Trapping Topic-Based Information - Information Trapping: Real-Time Research on the Web - page 151

is www.dc.gov), or Puerto Rico. Sometimes this URL will redirect to a new
one (if you start at state.hi.us , you're taken to Hawaii.gov) but this URL will
point you to the right place. As you would imagine the state sites ofer a whole
lot more in the line of services than city sites. hey've got lots of services, lots
of database lookups, and lots of communications from election oicials.
Let's use as an example the state of Wisconsin. It's located at wisconsin.gov.
tip
if you're getting stuck inding state information, try govengine.
com. This site divides out state government data into easy-to-
parse lists of information. There are also some countrywide, but
state-focused, resources here as well.
As you might imagine, a state's Web site can be overwhelming. Not only
does it have to encompass a state's government, but also tourism issues,
business considerations, and non-governmental services and opportunities
for citizens (like job banks). Because of this, it's easy to go to a government
Web site and have your brain lock up!
Instead, let your eye wander over the front page. Some government sites
have their information broken out by audience—businesses, visitors, resi-
dents, and so on. Others delineate their site by services. And still others go
for recent news and pointers to featured oferings.
In the case of the state of Wisconsin, it's a mix. he front page has news and
updates in the middle, services and information divided into several broad
categories on the let, and quick links to presumably popular products and
services on the right. For you, the trapper, there are a couple of speciic
things to look for.
tip
sometimes it's easier to ind these things in a text-only site
instead of a page that is heavy with graphics. Because of the laws
regarding access for the disabled, most government sites have
text-only versions. Look for a prominent “text only” link toward
the top of the page.
he irst thing to look for is some kind of press release page. Many time press
releases for all state agencies and oferings are jammed together. Generally
less useful is a What's New page, which in my experience focuses more on
the state's Web site instead of oline services. Sometimes—more and more