Environmental Issues Research Guide

	Environmental Issues Research Guide
Reference Desk (413) 774-1509	Research Guides \| Library Home

Selected Reference Sources

Use reference sources to choose a topic, understand terminology, locate background information, and identify good search terms.

The Environment A to Z, R363.7 H825en
Encyclopedia of Global Change: Environmental Change and Human Society, R363.7 E56gl
American Environmental Leaders: From Colonial Times to the Present, R363.7 B391am
Dictionary of Earth Science, R550.3 M147
The Facts on File Dictionary of Earth Science, R550.3 F142
The Facts on File Dictionary of Biology, R574.03 F142
The Oxford Companion to the Earth, R550.3 O98
(Macmillan) Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences, R550.3 M167
Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather, R551.5 E56c
The Water Encyclopedia, R553.7 V235w
Encyclopedia of Rainforests, R574.52642 J93en
Access Science is a full text science encyclopedia
Science Reference Center also includes reference sources

Finding Books in the Online Catalog

Books accumulate and synthesize information from various sources. Books on the environment can be found in two areas of the collection, in 363 (social problems) and in the 500's (science).

Search the catalog by subject to find the exact location of books on environmental issues such as: deforestation, fossil fuels, nuclear weapons, poaching, wildlife conservation, soil, erosion, consumers, desertification, global warming, water, mining, overpopulation, pollution, or smoking.

Consider all the possible ways to express the topic when searching by subject:

Think of all possible synonyms for search terms
Consider searching a narrower term or phrase (water pollution)
Consider broadening your subject search to find a book with a chapter on your topic
For example, search nuclear weapons to find information on sites or smoking-health aspects to find information on second hand smoke

If a subject search is not successful or the topic consists of multiple concepts, try a keyword search using Boolean logic

Example: wildlife and protection
Pay attention to all related subject headings and collect them
Use them to construct keyword searches

Finding Articles in Research Databases
(go to DA Orgs/Library for off-campus access)

Periodical literature contains the most current information available. In order to search by subject for articles in periodicals, it is necessary to use an index. Research databases are electronic indexes to articles in periodicals and reference books.

Some databases provide the full text of every article indexed, while others provide a combination of citations only and full text. When only a citation is provided, use the Periodical List to determine whether the library owns an article in any format. Use the bibliography or reference list of one good article to identify other articles.

Finding Nature and Science Articles in the Boyden Library

Science Databases

Access Science (full text)
Full text science encyclopedia ( McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology) plus definitions, biographies, news, evaluated websites, study guides, and illustrations and images
CountryWatch (full text)
Provides information on each of the 192 recognized countries of the world including:
CountryReviews--demographic, political, economic, business, cultural and environmental information
CountryWatch Energy Forecast--a 20-year forecast of energy demand, supply, and pricing
Science Reference Center (full text)
Contains full text for hundreds of science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals, and other sources--topics include: biology, chemistry, earth & space science, environmental science, health & medicine, history of science, life science, physics, science & society, science as inquiry, scientists, technology and wildlife
GreenFILE (abstracts + some full text)
A free EBSCO database of bibliographic information and backfiles for certain key journals containing environmental information--also contains key nonscholarly titles

Issues Databases

CQ Researcher (1991-present)(full text)
Online version of a weekly periodical that provides in-depth, non-biased coverage of current issues, including environmental issues--each weekly issue includes a chronology, a pro and con section, and a bibliography--browse by topic and choose Environment and Natural Resources for a list of issues on environmental topics
Opposing Viewpoints (full text) (Tutorial )
Incorporates secondary sources and articles from major newspapers and news magazines to provide coverage of major environmental issues such as pollution, endangered species, population growth, renewable energy, smoking, water pollution, etc.--includes statistics, government data, laws and legislation, political positions, public policies and more
TOPICsearch (full text)
This current events database offers over 100,000 articles from newspapers and periodicals and includes biographies, public opinion polls, book reviews, pamphlets, and government information--try the advanced search and search by subject for environmental topics
Newsbank Special Report: World Environment
"News and reports on important environmental issues and treaties from around the globe, along with special collections of government documents on land and water conservation and global warming"

Other Relevant Databases and Reference Sources

EBSCOhost Web (search several databases at once, or search them individually below)
Science Reference Center, Academic Search Premier, MAS Ultra - School Edition, TOPICsearch (current events), Newspaper Source (full text), Health Source
Academic Search Premier (full text plus citations and abstracts only)
A general academic database that indexes over 8,000 leading publications in all subject areas and provides full text for over 4,000 of those titles
Health Source - Consumer Edition (full text)
Includes over 300 consumer health periodicals, pamphlets, health reference books, patient education fact sheets, drug information, and a medical dictionary
InfoTrac Databases (search several databases at once with this link or search them individually below--includes Opposing Viewpoints and a biography database)
Academic OneFile (full text plus citations and abstracts only) is a general academic database that indexes leading journals and reference sources--includes peer-reviewed articles in all disciplines--includes full text of the New York Times, 1995-present
General OneFile (1980-present)(full text plus citations only)
Indexing, abstracting, full text, and images for newswires, general interest magazines, refereed academic journals, business and technology publications, and more
Expanded Academic (1980-present) (full text plus citations only)
Indexing, abstracting, full text, and images for scholarly or refereed articles in all academic disciplines, including the sciences and medicine
General Reference Center (1980-present) (full text plus citations only)
Indexing, abstracting, full text, and images for articles from general interest periodicals--includes the text of 15 reference sources
Health Reference Center (1980-present)(full text plus citations only)
Indexes journals in medicine, health, and nursing and allied health plus consumer health magazines and reference books
Gale Virtual Reference Library (full text) (Tutorial)
This database of electronic reference sources includes: Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America, Biology, Encyclopedia of Landforms and other Geologic Features, Encyclopedia of Population, World of Earth Science
Encyclopaedia Britannica Online (full text)
Includes the complete encyclopedia plus 300,000 links to websites selected by the editors

