The following is a library guide to find specific information about the geography of Latin America. The floor references are specific to Milner Library at Illinois State University and the call numbers provided are using the Library of Congress referencing system.

This listing is not copyrighted and may be reproduced or modified

 

LITERATURE SEARCH TECHNIQUES

1. Define the topic. Understand what you are researching. Use dictionaries, encyclopedias,

handbooks, textbooks, etc.

(a) Topic must be narrowed down to something manageable.

(b) Definition should include:

(i) Decision on time period to be covered, e.g. 1970 onwards

(ii) Type of materials to be included, e.g. books, journal articles, audio-visuals

(iii) How much material should be included, i.e. complete list,

select 30 articles, etc.

2. Make a list of words and phrases that would define the topic. Use these words as starting

points in a search through the library catalogues. The Library of Congress Subject

Headings will help you translate your words into standard catalogue terms.

3. Use published bibliographies (discussed below) to locate a variety of books, journal

articles, etc. related to your topic.

4. Has the subject been treated in periodicals? Using the list of search words, check the

relevant periodical indexes and abstracts. For a completely up-to-date search, remember

the time lapse between the last index published and the time of your search and browse

through the most likely recent periodicals.

5. Are there any other sources of information available:

(a) other libraries? use Library Computer System (LCS).

(b) professional associations, research organizations? use directories to locate them.

(c) personal contacts including professors in related fields.

Ask the library staff if you are having trouble finding information. There are specialist librarians for each area of the library.

.

 

THE LIBRARY CATALOGUES: The university library has several catalogues, which assist you to locate book and non-book material held by the library.

1. Author/Title, if you know the author, title or series.

2. Subject, for relevant material on a given subject, when specific authors or titles are

not known. This catalogue includes books, serials and non-book material, under

such headings as:

CITIES AND TOWNS - Planning - Latin America

GEOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

LATIN AMERICA - Bibliography

LATIN AMERICA - Description and travel

LATIN AMERICA - Economic conditions

UNDERDEVELOPED AREAS

3. Serials, lists all serials (journals, newspapers, annual reports, etc.) held in the

library, with details of which issues the library holds.

 

GUIDES TO REFERENCE BOOKS: will provide an overall view of reference materials in a wide variety of subject fields. Two such bibliographies are:

Walford, A.J. A guide to reference material. London, 1966 (1973)

Winchell, C.M. A guide to reference books. Chicago, 1967.

** first supplement 1865-66

** second supplement 1967-68

** third supplement 1969-70

 

For a more detailed list of reference material in particular subjects, use GUIDES TO THE SUBJECT LITERATURE such as:

Minto, C.S. How to find out in geography; a guide to current books in English.

Oxford, 1966.

which may be found in the subject catalogues under the headings:

GEOGRAPHY - Bibliography

 

DICTIONARIES AND ENCYCLOPEDIAS: provide background information for your topic, and are found via the subject catalogue headings:

GEOGRAPHY - Dictionaries

GEOGRAPHY - Dictionaries and encyclopedias

GEOGRAPHY - Terminology

Monkhouse - Francis John. A dictionary of geography. London, 1970.

World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago, 1970.

Larousse Encyclopedia of World Geography. London, 1964.

International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. New York, 1968.

 

REFERENCES:

Cambridge History of Latin America. 1984. 6 vols. F1410.C1834 1984 Floor 3 - stacks

Caribbean and Central America Databook. 1990. REF D 2155 .X363 1990 Floor 4

Caribbean Basin Databook. REF F2155.C363011992

Central American Fact Book. REF F1439.5B371986

Economic Survey of Latin American and the Caribbean. REF HC161.P2901

Encyclopedia of Latin America. REF F1406.E52

Handbook of Latin America Studies. REF Z1605.H23v.51 and REF Z1605.H23v.52

Latin America. 1994. REF F1408.D251994

Latin America and Caribbean Contemporary Record. REF F1401.L33v.7 1987/88

Latin American Global Studies. REF F1401.G536th

Latin America and the Caribbean. REF Z1601.L32251992

Latin American Politics: A Historical Bibliography. REF Z1609.P64L391984

Reference Material on Latin America in English: The Humanities.

