Countries of the world : print sources

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All of the sources below provide a wide variety of general information and basic facts about countries of the world, including information on the people, government, economy, and society. In addition to this basic coverage, special strengths of each title are noted.

General Sources

Europa World Yearbook D2 E8922 Main Reference Desk

Particularly useful for essays on the recent history of each country, constitution and law, and statistical surveys, including population of provinces and cities. The directory of names and addresses for government officials and ministries, banks, associations, chambers of commerce, etc. is unique, and a first source of reference. Also lists addresses of all embassies in that country.

Countries of the World and Their Leaders G1 C68 Main Reference Desk

Has list of Heads of State and cabinet officials for all countries. For Internet version of this list see: Government Officials. Has sections on foreign relations in general and on relations with the U.S.in particular. A unique feature is the extensive section at the end for international travelers, covering travel warnings and visa requirements, plus a chronology of international terrorism for the year. For the Internet version of travel warnings, see Travel Warnings.

Statesman's Yearbook AY754 S8 Main Reference Desk

Has good sections on defense and the military, energy, and natural resources, and useful section listing main diplomatic representatives. For each country, lists the ambassador to and from the U.S. Special features are a chronology of major events in the year, and a chart of maritime limits.

World Factbook JA51 N32 Main Reference Desk

Concise. Includes color picture of flag, good population statistics, and hard-to-find information such as the number of children born per woman, suffrage, male and female literacy, and date of elections. Also lists ambassadors to and from the U.S. Useful sections are the good military and defense section with information on persons of military age, whether both sexes enter the armed forces, and military expenditures. Also has section on international disputes and issues pertaining to each country. Extra features include an excellent section of maps, and list of international organizations such as the hard-to-find "Group of Seven, "Group of Ten," etc. Internet version at World Factbook.

Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (6 vols.) G63 W67 2001 Main Reference

Special Strengths: Provides often hard-to-find information on topography, climate, flora and fauna and environment, migration, labor, animal husbandry, scientific and technical research, housing, taxation, customs and duties.

Encyclopedia of the Third World HC59.7 K87 1992 Main Reference

Encyclopedia of the First World G63 K87 1990 Main Reference

Encyclopedia of the Second World D847 K82 1990 Main Reference

These three excellent sources cover the Third World, Developed Nations, and nations of Eastern Europe. They also have some statistics hard to find elsewhere such as bilateral foreign aid, interest rates, Physical Quality of Life Index, birth control statistics, immigration and emigration, and number who speak English.

Statistical Sources

All statistical sources below provide statistics for countries of the world. Special strengths are noted.

 

United Nations. Statistical Yearbook HA12.5 U63 1998 Main Reference Desk

Presents a complete variety of demographic, social and economic statistics for countries of the world. Updated by U.N. Monthly Bulletin. HC57 U66 Main Stacks

UNESCO Statistical Yearbook HA12.5 U65 1997 Main Reference Desk

Concentrates on cultural statistics including in-depth statistics on education, literacy, culture, and entertainment.

Demographic Yearbook HA17 D45 Main Reference Desk

Concentrates on population and other demographic statistics such as vital statistics, marriage, divorce, migration, etc. for countries of the world.

Human Development Report HD72 H85 Main Reference

Particularly strong in social statistics concerned with health, welfare, and environment.

World Development Report HC59.7 W65 Main Reference

Strong in both social and economic statistics. Includes hard-to-find statistics such as income distribution and purchasing power parity.

World Tables HC59 W595 Main Reference (1995)

Presents a wide variety of general statistics. Particularly useful in that all statistics are presented for a 20-year period.

For a more in-depth guide to finding international statistics, see Reference Research Guide: International Statistics .

Rankings

Illustrated Book of World Rankings HA155 K87 2001 Main Reference

Ranks countries in 25 areas from geography to women's issues, with 300 subtopics. For example, in the area of social statistics, you can find out what country has the highest status for women, the highest crime rate, greatest rate of teen pregnancies, and the highest rate of human suffering.

Gale Country and Metro Rankings Reporter HB881 G26 (1997) Main Reference Desk

Reproduces 3,000 charts and rankings from a range of sources. Over 3,000 ranking charts cover a large variety of subtopics under demographic, social and economic areas. Gives rankings such as the country with the highest bus fare, working time to buy a hamburger, quality of life, most satisfied citizens, inflation per year, road tax, and much more.

