Revised
July 11, 2025
Do you need to report a pothole to the city? Would you like help with a homebound family member? Are you lost trying to figure out how to officially change your name? We want to help!
The following list of consumer resources includes links to government services at all three levels: local, state and federal. If you're not sure where to start your search, just Ask Us!
Local
Legal assistance
Looking for a lawyer? The Columbus Bar Association maintains a searchable directory of lawyers practicing in Central Ohio. They provide the option to search by the areas of law practiced, language options, and State/Court Licenses. Find lawyers, law firms, expert witnesses, mediators, attorney support providers, courts and more.
From the Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center, this toolkit offers guidance to Ohio and federal crime victims about their rights from the time of first report to a hospital or police through investigation, prosecution, incarceration and post-release control.
Filing for divorce - Delaware County FAQ
Maintained by the Delaware County Clerk of Courts, find helpful information on the procedures and logistics surrounding filing for divorce in Delaware County.
Filing for divorce - Franklin County FAQ
Maintained by the Franklin County Clerk of Courts, find helpful information on domestic law as well as procedures and logistics surrounding filing for divorce in Franklin County.
Are you used to using Gale Legal or NuWav Legal? The Franklin County Law Library offers a selection of forms for various Franklin County, Ohio, courts, including topics such as custody, domestic relations, parentage, probate, termination of marriage and visitation.
Are you used to using Gale Legal or NuWav Legal? Try Ohio Legal Help if you need legal information, forms or a lawyer. You'll find topics such as housing, labor and employment, education, veterans and service members and immigration.
Are you used to using Gale Legal or NuWav Legal? Use the Supreme Court of Ohio's web site to find forms and information on topics such as crime victims, court services, domestic relations and probate.
Legal Guides - Franklin County Law Library
Maintained by the Franklin County Law Library, the LibGuides offer curated guides to a wide range of topics affected by law and the legal system. Find books held by the law library as well as links legal resources like state and national administrative codes or laws, news stories and helpful organizations.
Marriage Licenses - Franklin County Probate Court
Tying the knot? Use this resource from the Franklin County Probate Court to navigate acquiring marriage licenses and find an FAQ on applications.
2022
346.7301 NOL 9TH
A book of information for laypeople on Divorce and Child Custody.
Public records
Social services
State
Federal
Citizenship
Federal resources
A successor to CFDA.gov, provides detailed, public descriptions of Federal assistance listings available to State and local governments (including the District of Columbia); Federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi- public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups, and individuals.
USAJOBS connects job seekers with federal employment opportunities across the United States and around the world.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides this searchable database of anyone incarcerated in a federal prison any time since 1982.
Established under the Affordable Care Act, the healthcare.gov site helps individuals explore their health care coverage options.
Name change on Social Security Card
The FAQ on the Social Security website details the process of changing your name on your social security card if you legally changed your name because of marriage, divorce, court order or any other reason.
From the U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET online is a powerful tool for researching occupations and jobs. Use the O*NET Interest Profiler to explore career options that are good fits for your interests. There's also a feature that allows users to identify "in-demand" job sectors.
331.7 OCC
The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a publication of the U.S. Bureau of Labor that provides information and forecasts for hundreds of different career choices. The latest edition of the Occupational Outlook Handbook is also available online.
This site, managed by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, provides a hub for consumers to learn about the latest recalls on products and report product safety concerns.
A subject-based portal to Federal services and resources online. A Spanish site is also available.
Government information
2016
320.473 SEA
Provides a hands-on lesson that keeps you engaged as you learn. From the backstory of the Constitution to the institution of the Electoral College, this primer is packed with hundreds of entertaining tidbits and concepts to help you learn about how the government of the United States actually works.
Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government
Ben's Guide provides information about the U.S. Government, tailored for students in all grades K-12.
Budget of the United States Government
Issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Budget of the United States Government is a collection of documents that contains the budget message of the President, information about the President's budget proposals for a given fiscal year, and other budgetary publications that have been issued throughout the fiscal year.
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
The CGP is the finding tool for federal publications that includes descriptive records for historical and current publications and provides direct links to those that are available online.
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) annual edition is the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
Compilation of Presidential Documents
The Compilation of Presidential Documents collection consists of the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents and the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents which are the official publications of materials released by the White House Press Secretary.
Provides information about legislation activities, publications, and other related materials for members of Congress and the public.
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session.
Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation
This version of the Constitution of the United States includes many additional pages interpretation and analysis in links to PDF documents.
Data.gov is the United States government’s open data website. It provides access to datasets published by agencies across the federal government.
Available from April 1995 forward, this monthly publication is prepared by the Council of Economic Advisers for the Joint Economic Committee. It provides economic information on gross domestic product, income, employment, production, business activity, prices, money, credit, security markets, Federal finance, and international statistics.
Economic Report of the President
The Economic Report of the President is an annual report written by the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. It overviews the nation's economic progress using text and extensive data appendices. Documents are available in plain text and PDF, with many of the tables also available for separate viewing and downloading as spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
A source for population, economic, housing, and geographic information and data about the United States, Puerto Rico and the Island areas.
Maintained by the United States Office of Personnel Management, this site lists the US federal holidays for the year and gives guidance for when they are celebrated.
Published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.
A database providing free public access to official publications from all three branches of the U.S. Federal Government.
Official Congressional Directory
The Congressional Directory is the official directory of the U.S. Congress, prepared by the Joint Committee on Printing (JCP). It offers short biographies of each member of the Senate and House, listed by state or district; committee memberships, terms of service, administrative assistants and/or secretaries, and room and telephone numbers for Members of Congress; and lists officials of the courts, military establishments, and other Federal departments and agencies, including D.C. government officials, governors of states and territories, foreign diplomats, and members of the press, radio, and television galleries.
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States
Published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration, this website offers an official compilation of the Presidents' addresses, writings and remarks.
The Social Security Handbook provides a table of contents through which to navigate and understand the provisions of the Social Security Act.
The United States Code is the codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States. It is divided by broad subjects into 51 titles and published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. Code was first published in 1926 with subsequent main editions have been published every six years since 1934. In between editions, annual cumulative supplements are published in order to present the most current information.
United States Government Manual
As the official handbook of the Federal Government, the United States Government Manual provides comprehensive information on the agencies of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. It also includes information on quasi-official agencies; international organizations in which the United States participates; and boards, commissions, and committees. The Manual begins with reprints of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
The United States Reports are the official record of the rulings, orders, case tables, and other proceedings of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Reports are often used for citing Supreme Court decisions.
United States Statutes at Large
The United States Statutes at Large, typically referred to as the Statutes at Large, is the permanent collection of all laws and resolutions enacted during each session of Congress. Online volumes cover 1951 to the present. The Statutes at Large is prepared and published by the Office of the Federal Register (OFR), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
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Kara R
I am the library's digital experience manager. I like to read fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction and retellings, especially extra-long tomes. When it comes to music, give me anything with a groove and some soul.
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August 11, 2025
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