This Week's Facts:
-
USA.gov Offers Latest News on
Japan Earthquake & Tsunami
-
State Department Provides
Tips for Safe Overseas Travel
-
Federal Consumer Action
Handbook Available for Free
-
Online Resources Available
for Summer Job Seekers
Document of
the Month: Indiana Agent
of State Reports
Indiana’s fiscal
and legal matters became more formal and centralized in the
creation of the Office of Agent. The Agent was responsible for
reviewing transactions regarding public improvements and
establishing legal proceedings, if necessary. The Agent was
also responsible for reviewing all transactions from the sale or
distribution of stocks, and the system of internal improvements.
The Indiana Agent of State Reports contain a historical account
of Indiana’s financial affairs and laws relating to fiscal
matters. For example, the Act of January 28, 1834 established
the State’s Bank. Also included are detailed accounts of bonds
issued and sold for Internal Improvement Funds; detailed
descriptions of business transactions with banks, railroads, and
other institutions throughout the State (Territory).
Historians and researchers may find particular interest in the
register of Indiana State Bonds, as it lists individuals and
each transaction in detail. These and other reports offer a
historical glimpse on Indiana’s financial history and how we
conducted the business affairs of the day. The Agent of State
Reports can be found in the Library’s Indiana Collection, I 336
Ia for the years 1842-53, 1854-57, and 1858-72.
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Friday Facts Editorial Team:
Katharine Springer
State Data
Center Coordinator
Elisabeth
O’Donnell
Federal Documents Librarian
&
Kim Brown-Harden
State
Documents Coordinator
 
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USA.gov Offers Latest News on Japan Earthquake & Tsunami
 Many
media outlets are providing online updates about the recent
earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Ensure you’re getting
information from authoritative, timely sources by visiting the
USA.gov
portal to government information. USA.gov maintains a topic page
on the
Japan 2011 Earthquake/Tsunami.
Subtopics include Air Quality and Food Safety for inside the
United States, Evacuation for American citizens in Japan, and
Donation/Relief efforts. The portal is a valuable resource for
consistently updated, reliable information. As with many
government information websites, you can check the date the web
document was last updated at the bottom of the webpage.
State Department Provides Tips for Safe Overseas Travel
 It’s
that time of year! High school and college students – and some
families – are embarking on their spring breaks. If you or your
student are going anywhere outside of the United States, make
sure you take the proper safety precautions. The Department of
State has several resources available to those going overseas.
Click
here
for what to do in an emergency and
here
for information specific to traveling in Mexico.
Students Abroad
has information on the important things to remember about
international travel. It tells you about documentation you’ll
need, what to do if you’re involved in an emergency, and what
sort of health precautions you’ll have to take before you go and
once you’re there. It also has a list of tips designed
specifically for
spring break.
Be sure to enroll in the State Department’s
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
(STEP). This is advised for anyone traveling abroad. It allows
you to register your trip before you go so that the State
Department is aware that you are in a foreign country and can
better assist you should an emergency occur. It also gives you
better access to updated information from the nearest US embassy
or consulate. Remember – international travel can be a lot of
fun, but it’s also important to stay safe.
Federal Consumer Action Handbook Available for Free
 We
each have different roles throughout life: parent, sibling,
child, boss, employee, friend. But one part everyone plays is
that of a consumer, and it's important to know how to protect
your money and have the latest details on ever-changing rules
and regulations in today's marketplace.
The free
2011 Consumer Action Handbook
from the Federal Citizen Information Center helps you make smart
purchases and handle customer disputes. This year's edition
features:
-
Full rules of the credit CARD Act, the new
law designed to protect you from surprise fees, rate
increases, and other penalties
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Precautions to take when you're shopping
online and on
social networking sites
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Pros and cons of investing in gold and
protecting against investment scams
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Tips on "going green" and living an
eco-friendly lifestyle
-
Financing information
for college and higher education
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Contact information for over 1,500 consumer
and corporate offices and a
sample complaint letter,
to take action when you have a problem with a product or
service
-
Suggestions on building a healthy
credit score
and report
You can order the free Consumer Action
Handbook in print, download it or get all the helpful
information online at
www.consumeraction.gov.
For consumer information in Spanish, visit
consumidor.gov
to read or order the Guía del Consumidor--the marketplace guide
for the Spanish-speaking audience.
Everyone is a consumer—-and
with the help of the Consumer Action Handbook, you can be as
informed and prepared as possible.
This article is
brought to you courtesy of
The Federal Citizen Information
Center,
connecting people with government benefits, services, and
information through its family of websites, including
Pueblo.gsa.gov, USA.gov, GobiernoUSA.gov, and ConsumerAction.gov;
by phone at 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636); and with
publications by mail from Pueblo, Colorado. FCIC is part of the
U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Citizen
Services and Innovative Technologies.
Online Resources Available for Summer Job Seekers
 Students
are well into the second semester of school, and many are
beginning to think about summer employment. Summer jobs can
sometimes be tough to find, but the federal government has a
list
of suggestions for places to look, including local merchants,
tourist attractions, and summer camps. Students may also be
interested in looking for work at
local government offices
or
parks and recreation offices.
Those who like the outdoors should check out the
Fish and Wildlife Service’s Student
Program.
Also, check out these interviewing tips from the
Federal Citizen Information Center
and the
Department of Labor.
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