TERM PAPER

GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH SOURCES

The resources listed below are primarily in hard copy and CD-ROM formats. Many of these resources are now also on the World Wide Web. I assume you know how to access the library materials through the Internet. If not, start with http://www.psu.edu/ and click on "Libraries and Museums." "Gateway" is a new Pateeism for location.

ENCYCLOPEDIAS

The Encyclopedia Britannica (Gateway AE5.E363) is an excellent source for general background information. In addition to the Britannica and other general encyclopedias, the library has more specialized encyclopedias such as The Encyclopedia of Islam (Gateway DS37.E523), Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (Gateway G103.W65) and The Cambridge Encyclopedia of China (Gateway DS705.C35). To see if the library has a specialized encyclopedia on your topic check the Penn State Libraries Catalog on LIAS.

>>> k [country] .and encyc?

>>> k [subject] .and encyc?

YEARBOOKS

The Statesman's Yearbook (Gateway JA51.S7) contains statistical and historical information about the countries and organizations of the world. If you want to get a quick understanding of how much things have changed, look at a late 19^th or early 20^th century edition.

Europa World Year Book (Gateway/Soc. Sci. Service Desk D2.E8401) provides background, directory, and statistical information for countries around the world. International organizations are also included. In addition to the World Year Book, there are regional yearbooks which have more in depth summaries on each country. The titles are:

Africa South of the Sahara (Gateway DT351.A371)

The Far East and Australasia (Gateway DS1.F31)

Middle East and North Africa (DS49.M5)

South America, Central America, and the Caribbean (Gateway F1406.5.S68)

Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (Soc. Sci. Service Desk HC244.E225)

Political Handbook of the World (Gateway/Soc. Sci. JF37.P6)

This work provides an analysis of the governments of all the countries in the world. It also covers international organizations.

Area Handbook Series

Books in this series provide detailed descriptions and analyses of the economic, national security, political, and social systems of countries of the world. Over 40 countries are covered by this series. The US State Department and USAID bible for people posted to new places. Great overviews. You should use it if there is a recent version for a country you are interested in.

To find these books type k area handbook series or

>>> k [country] .and handbook

INDEXES

Newspapers

The New York Times Index (Gateway/Microforms AI21.N44)

Newspaper Abstracts onDisc (Mic.) This CD product indexes nine major United States newspapers. The index can also be searched through LIAS. Type sel newsabs.

London Times Index (Microforms). There are current versions of several US and foreign newspapers on the World Wide Web.

Magazines and Journals

PAIS International in Print (Gateway/Soc. Sci. Z7163.P86)
Covers a wide range of public policy issues in the United States and other countries. It indexes books, journals, research reports and documents. Excellent

Social Science Index (Gateway/Soc. Sci. PCs AI3.R515) This indexes journals in the areas of sociology, political science, etc. The CD-Rom form of this index goes back to 1983.

Peace Research Abstracts Journal (Periodicals JX1901.P39)

International Political Science Abstracts (Gateway JA36.I5) This work provides abstracts of articles in the field of political science from journals and yearbooks all over the world since 1951.

Political Science Abstracts. Annual Supplement (Gateway Z6461.U661) This comes out annually and covers articles from all over the world. It began publication in 1980.

UNCOVER
UnCover is an online index produced by the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries. The service indexes over 11,000 magazines and journals and goes back to 1988. The Service also allows you to read the table of contents of all the journals that it indexes. You can use UNCOVER through LIAS by typing sel uncover. This is a wonderful resource.

Periodical Abstracts onDisc (Per) This indexes over 1,500 general interest magazines and journals since 1986. In addition to the CD-ROM product, you can search the abstract through LIAS. Type sel perabs.

NEWS SOURCES

Keesings Record of World Events (Ref. D410.K401) This is a monthly record of current affairs of all countries in the world. The information is gathered from the world press and other information sources.

NEXIS (Gateway/Soc. Sci PCs/Humanities) This service provides the full text of general, business, and trade news in magazines, journals, newspapers, and wire services.

SPECIALIZED NEWS SOURCES

FBIS INDEX (Soc. Sci. and Soc. Sci. PCs) Index to translations of the foreign radio and television broadcasts. The translations are available on microfiche in the Social Sciences Library.

Transdex Index (Soc. Sci. Reference). Index to translations of foreign newspapers. The translations are available on microfiche in Documents. [ceased in 1996]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Daily Report. (www.rferl.org/index.html) Daily news digests covering Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Covers 6/93- to date.

NATO Integrated Data Service (www.nato.int)
News releases directly from NATO Headquarters in Brussels. 1993-to date.

