The grandkids may be stocking up on back-to-school supplies, but that shouldn’t prevent you from getting a few Number 2 pencils of your own.
You can learn more about any topic that interests you, from animals to energy to world peace. Just by making a few calls to the government, you can discover the latest information from experts in the field. Your only problem will be getting off the phone with them.
– A good starting place. Not sure whom to call or need some basic information on a subject? The best thing to do is call your congressman and ask for a CRS (Congressional Research Service) report. Approximately 500 Ph.D.s work to write reports for Congress on almost any topic, so that when bills or hearings come before the House or Senate, your congressman will have background information in hand.
There are more than 10,000 reports available that summarize the history of an issue as well as any fast-breaking developments. The only way you can get any of these free reports is through your congressman’s office. A complete listing is not available, so provide the office with the topic you are interested in studying and they can do a search for you. Contact your representative or senators at: The Capitol, Washington, D.C. 20510; 202-224-3121.
– Rural connection. If you live in a rural area, and you are trying to maintain the vitality of your town, the Rural Information Center is the place for you. They provide information and referral on all issues affecting rural life. The center can perform customized information searches and will direct you to sources of funding for such topics as small-business attraction, tourism, recycling programs, community water quality and health programs and services.
The center has publications and bibliographies and can identify current research and existing programs for you to contact. For more information, contact Rural Information Center, National Agricultural Library, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 10301 Baltimore Blvd., Beltsville, Md. 20705; 800-633-7701; or on-line at http://www.nal.usda.gov/ric.
– Auto safety. Before you put down your hard-earned retirement money on a new car, do some research. The Auto Safety Hotline can provide you with information on recalls, defects, investigations, tires, crash test results, air bags and more. They also accept reports of automobile safety problems. On their Web site you can search the Consumers Complaints Database for a specific make, model and range of years, and you also have access to an index of Technical Service Bulletins. Free fact sheets and publications are available on these topics and more.
Contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 7th St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590; 888-327-4236; or http://www.nh tsa.dot.gov.
– Smart shopping. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) protects consumers against unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices, and enforces a variety of anti-trust and consumer protection laws. They have hundreds of publications to help educate the consumer on issues such as investments, credit, purchasing of products and services and more. Your dollar can go further with just a little research. For more information, contact Public Reference, Federal Trade Commission, Room 130, Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; or http://www.ftc.gov.
– Food and drug information. If you want to know anything about nutrition, diets, cosmetics, prescription drugs or medical devices, the FDA is the place to call. They can answer general questions–from how to read a food label to why your new lipstick turned your lips green. You can also discover the latest findings about mammography facilities and package inserts for prescription drugs. Hundreds of publications are available to help educate you on these topics and more. You can contact the FDA, Office of Consumer Affairs, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Md. 20857; 800-532-4440; or http://www.fda.gov.
– Health resources. Don’t know whom to contact for specific health questions? The National Health Information Center serves as an information and referral service, directing people to organizations that can provide health information, and also distributes resource guides on popular health topics. For a catalog and referral information, contact National Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, P.O. Box 1133, Washington, D.C. 20013-1133; 800-336-4797; or http://www.nhic-nt.health.org.
– Our country’s library. The Library of Congress’ mission is to make its resources available and useful. Its collections make up the world’s most comprehensive record of human creativity and knowledge. For those that cannot make it to Washington, D.C., many of the resources are now being made available on the Web. You can access the catalog, view exhibits, read text of proposed bills in front of the House and Senate, and more. Contact Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540; 202-707-5000; or http://www.loc.gov.
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For more information on Free Stuff for Seniors, you may call 800-532-5566 or send us e-mail at 74774.73@compuserve.com