REF A1601.W75 Floor 6

South America, Central America, Caribbean. 1993. REF F1406.5S684th1993

Statistical Abstract of Latin America. REF HA 935 .S8 Floor 4

Latest edition=1989. 1993

Statistical Yearbook for Latin America. REF HA 751 .A58 Floor 4

Latest edition=1988. 1993

Who is Who in Government and Politics in Latin America. 1984. REF F1407.W46

1984 Floor 4

Who is Who in Latin America. REF F1407.W461984

 

DICTIONARIES AND YEARBOOKS:

Dictionary of Geography. REF G63.C5621990

Dictionary of Geography. REF G63.M391992

Dictionary of Latin American and Caribbean Biography. 1971. REF F1407.D5

1971 Floor 4

Political Risk Yearbook-North and Central America. REF FL1416.P6501

Political Risk Yearbook-South America. REF JL1866.P6501

Statistical Yearbook for Latin America and Caribbean. REF HA751.A581992

 

BIBLIOGRAPHIES: are lists of books, films, journal articles, etc. relevant to a subject or person, and may be as wide or as narrow as the compiler deems necessary. Bibliographies may be complete books, which are found under subject catalogue headings such as:

CARTOGRAPHY - Bibliography

CATALOGUES, Subject

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - Bibliography

LATIN AMERICA - Bibliography

LATIN AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS - Bibliography

MAPS - Bibliography

Bibliographies are more often parts of books or journal articles, and are located by using either: BIBLIOGRAPHIC INDEX, or periodical indexes.

Bayitch, A.A.

Latin America and the Caribbean: a bibliography of works in English. 1967.

REF Z1601 .B35 Floor 4

 

A Bibliography of Latin American Bibliographies. 1968.

Supplement 1 - 1971

Supplement 2 - 1979

Supplement 3 - 1982

Supplement 4 - 1987

BIBLIOGRAPHIE CARTOGRAPHIQUE INTERNATIONALE

Delorme, Robert

Latin America: social science information sources. 1981.

Z7165 .L3 D44 Floor 4

Griffin, Charles C., ed.

Latin America: a guide to the historical literature. 1971.

REF Z1601 .G68 Floor 4

Handbook of Latin American Studies. Z 1605 .H23 Floor 4

Bibliography covering social sciences or humanities in alternate years.

Harris, Chauncy Dennison. International list of geographical serials. 2nd rev. ed.

Chicago, 1971.

INTERNATIONAL BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

Latin America, 1979-1983: a social science bibliography. 1984.

REF Z7165 .L3 D439 1984 Floor 4

Latin America, 1983-1987: a social science bibliography. 1988.

REF HC 125 .D42 1988 Floor 4

Latin American Politics: a historical bibliography. 1984.

REF Z1609 P.64 L39 1984 Floor 4

OI COMMITTEE INTERNATIONAL. International development and the human

environment. New York. 1974.

POPULATION INDEX

United States. Library of Congress. Books: subjects; a cumulative list of works

represented by Library of Congress printed cards.

Woods, Richard D.

Reference Materials on Latin America in English: the humanities. 1980.

REF Z1601 .W75 Floor 4

 

PERIODICAL INDEX OR ABSTRACTING JOURNAL: is a single subject index to a large number of journals, it is invaluable because the library catalogue lists cover only journal articles, although particular ones may include reference to books, conferences, seminars, government reports, and films.

A few definitions:

a citation (or reference) consists of author, title of article, title of journal, publishing date and page numbers.

an indexing journal list citations either alphabetically or in subject order.

an abstracting journal adds a short resume of the article, book, etc., to each citation listed.