Individual Country Studies

Country Studies / Area Handbooks (Various call numbers)

Each volume prepared by a team of social science experts. These authoritative volumes are the last word in overviews and analysis of all aspects of a country's development. They cover geography, history, people, economy, and society with detailed chapters on a wide variety of subtopics from foreign aid and foreign relations to environment, tourism, health and law enforcement. Most include maps, chronology, statistical tables, and extensive bibliography. A first source for study of any country. Internet version available at Country Studies

Another series is Country Profiles (by the Economist Intelligence Unit) (Business Library on reserve uncataloged), strong on economic, financial, commercial, trading and investment information. World Bank Country Studies (search OSCAR under title World Bank Country Studies), are substantial economic and social studies on problems and issues in particular countries.

Country Encyclopedias and Handbooks

Many excellent country encyclopedias have been published and are available in the Main Library Reference area or in other library locations in the Main Library. Examples are Cambridge Handbook of Contemporary China (DS706 M24 1991 Main Reference), Historical Dictionary of Pakistan (DS382 B87 1999 Main Reference), Facts About Canada, its Provinces and Territories (F1008 W44 1994 Main Reference), Japan Encyclopedia (DS805 D355 1995 Main Reference), and Twentieth Century Britain: An Encyclopedia (DA566 T835 1995 Main Reference). Also useful are well-known multi-volume encyclopedias originating in in foreign countries such as Brockhaus, die Enzyklopadie(AE27 B86 1986 Main Reference) for Germany, ESPASA for Spain (AE61 E6 SUPPL Main Reference), and Enciclopedia Italiana (AE35 E5 Main Reference) for Italy. Consult the Main Library Reference stacks in the appropriate country section or do a subject search in OSCAR, for example, "Laos - Encyclopedias."

Clio Bibliographies

Clio bibliographies are available for most countries of the world. For those who want to find very specific information, or information not available in other sources, Clio bibliographies for various countries of the world may be very useful. For example, one can find annotated articles on early traveler's accounts of Russia or an article on police in Jamaica. To locate a volume for a particular country, do a "word" search in OSCAR under the name of the country and "Clio," for example, "Laos and Clio".

Historical Dictionaries

Historical dictionaries for countries of the world are continuing to be published, with over 60 historical dictionaries for Africa alone. These alphabetical dictionaries contain entries on people, places, events, organizations, and concepts important in a country's development. They can be read by themselves or used as an aid when reading difficult background material. To find the volumes of this series, do a "title" search in OSCAR, for example, "Historical Dictionary of Laos."

Travel Guides.

A rich variety of travel guides are available in the main library reference area, and in other locations. Most are illustrated, have a variety of city maps, and give travel information such as telephone numbers, facts on climate, transportation, accomodations, and details about places of interest. Consult Main Library Reference or do a subject search on OSCAR under the country name and "description and travel," for example: Laos - Description and Travel. Links to travel guide sites are also available on the Internet at: Intraporta.

Annuals, Yearbooks, and News Sources

Annuals covering the events of the year, are often published for countries or regions, such as New African Yearbook (DT1 N35 Black Studies Library, Reference), or the Canada Year book (HA744 S81 1997 Main Reference). Consult the shelves in Main Library Reference for the country of interest or do a search on OSCAR for example: Laos - Yearbooks or Asia - Yearbooks. Also available are news digests which can be used to trace news in past years. Some samples of news digests for foreign countries are Arab World, 1900-1967 (DS62.8 M35 Main Reference), African Recorder (DT1 A52 Main Reference) and Canadian News Facts (F1001 C4 Main Reference). For radio news broadcasts see FBIS Reference Research Guide .

Regional Studies

Europa World Yearbook(D2 E8922 Main Reference Desk) publishes the same or similar data in regional versions (usually less up-to-date), for those who are studying countries in one region. They are:
The USA and Canada (HC101 U65 2002 Main Reference Desk)
The Far East and Australia (DS1 F3 2002 Main Reference Desk)
Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (HC244 E226 Main Reference Desk)
Western Europe (HC240 A1 W47 2002 Main Reference)
The Middle East and North Africa (DS49 M55 2002 Middle East Studies Library)
Africa South of the Sahara (DT351 A37 2000 Main Reference)
Central and South-Eastern Europe (on order for Main Reference)
South America, Central America and the Caribbean (F1406.5 S68 2002 Main Reference)

Often overlooked in searches for information about a country are regional encyclopedias such as The Newly Independent States of Eurasia: Handbook of the Former Soviet Republics (DK17 B34 1997 Main Reference), Encyclopedia of the Modern Middle East (DS43 E53 1996 Main Reference), and Handbooks to the Modern World: Africa (DT3 H36 1989 Main Reference)