An instructional presentation on using the CIA's World Facebook for answering all your 'where' questions online

1. CIA World Factbook
Answering all your ‘where’ questions in one place
by Rachel Newlin
LIS 704

2. CIA World Factbook
 Bibliographic info: The World Factbook 2015-16.
Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency,
2016.
 Accessed online through
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-
factbook/index.html
 Accessed in print through Federal Depositories
(Dominican University is one!)

3. Why use CIA World Factbook?
 Government information is usually accurate and
authoritative
 Meant for U.S. policymakers
 Government information is open-access and free to all
 No fees
 No login required
 Easy to use interface
 Updated weekly

4. What can the World Factbook be used
for?
 What does Finland’s national flag look like?
 Where is Finland?
 What does Finland look like in real life?
 What is Finland’s GDP?
 What is the unemployment rate in Finland?
 How does government run in Finland?
 What issues are facing Finland?

5. What can I find in the CIA Factbook?
 Your screen will look like this!

6. Finding your information
 Background
 History
 Development
 Politics
 Geography
 Coordinates
 Boundaries
 Climate
 Resources
 Hazards
 People and
Society
 Nationality
 Ethnic groups
 Languages
 Religions
 Populations
 Birth rate
 HIV/AIDS
*Not an exhaustive list of information topics

7. Finding your information
 Government
 Etymology
 Type
 Capital
 Administrative
divisions
 Independence
 Constitution
 Legal system
 Economy
 GDP
 Industries
 Labor force
 Unemployment
rate
 Tax rates
 Exports
 Debts
 Communication
 Telephone
 Broadcast media
 Internet use
*Not an exhaustive list of information topics

8. Finding your information
 Transportation
 Airports
 Pipelines
 Roadways
 Waterways
 Ports
 Military
 Branches
 Service age
 Expenditures
 Transnational
Issues
 International
disputes
 Refugees
 Trafficking
*Not an exhaustive list of information topics

9. Navigating your search
1. Think about your question
Spelling
Topic of interest

10. Navigating your search
2. Access
 Make sure to access CIA’s government webpage at
http://www.cia.gov
 Hold cursor over “Library” tab
 Click on “Publications”
 World Factbook under tab labeled “Resources”

11. Navigating your search
CIA homepage

12. Navigating your search
“Library” tab

13. Navigating your search
World Factbook

14. Navigating your search
Factbook homepage

15. Navigating your search
3. Webpage options
 Regional and World Maps
 Flags of the World
 Drop-down list of
countries
 Interactive map

16. Navigating your search
 Once you have clicked
a country, either
through the map or
drop-down list, you will
enter the profile of the
country of your choice.

17. Navigating your search
Click on “+” to retrieve info

18. Evaluating information
 Data comes from U.S. government
 Consider bias
 Cross-check suspicious information
 Consider national encyclopedias and government
agencies webpages for additional info

19. Contact info
 Email at newlrach@my.dom.edu with any additional
questions or queries