Explore this comprehensive Federal website that organizes teaching tools from trusted sources related to basic computer skills and Web literacy. Great for people who need a little help getting up to speed with technology: DigitalLiteracy.gov.

It’s summer. Looking for a safe and informative website for your kids? Check out: www.kids.gov

MedlinePlus will help answer your health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health and other health-related organizations. MedlinePlus also provides extensive information about drugs, an illustrated medical encyclopedia, interactive patient tutorials and latest health news.

Check out the official U.S. government source for fuel economy information: FuelEconomy.gov

Government documents are by and large accurate and reliable. Check out the portal for U.S. Government documents. Also find state, local, and tribal documents.

The Federal Trade Commission has established the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Check it out online.

The Government Printing Office has developed a survey to assess the value of the Federal Depository Library Program, of which Johnson County Library is a member. Tell them what you think by taking a few minutes to complete the survey »

Search Eldercare.gov for a wide range of local services, including home care, meal delivery, and transportation.

Join the dedicated team of more than 35,000 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers across the country, as they help millions of taxpayers each year.  For more information and links to an on-line application, visit the Kansas Tax-Aide website  or the national website. 

Check out the C-Span Video Archive for footage of government activities:

www.c-spanvideo.org/videoLibrary

The State of Kansas has an official travel and tourism website, www.travelks.com that is a great resource for planning day trips and summer vacations. You can also sign up for free publications about topics and areas that interest you.

Advance voting forms, contact information and much much more is available on the Johnson County Election Board website.

This week, www.HealthCare.gov, a new online portal where anyone can go to find insurance options in their state, went live. It's a very handy resource for information that used to be difficult to find. It's available to help millions who need insurance find it, and as a resource for those who want to shop around for new options or find out their new benefits under the new law.

Kansas Unclaimed Property is a Kansas government website to connect individuals with lost property with no cost. You can also contact them via telephone at 1-800-432-0386.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a list of diseases associated with exposure to Agent Orange. Veterans or spouses and widows of veterans may qualify for government benefits if they develop one of these diseases.

With the recently passed Health Care Reform legislation, many senior citizens have questions about what changes to expect. Check out this guide from the AARP to get some answers.

The U.S. Department of Energy has recently unveiled an online database of Green Energy research information at www.osti.gov/greenenergy. You can access thousands of citations, patents, technical reports, research papers and other information about renewable energy in all its forms: bioenergy, wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric.

Each item record contains a link to the electronic version of the document where available.

Have you heard of OnGuard Online? Look here for practical tips from the Federal Government and the technology industry to guard against internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your identity.

Did you know that the U.S. Census Bureau is on YouTube? In this interesting video, Census Director Robert Groves details how to view and compare Census participation rates around the county. How is your community doing?

Local government agencies can work with you to help you repay your debts and improve your financial picture. The listed agencies have been approved by the U.S. Trustee to provide the credit counseling that debtors are now required to complete before filing for bankruptcy.

GovDeals.com is the best place to find hot deals on government surplus property.

800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636) is the federal government's telephone information service, available Mon. - Fri. from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Central time. Information specialists also answer e-mail messages, or take a look at the online knowledge base with many frequently asked questions.

Medicare & You is a helpful booklet that provides:

 a summary of Medicare benefits,
 coverage options,
 rights and protections, and
 answers to the most frequently asked questions about Medicare.

Read it online or order a copy by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

The Kansas Department of Revenue is the place to get or renew a driver's license, how much it costs, and more details for new drivers including the Kansas Driving Handbook to study for the test!

Kansas Department of Health and Environment has established a phone number and dedicated e-mail address for Kansans with questions: (877) 427‐7317, available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or H1N1FluInfo@kdheks.gov. The Centers for Disease Control also has specific state to case count ratio and advisory information. Learn more about seasonal and H1N1 flu.

Energysavers.gov is a great place for the average homeowner to learn more about saving energy -- and money!

The Library of Congress's Portals to the World provides more depth to than you can get from an encyclopedia about many countries. The entry on Afghanistan is especially timely right now. 

The CAR Allowance Rebate System (CARS) popularly known as "Cash for Clunkers" allows consumers to receive a $3,500 or $4,500 discount for their trade-in vehicle when purchasing or leasing a new vehicle.

CareerOneStop provides one stop shopping for careers, including job openings, networking possibilities, and employment outlook and averages salaries on the federal and state level and much more.

