Day 2 of the Government Shutdown

We have officially finished day 2 of the Government Shutdown of 2013. Several resources are not available to the public via the Internet. Entire sites have been shut down with the government. Here is a list of some of the sites that are down. Keep in mind that sites that are still up may not be getting updated regularly (or at all) during the shutdown.


U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Census Bureau
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal Trade Commission
Federal Communications Commission
Department of Energy
Library of Congress
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Institute of Standards and Technology
U.S. Copyright Office
U.S. Geological Survey


As I mentioned before, this is NOT a comprehensive list of down government sites. As I discover more sites that are down, I will post updated lists. If you know of a site that is down (and not mentioned on here), please feel free to comment and let us know.


Finally, for more information on what the shutdown means, visit http://www.usa.gov/shutdown.shtml.


Thank you.


Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents and Microforms
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Liaison Librarian:

Accounting; Economics and Finance;
Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism; Legal Research;
Management; Marketing

March 6, 1857: The Supreme Court of the United States rules in the Dred Scott v. Sandford case

Today is the 155th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Dred Scott v. Sandford. The decision, delivered by Chief Justice Roger Taney, declared that slaves were not citizens of the U.S. and, therefore, could not sue in Federal courts. The decision also declared the Missouri Compromise to be unconstitutional, stating that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories. This decision was overturned by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution.

For more information, check out these resources...

Primary Documents in American History: Dred Scott v. Sandford, Library of Congress

Missouri's Dred Scott Case, 1846-1857, Missouri State Archives

Transcript of Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), Our Documents

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), Our Documents



Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban and Transportation Studies, Engineering

Memorial Day

Originally known as Decoration Day, the first Memorial Day was held on May 30, 1868 in Arlington National Cemetary--just three years after the end of the Civil War.

So take time today to remember those who have fallen so that this country may rise.

For more information, check out these resources...

Prayer for Peace, Memorial Day, 2011, The White House (May 27, 2011)

Memorial Day, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

U.S. Memorial day History and Information on U.S. War Memorials

Memorial Day and Memorial Day Weekend, USA.gov

Today in History: May 30, Library of Congress



Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

February 24, 1786: Wilhelm Carl Grimm is Born

Today is the 225th birthday of Wilhelm Carl Grimm, the younger of the Brothers Grimm. The Brothers Grimm play an important role in our culture, though it may not seem obvious. They were responsible for spreading German fairy and folk tales through publication.

For more information, check out these resources:

American Folklife Center
(Library of Congress)

Fairy Tales Around the World
(National Endowment for the Humanities, Lesson Plans: K-2)


Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering

February 23, 1836: Alamo is Surrounded by Santa Anna's Army

Today marks the 225th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Alamo. For 13 days, 2,400 Mexican troops under President General Anotonio Lopez de Santa Anna held the Alamo Mission (182-260 defenders) in modern-day San Antonio under siege. On March 6, 1836, the battle would end with 400-600 Mexicans killed and 182-257 Texans dead.

For more information, check out these resources:

Alamo
(National Historic Landmarks, National Park Service)

Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna Recaptured the Alamo
(America's Story from America's Library, Library of Congress)

Sam Houston and the Battle for Texas Independence
(America's Story from America's Library, Library of Congress)




Sonnet Ireland
Head of Federal Documents
Reference & Instruction Librarian
Subject Specialist: Legal Research, Political Science
Urban Studies, Engineering