Selected Internet Resources
(Websites should always be evaluated for authorship, accuracy, and currency)

Databases on the Internet

"The United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the biodiversity assessment and policy implementation arm of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world's foremost intergovernmental environmental organization"--Includes databases for species information, protected areas, forest information, marine statistics and maps, and national biodiversity profiles
RTK Net (Right to Know Network) Databases: "Provides free access to numerous environmental databases--With the information available on RTK NET, you can identify specific factories and their environmental effects, and assess the people and communities affected"
EPA Databases and Software
Plants Database (USDA)

General Sites

Encyclopedia of Earth is an electronic reference about the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society-articles are written by scholars, professionals, educators, and experts
Science.gov: Provides scientific and technical information through an interagency initiative of 16 U.S. government science organizations within 12 Federal agencies
USGS Fact Sheets (U.S. Geological Survey): Includes resources hazards, environment, water, and links by state
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Topics (provides both a Table of Contents and an alphabetical list): See Where You Live for information on specific communities and Main Research Areas by topic
Environment Sites (from Librarians' Index to the Internet): Includes general sites plus sites by specific topics--all are selected by librarians
GESource (high quality resources on geography and the environment)
Earth Trends: Environmental Information (World Resources Institute): "A comprehensive online database, . . . that focuses on the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world"
Environmental Literacy Council: This site from an independent, non-profit organization provides the tools to help students develop an understanding of the systems of the world plus the skills to weigh scientific evidence and policy choices--Includes links for air & climate, land, water, ecosystems, energy, food, and environment & society
EnviroLink: A non-profit organization " dedicated to providing comprehensive, up-to-date environmental information and news"--Includes resources by topic and interactive maps
CIESIN (Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Cornell U.)
Environmental Inquiry: A website and curriculum series developed at Cornell University to help high school students conduct environmental science research and participate in communities of fellow student scientists
Environmental ResearchWeb: An international forum for discussion of environmental issues and polidy--includes Environmental Research Letters, an open-access journal for environmental science, editorials, research highlights, company information, signed articles by specialists, events, research centers, and more
EE Link (North American Association for Environmental Education)
GLOBE: Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment is a worldwide science and education program coordinating the work of students, teachers, and scientists to monitor the global environment
Earthguide (from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography): An educational website with a focus on earth, environmental, and oceanographic sciences, and global change
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Counsel on Environmental Quality (from the White House)
PopPlanet (from the National Council for Science and the Environment)
World Resources Institute: Research Topics
Global Change Master Directory (earth science data and services)

Specific Sites

AirNow: Quality of Air Means Quality of Life (from the EPA)
Scorecard: the Pollution Information Site
Chemicals in the Environment (fact sheets from the EPA)
Global Warming (from EPA)
Water Resources of the U.S. (from the USGS)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Endangered Species (from EE Link)
Red List of Threatened Species (World Conservation Union)
NatureServe (information about rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems--includes animal, ecology, and plant data)
Smithsonian National Zoological Park: "has a long history and strong commitment to the scientific study and conservation of animals and their habitats throughout the world"
America's Wetlands (from the EPA)
Forest Conservation Portal
Arctic Circle
Take an Arctic Journey (the Wilderness Society): Includes a virtual tour of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge
American Environmental Photographs: 1891-1936 (from the American Memory Collection, Library of Congress)
Conservation and Environment Maps (Library of Congress)
Environmental Health and Toxicology (National Library of Medicine)
National Geophysical Data Center
National Environmental Satellite Date & Information Service (NESDIS)
Energy Information Administration: "a one-stop resource for data on all the major energy sources as well as informaton on historical, current, and future predictions and trends relevant to energy"
NASA Earth Observatory provides Earth satellite images--focus is on Earth's climate and environmental change
Climate Change (from the Science and Development Network--provides information to developing countries)
Environmental Performance Measurement Project (Yale)--tracks "socioeconomic, environmental, and institutional indicators that characterize and influence environmental sustainability"--includes country profiles
WorldMapper provides "equal area cartograms, otherwise known as density-equalising maps" that "re-size each territory according to the variable being mapped"

Publications Online

New Scientist Special Reports on Key Topics in Science and Technology
Climate Change
Endangered Species
Energy and Fuels
World Resources Institute (recent publications--Environmental Stories to Watch, World Resources Annual Reports, and more)
Use the link for Text in PDF for the full text
"World Resources Institute (WRI) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives."

Environmental News and Radio

Earth and Sky: Radio shows on science topics, including environmental issues
Living on Earth: Weekly radio show from National Public Radio
Earthweek: "Earthweek is a syndicated newspaper feature that has highlighted natural phenomenon and man-made events affecting the environment for more than 18 years"
Environmental News Network
Planet Ark: Environmental news

Environmental Organizations