Databases for Philadelphia Information

Philadelphia Information Locator Service
A cooperative effort between the Philadelphia Department of Records and the Free Library of Philadelphia to provide access to information about City government. Noteworthy links to Mayors of Philadelphia from 1691-2000 and an alphabetical list of Philadelphia Government Agencies.

Philly S.O.S. - Search Online for City Social Services
A guide to city social services for social services professionals and community residents. Search agencies by name, category, program or keyword.

Philadelphia Government Information

The City of Philadelphia Official WebPortal
Use the City's epay link to file and pay city taxes, pay water bills, real estate taxes, parking tickets, property taxes, or traffic violations. Links to the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative site, community events, and the Board of Ethics. Options for business and residential information allows the user to choose from quality of life and service links or business, development and public works links.

The City Controller
Homepage of the Office of the City of Philadelphia Controller .Established by the 1951 Home Rule Charter the Controller is the sole auditing agency of the Philadelphia City Government. Offers an explanation of the city budget, links to agency audits, forms to report fraud or waste online.

The City Planning Commission
The Commission provides information and links relevant to planning in the city and region, as well as additional sources of information in other locations.

Employment Opportunities
City of Philadelphia Personnel Department

City of Philadelphia Civil Service Job Opportunities
City of Philadelphia Civil Service Regulations

The Philadelphia Courts
The official site for the First Judicial District of Philadelphia provides court forms, publications, information on jury duty, hearing lists, contact lists, and download the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Municipal Court and Traffic Court Judicial Schedules.

The Philadelphia Code and Charter

Ordinaces updated through January 2006. Includes a search function.

Philadelphia Maps

Search by address to find zoning maps, map municipal services and locate public facilities. Links to the Philadelphia Photo Archive Website.

Philadelphia Police Department
Includes a department history, crime statistics, annual fiscal reports for the department, downloadable forms including accident reports, and a link to report police misconduct.

Philadelphia Property Assessments
From the Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes

School District of Philadelphia
Includes school calendar, news and current events, a search function to search the site by school, administration, location number or regional office, and links to specific sites with information aimed at students, parents or educators.

SEPTA Ride Guide

SEPTA is the fifth largest public transportation system in the United States connecting the City of Philadelphia with its surrounding suburbs.

The Office of the Sheriff of the City and County of Philadelphia
The responsibilities of the Sheriff's Office include enforcing court ordered injunctions, providing security for the Philadelphia Court System, administering Sheriff's Sales, serving warrants and apprehending fugitives.

Independent Organizations

Committee of Seventy
The Committee of Seventy is an independent organization devoted to improving government in the city who's stated goal is to make Philadelphia's government more efficient, fair and transparent. Links to historical and current election results, and maps of wards and political districts.

Hallwatch
Ed Goppelt's political site is "intended as a resource for those who deal with Philadelphia's City Council" Information about historical and current council votes, bills, hearings, Council member's background information, campaign financing, Past performance, contact information. Also links for information about state and federal government and property taxation.

Metropolitan Philadelphia Sourcebook
The Metropolitan Philadelphia Policy Center works with political leaders throughout the five-county Philadelphia region to address issues that impact the area. The site includes links to events in the media, publications and local resources. A site map and search function are provided.

The Metropolitan Philadelphia Indicators Project

Information in the form of reports, maps, and charts regarding conditions and trends in the central cities of Philadelphia and Camden, Pennsylvania's counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery, and New Jersey's counties of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem assessing quality of life.

The Philadelphia Animal Alliance
Find a companion animal in Philadelphia, assist others in doing so or locate links to improve your Philadelphia animal's quality of life.

Get Help!

To get help with your research or to obtain assistance finding Government Documents, email Susan at susan@temple.edu, call her at 204-3842 or stop by the Government Documents Office on the ground floor of Paley Library in Room 18.

You can get help on literature searches at Temple University, chat online with a librarian, co-browse Web sites, or submit an e-mail reference question through the Reference Department at Paley Library.