing?
• Tsunamis, Natural Disasters, and Sunken Vessels