There can be a tax impact to unexpected events such as job loss, debt forgiveness or tapping a retirement fund. If your income has recently decreased, you may be newly eligible for certain tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit. Read more at the IRS Web site.

Check out the IRS's news about tax credits for residences and businesses.

Did you know that you have free access to Westlaw databases at the Central Resource Library? With Westlaw you can access the full-text of current federal and state statutes, case law and legal forms. Statutes and court opinions are annotated with cross-references to related laws and cases. Reference Desk staff can assist you in constructing simple searches in Westlaw. 

Recovery.gov is a Web site that lets you, the taxpayer, figure out where the money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going.

Did you miss your chance to file for a payment in 2008? It's not too late. Or did you file and not receive the payment? Get answers from the IRS.

Looking for facts about fuel economy? Compare cars for fuel economy and safety, gas mileage tips, gasoline prices, tax incentives and more at FuelEconomy.gov.

Each year from Feb. 1 through April 15, AARP Tax-Aide volunteers prepare federal, state and local tax returns for low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older. Volunteers are especially needed to assist with electronic filing of tax returns. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. For more details, see this informational flyer (PDF).

Many government agencies help business owners start or expand a business for little or no cost. Representatives from local agencies will be on hand and ready to answer questions at GovFest for Entrepreneurs on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008 from 1-6 p.m. at the Central Resource Library. See the schedule and list of exhibitors.

EnergySavers.gov has tips for saving energy in your home, business, vehicle or industrial plant. Especially valuable are the tips and programs for homeowners and the online calculators that will help you evaluate your energy use and determine whether energy efficient products or renewable energy are right for you.

Keep your family safe from the dangers of fire by using the invaluable tools at www.firesafety.gov. Smoke alarms are the best prevention! But you can also find resources for kids to learn about fire safety, how to create an escape plan and practice fire safety.

Learn more from the Centers for Disease Control about the effects of smog on the health of you and your family and what the federal government is doing to study this problem internationally.

To check the status of your tax refund, calling is your best bet. Contact the IRS (federal) at (800) 829-1954, the state of Kansas at (785) 368-8222 (option 1, then option 4 will get you a person) or the state of Missouri at (816) 889-2920. Check the IRS Web site for the status of your stimulus payment.

Look on parents.gov to find parenting resources, including child care, adoptive parents, grandparents raising grandchildren and much, much more.

SaferCar.gov is the nation's premier source for vehicle safety. File a complaint, search for safety recalls and for information about current and past defect investigations. Find crash testing and rollover ratings for your car and more...

Kansas and Missouri have deadlines of Tuesday, April 15, 2008. See a list of deadlines in other states.

Need an extension? Here are some helpful extension forms and information:

• Federal extension form and help
• Kansas State tax extension information can be found on page 12 of the instruction booklet (PDF) for the Individual Income Tax form
• Local Kansas City, Mo. tax extension information

Small business owners can find tax time particularly challenging. The Library has several books that can assist. Take a look at some of the newest titles.

Wondering how much you're paying to the state? It varies based on your residence. Take a look at the latest Sales & Use Tax Jurisdiction Code Booklet (PDF) from the State of Kansas. Or try the Address Rate Lookup tool to just enter an address and see the state, county and city rates.

Some of us can't wait to get started. Others put off even thinking about filing for an extension. But it's that time again! The Library has tax forms and many other resources to help you get started at www.jocolibrary.org/taxes...

Join the nation in honoring our veterans. Veterans Day is Sunday, Nov. 11th.

Learn more about how the press interacts with your local government in the upcoming program Local Government Made Easy: The Role of Media in Local Government on Monday, Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Resource Library.

Many government agencies exist to help small business owners start or expand a business for little or no cost. Meet representatives from local agencies and learn all about government services on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at the Central Resource Library from 12 - 5 p.m. See more details and the day's schedule.

Learn more about the local judicial system and how it works at the upcoming program Local Government Made Easy: Judicial System on Monday, Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Resource Library.

Learn more about what local school boards do and how to work with them at the upcoming program Local Government Made Easy: School Boards on Monday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Resource Library.

Constitution Day is Sept. 17, 2007. What better way to celebrate than by getting kids involved and thinking about how the Constitution affects them?

Looking for the perfect outdoor recreation destination? Recreation.gov will guide you to it. Search for camping or recreation areas by vacation dates, location and amenities such as boat sites. Find historical tours, learn about required permits, even make reservations.

Check out the the new Military & Intelligence Database available from the comfort of your home or office. Use it to find journal and magazine articles on current affairs, political science and more. All you need is a library card and PIN.