Multi-disciplinary indexes may be located via the subject catalogue headings:

PERIODICALS - Indexes

PUBLIC AFFAIRS INFORMATION SERVICE (PAIS)

 

Subject-specific indexes are found under such headings as:

ANTHROGEOGRAPHY - Abstracts

BUSINESS PERIODICALS INDEX

EDUCATION INDEX

ENVIRONMENTAL ABSTRACTS

ENVIRONMENTAL INDEX

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY - Indexes

ENVIRONMENTAL PERIODICALS BIBLIOGRAPHY

GEO ABSTRACTS

GEOGRAPHY, Economic - Abstracts

REGIONAL PLANNING - Abstracts

SOCIOLOGICAL ABSTRACTS

SOCIAL SCIENCES - Indexes

SOCIAL SCIENCES CITATION INDEX

 

PERIODICALS/JOURNALS:

Americas.

F1401 .A57 GCL Floor 2 (English edition) Floor 4 (Spanish edition)

The Americas: a quarterly review of Inter-American Cultural History.

E11 .A4

Aztlan: International Journal of Chicano Studies Research.

F1408 .C672

Contents of Periodicals on Latin America.

F1408 .C672

HAHR: The Hispanic American Historical Review.

F1401 .H6601

HAPI: Hispanic American Periodicals Index (1975-1989)

Ref. Z6953.8 .H36 Floor 4

Iberoamericana.

F1408.3 .I24

Journal of Inter-American Studies and World Affairs.

F1401 .J687

Journal of Latin American Studies.

F1401 .J69

 

LADOC (Latin American Documentation)

F1401 .L28

Latin American Perspectives: a journal on capitalism and socialism.

F1401 .L335

Latin American Research Review.

F1401 .L345

North American Congress on Latin America. Report on the Americas.

F1401 .N202

Revista de Historica de America.

F1401 .R44

Third World Quarterly

HC59.7.T458

 

INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS:

ABCPOLSCI A Bibliography of Contents: political science and government

Index table 2

Academic Index INFO-TRAC terminals. Floor 2

America: history & life

Business Periodical Index. Index table 8. IBIS-CD-ROM

Current Contents 1993-,IBIS,use BEHA for Social and Behavioral Sciences

(use CBIB to search all 7 databases at one time)

Dissertation Abstracts (First Search, Beyond)

ERIC (on IBIS) or on CD-ROM

Expanded Academic Index (abstracts-recent years only) Floor 2 terminals

Expanded Academic Index ASAP (full text-recent year only) Floor 2 terminals

Geographical abstracts: Human geography. Index table 9

Geographical abstracts: Physical geography. Index table 9.

HAPI (Hispanic American Periodicals Index) REF Z6953.8.H361993

Historical abstracts: part B twentieth century abstracts. Index table 2

InfoTrac Expanded Academic Index ASAP (full text-recent year only): c, f, g

InfoTrac Expanded Academic Index (abstracts-recent years only): a, b, c

International Political Science Abstracts

Medline (First Search, Basics) (Medical Subject Headings Book on Floor 5 near terminals)

PAIS (Public Affairs Information Sources) Bulletin - 1990. Index table 2

PAIS (Public Affairs Information Sources) International 1991 - Index table 2

Population Index Z7164.D3P83 (current periodical section for recent)

Sage Family Studies Index Area F15

Social Sciences Abstracts

Social Sciences Index. Index table 2. IBIS

Statistical Abstracts of Latin America. REF HA935.S8v30pt1. 1993. also pt. 2

 

LIBRARY COMPUTER SYSTEM (LCS): is a powerful tool to find items in Milner Library and in 27 other academic libraries in Illinois. LCS gives you access to over 13 million bound books and periodicals.

 

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS: generally comprise congressional papers and debates, official and semi-official reports, directories, information booklets and statistics. Many libraries have their own guide to government publications, in addition to such published aids as:

Jackson, Ellen Pauline. Subject guide to major United States, Government publications.

Chicago, 1968.

Boyd, Anne Morris. United States government publications. 3rd rev. ed.

New York, 1994.

O’Hara, Frederic J. Reader in government documents. Washington, 1973.

 

STATISTICAL INFORMATION: is available from international, national and local organizations, usually in serial form. Statistical sources are identified in guides to reference material (e.g. Walford or Winchell) or in guides to locating statistical information, e.g.

Ball, Joyce. Foreign statistical documents. Stanford, CA, 1967.

