Forgot how to use DSIMS? There's a helpful DSIMS Quick Start Guide.
It is far more complex than what we were taught in grade school! This publication covers the various forms of Congressional action, committees and how they meet and do markup, special considerations and rules, and Congressional calendars.
Bonus: Watch a series of videos from Congress.gov on the legislative process.
Reference Resource #2: check out the National Transit Database
Image source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office
Walk the Shelves / Browse the Catalog
Have things slowed down during the summer? Now is a good time to get out and walk through the shelves to take a look at your collection. Look at in terms of maintenance and preservation. Are the shelves clean and neat? Should anything be rehoused (such as by boxing older or fragile books, putting loose material into envelopes or pamphlet boxes, etc.)? Does anything need to be sent out for preservation? How are your shelf labels and wayfinding signs?
This is usually a nice way to remind yourself that there is great stuff in your collection!
If you are a digital depository and do not have a physical collection to walk through, evaluate your catalog and websites. How are your depository resources identified? Are there any records in there you want to clean up? Are there any that should be deleted? Are your websites making it clear that you are a depository library, how to find government information, and who to contact if a patron needs help?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) was created in 1966 and became operational in April 1967, bringing together elements of eight other major departments and agencies.
The agency employs around 55,000 people in its various operating administrations and bureaus. You can see a listing of each agency's social media accounts.
The National Transportation Library provides access to transportation information.
Check out pictures from the early days of aviation on the FAA History gallery.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has a quarterly magazine, Public Roads (and it is 100 years old!).
Need some transportation statistics? There's a bureau for that...
July 2, 1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964
July 20, 1969: Apollo 11 astronauts walked on the moon
July 26, 1990: Americans with Disabilities Act
July 1, National U.S. Postage Stamp Day. In 1847, the post office issued its first stamps.
July 4, Independence Day
Third Sunday of July: National Ice Cream Day