STATISTICAL SOURCES AND INDEXES

Statistical Abstracts of the United States (Soc. Sci./Gateway Service Desks HA202.A385) While most useful for information on the US states, and major metropolitan areas, this volume also contains basic social and economic statistics for foreign countries.

United Nations Statistical Yearbook (Soc. Sci./Gateway HA12.5.U63)
Economic and basic social statistics on the UN member states.

United Nations Demographic Yearbook (Soc. Sci/Gateway HB881.U55)
Population and social statistics on UN Member states.

American Statistics Index (Soc. Sci. Reference/Gateway HA214.S72)
Comprehensive index to the statistical publications of the U.S. government, including social and economic data on the U.S. and foreign countries.

Index to International Statistics (Soc. Sci. Reference/Gateway HA42.I5) Comprehensive index to the statistical publications of intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations, World Bank, Organization of American States.

Statistical Masterfile (Soc. Sci. PCs)
Combines the ASI and IIS indexes on CD-ROM.

SPECIALIZED DOCUMENTS SOURCES

UN Index. (Soc. Sci. PCs)
Index to the publications of the United Nations. The UN regularly holds debates and publishes reports on international problems. The Social Sciences section has most of these documents in either paper or microfiche. 1983- to date.

American Foreign Policy and Treaty Index. (Soc. Sci. reference JX1405.A44)
An index to research reports and briefing papers from U.S. government agencies. 1992 - to date.

Embassy press releases and informational materials.
Documents has a collection of newsletters, press releases from foreign embassies and information agencies in the Untied States. These are generally very current and useful for quickly developing international issues. Among the countries covered are Great Britain, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Thailand.

European Community Documents.
The Documents Section has a large collection of reports and studies from the European Community. Many can be located through LIAS. For others you must consult specialized indexes.

SPECIALIZED MAPS RESOURCES

Geographic Indexes

Geographical Abstracts (EMS Index Area)

Current Geographical Publications (Soc. Sci. Z6009.A47)

Geographic Journals

Geographic Notes. (Soc. Sci. reference G109.U544)

Focus (Soc. Sci. reference G1.F6)--background facts and geographical perspectives on world problems.

Political Geography (Per. JC319.P623)

Atlases

The Social Sciences Library has a wide variety of atlases. These may be general atlases, thematic atlases on specific topics, or regional and national atlases which may provide more detail than general atlases. Consult LIAS or ask at the Social Sciences Service Desk for assistance. Some examples of atlases are:

(General Atlases)

Times Atlas of the World. (Soc. Sci. G1021.J67 1992 F).

(Thematic Atlases)

Times Atlas of World History. (Soc. Sci. G1030.T54 1989).

A Strategic Atlas: Comparative Geopolitics of the World's Powers (Soc. Sci. G1046.R1C4 1992)

Third World Atlas (Soc. Sci. HC59.7C76 1985)

The Economist Atlas of the New Europe (Soc. Sci. G1797.2.E2 1992Q)

Atlas of Aids (Soc. Sci. G1046.E51.S6 1992 Q)

(Country or National Atlases) There are many more. Consult LIAS.

National Atlas of Ethiopia. (Soc. Sci. G2505.E8 1988 F)

National Atlas of Japan. (Soc. Sci. G2355.K57 1990 F)

National Atlas of India. (Soc. Sci. G2280.I62 1983 F)

Sheet Maps

In addition to many atlases, the Maps section has a wide variety of sheet maps on various countries and topics. Maps from 1988- to date may be located through LIAS. Ask at the Social Sciences service desk for help locating earlier maps.

Electronic Resources

www.maproom.psu.edu
Start here for maps and spatial data online.

PC-Globe MapsNFacts and PC USA. (Soc. Sci. PCs)
Simple to use computer programs which may be used to print color maps of the U.S. and various countries with basic physical features. These programs also contain some basic social and economic data which may be used to generate graphs and charts.

ArcView. (Soc. Sci. GIS lab)
A sophisticated electronic mapping program that may be used to generate maps of the United States and foreign countries. Some social and economic data are available for use with the program.

Call number locations:

*Soc. Sci. - Social Sciences Library, 2nd floor Central Pattee

*Gateway - Service Desk. Gateway Library, Central Pattee C105

*Soc. Sci./Gateway -- The item is available in BOTH Social Sciences and Gateway libraries

*Per -- Periodicals Room, 2nd Floor West Pattee

*Mic -- Microforms Reading Room, Ground Floor West Pattee

*EMS -- Earth and Mineral Sciences Library, 105 Deike Bldg.

Books and computers are being moved because of Pattee Library construction, so some of the locations listed for resources above may change. Ask for help at any service desk.

CD-ROM and LEXIS/NEXIS searching: Because of heavy use you must sign up in advance to use the computers. Sign up sheets are located next to all terminals.

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