Burlington, Gillian A. How to find out about statistics. Oxford, 1972.

Wasserman, Paul and others. Statistical sources. 3rd. ed. Michigan, 1971.

which may be located via the subject catalogue heading:

STATISTICS - Bibliography

 

STATISTICAL TABLES:

Showers, Victor. The world in figures. New York, 1973.

STATISTICAL ABSTRACT OF LATIN AMERICA

which may be located via the subject catalogue headings:

CITIES AND TOWNS - Statistics

GEOGRAPHY - Tables, etc.

LATIN AMERICA - Statistics

 

 

Milner Online Guide

 

1. FIRSTSEARCH

Index FirstSearch Subject User Level

ABI/Inform Basics Business and Management topics Undergrad, Grad

 

Agricola Basics Agriculture, Nutrition Undergrad, Grad, Faculty

 

Article First Basics Index for selected journals Undergrad

CINAHL Beyond Nursing, Allied Health Undergrad, Grad, Faculty

 

Diss Beyond Dissertations Grad, Faculty

 

EconLit Beyond Economic Literature Undergrad, Grad

 

EducationAbs Basics Education Undergrad, Grad

 

Environment Beyond Pollution, Conservation Advanced Undergrad,

Grad, Faculty

 

Geobase Beyond Geography, Geology Undergrad, Grad

 

GeoRef Beyond Geology Undergrad, Grad, Faculty

 

GPO Basics U.S. government publications Undergrad, Grad

 

INSPEC Beyond Physics, Computing, Electronics Advanced Undergrad,

Grad, Faculty

 

Medline Basics Medicine, Biochemistry Advanced Undergrad,

Grad, Faculty

 

MicrocompAbs Beyond Computing Undergrad, Grad, Faculty

 

NewsAbs Beyond Newspaper Abstracts Undergrad

PAIS Decade Beyond Public Affairs International Undergrad, Grad

 

PerAbs Basics Periodical Abstracts for Undergrad

selected journals

 

SocioAbs Beyond Sociology Abstract Undergrad, Grad

 

Worldcat Basics Books at libraries nationwide Undergrad, Grad, Faculty

 

 

 

2. IBIS / OVID

Index Subject User Level

Current Contents Life Sciences, Physical Sciences Grad, Faculty

 

ERIC Education Undergrad

PsycInfo Psychological Abstracts Undergrad

Wilson Applied Science Chemistry, Computing, Electronics Undergrad

& Technology Index Environment, Technology

 

Wilson Art Index Agriculture, Biology, Undergrad

Environment, Horticulture

 

Wilson Business Business and management Undergrad

Periodical Index

Wilson General All Science topics Undergrad

Science Index

3. INFOTRAC

Index Subject User Level

Computer Database Computing Undergrad

Expanded Academic Index All Subjects, including Science Undergrad

 

 

4. CD-ROMs

Index Subject User Level

Marcive Government Publications FL 2 Undergrad, Grad

 

National Trade Data Bank World Trade Data FL 2 Undergrad, Grad

 

U.S. Government Periodicals Government relations FL 2 Undergrad, Grad

 

 

5. WORLD WIDE WEB

Name Subject URL User Level

GovBot Web page search from http://cobar.cs.umass. Undergrad, Grad

U.S. government sites edu/ciirdemo/Govbot/

 

The Internet Subject specific access http://www.isleuth.com/ Undergrad, Grad

 

Sleuth to 1500 databases

 

Search.com Subject specific search http://www.search.com/ Undergrad, Grad

of 250 search engines

 

UnCover All Subjects, especially http://uncweb.carl.org/ Undergrad, Grad,

Faculty

 

 

6. MILNER LIBRARY HOME PAGE

Name Subject URL User Level

Resources See internet sites for http://www.mlb.ilstu.edu Undergrad, Grad

 

by Subject specific subject

 

Resources News Media http://www.mlb.ilstu.edu Undergrad, Grad

 

by Type

Resources Online newspapers http://www.mlb.ilstu.edu Undergrad, Grad

 

by Type directory (international)

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