Back to Geography and Planning Resources

Locating Books

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

• Dictionary of Geography, by Susan Mayhew.  New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.  This reference work covers words and terms encountered in both human and physical geography. Each entry provides an initial brief definition followed by a more in-depth explanation. Included also are also key economic and population statistics.  [Ref G 63 M39 1997]

• Dictionary of Human Geography, edited by R.J. Johnston, et al.  Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2000. This includes definitions of terms, concepts, theories, and organizations in the contemporary study of human geography. Includes short bibliographies.  [Ref GF 4 D52 2000]

• Dictionary of Physical Geography, edited by David S.G. Thomas and Andrew Goudie.  Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2000.  Contains over 2,000 entries, covering terms in the field with an international perspective.  [Ref GB 10 D53 2000]

• Encyclopedic Dictionary of Physical Geography, edited by Andrew Goudie, et al.  Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1994.  Includes concise definitions and longer articles on vocabulary and concepts in physical geography. Includes short bibliographies.  [Ref GB 10 E53 1994]

• Houghton Mifflin Dictionary of Geography: Places and Peoples of the World.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.  This dictionary contains about 10,000 brief entries covering geographic place names and the major peoples, ethnic groups, and languages of the world.   [Ref G 63 H68 1997]

• World Geographical Encyclopedia, edited by Sybil P. Parker.  New York: McGraw-Hill, 1995.  This is a five volume illustrated set.  Typical entries include an overview of the natural environment, population, economy, history and culture of the region.  [Ref G 63 E5213 1995]

• Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, Gale Group staff.  Detroit : Gale Group, 2001.  This six volume set contains 200 articles covering 194 countries.  The first volume covers the family of organizations that comprise the United Nations system, and the sixth volume provides biographical profiles of world leaders.  [Ref G 63 W67 2001]

Country Reports

• Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook, edited by Jennifer L. Jackson.  Detroit: Gale Group.  Compiled largely from U.S. Department of State reports, this set contains country entries covering geography, people, history, government, economics, and travel.  [Ref G 122 C67XA]

• Europa World Year Book.  London, England: Europa Publications Limited.  This is a very useful compendium of country facts and statistics.  Each country entry covers recent history, economics, demographics, and a directory of names, addresses and other useful facts about the government and political system.  It also includes a section on intergovernmental organizations.  [Ref  JN 1 E85]

• EarthTrends - From the World Resources Institute. This site contains an online collection of information regarding the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape the world. Data is organized in ten topic areas, with each area containing data tables, maps and country profiles. 

• Economist Intelligence Unit Publications - Licensed database providing electronic access to the University's EIU subscriptions. Content includes Country Reports for 26 countries, covering the political scene, economic policy, domestic economy, sectoral trends, and foreign trade and payments. Also contains Country Profiles for nearly 40 countries which outline each nation's economic and political status and background. On-campus access only.

• LexisNexis Academic - Licensed database of full-text news and legal information. Contains country profiles from the CIA World Factbook and Walden's Country Reports. Select "Reference" under the Search forms heading.

Atlases

• Essential World Atlas.  New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.  [Ref  G 1021 E88 2001]

• Encyclopedic World Atlas: A-Z Country-by-Country Coverage, George Philip & Son.  New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.  [Ref G 1021 G417 2000]

• Hammond Atlas of the World.  Maplewood, NJ: Hammond Incorporated, 2000.  [Ref  G 1021 H2665 2000]

• Times Atlas of the World.  New York: Times Books, 1999.  [Ref G 1021 T55 1999]

• National Geographic Atlas of the World.  Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 1999.  [Ref G 1021 N38 1999]

• Oxford Atlas of the World, George Philip & Son.  New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.  [Ref G 1021 A7545 2000]

• Atlas of World Development, edited by Tim Unwin.  New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1994.  [Ref G 1046 E1 U5 1994]

• The Atlas of Global Change, edited by Lothar Beckel.  New York: Macmillan Library Reference, 1998.  [Ref GE 149 G4813 1998]

• State of China Atlas, Robert Benewick and Stephanie Donald.  London: Penguin Reference, 1999.  [Ref G 2305 B4 1999]

• China: a Provincial Atlas, Chiao-min Hsieh, Jean Kan Hsieh. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1995.  [Ref G 2305 H84 1995]

• Atlas of Eastern Europe in the Twentieth Century, Richard and Ben Crampton.  New York: Routledge, 1996.  [Ref G 2080 C7 1996]

• Atlas of Russia and the Independent Republics, Moshe Brawer. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994.  [Ref G 2110 B7 1994]

• Russian Regions Today: Atlas of the New Federation.  Washington, D.C.: The International Center, 1994. [Ref G 7060 R87X 1994]

• Atlas of South America, Moshe Brawer.  London: Macmillan,1991.  [Ref G 1700 B73X 1991]

• New York Atlas & Gazetteer: Detailed Topographic Maps, DeLorme.  Freeport, ME: DeLorme Mapping Co., 1998.  [Ref G 1250 D4 1998]

Bibliographies and Guides

• Political Geography: a Comprehensive Systematic Bibliography, B.L. Sukhwal and Lilawati Sukhwal.  New York: AMS Press, 1996.  Includes information on books, journals, theses and dissertations in the field of political geography.  [ JC 319 Z999 S85 1996]

• A Geographical Bibliography for American Libraries, edited by Chauncy D. Harris.  Washington, D.C.: Association of American Geographers, 1985.  Entries are arranged by the major field of geography.  [G 116 Z999 G46X 1985]

• The Literature of Geography: a Guide to its Organisation and Use,  by J. Gordon Brewer.  London: Clive Bingley, 1978.  Organized primarily by the format of the information.  Many entries contain a sample page of the source being described.  [G 116 Z999 B74X]

• Bibliography of Geography,  by Chauncy D. Harris.  Chicago: University of Chicago, Dept. of Geography, 1976.  An introduction to general aids for the bibliography of geography.  [H 31 C514 NO.179 206]

• Guide to Information Sources in the Geographical Sciences, edited by Stephen Goddard.  Totowa, N.J. : Barnes & Noble, 1983.  Arranged by major fields of geography, geographical region, and tools for the geographer.  [G 116 Z999 G85X]

Locating Journal Articles

Please note, the databases described in this section can only be accessed from off campus if you are a a registered library borrower .  You must have a SUNY card issued by the University at Albany AND currently be affiliated with the University as faculty, staff or student. 

Sources described below are the most relevant databases for researching topics in geography.  Additional databases can be found by looking at the listing for Geography and Planning, Key Resources. Because research in geography can be multidisciplinary, depending on your topic, you may wish to consult sources covering economics, public affairs, biology or area studies for specific regions.  To identify databases in other subject areas, go to the Database Finder search screen.  Highlight the subject of interest in the “Search By” box and select “Key Resources.”

• Geobase -  Covers worldwide literature on geography, geology, and ecology.  It includes information on over 2000 journals, books, monographs, conference proceedings, and reports, starting in 1980.   

• Social Sciences Abstracts -  Provides indexing and abstracting for international, English-language periodicals in sociology, anthropology, geography, economics, political science, and law, with coverage beginning in 1983.

• Sociological Abstracts -  Covers more than 2500 journals in the field of sociology, including sociological topics in fields such as anthropology, economics, education, medicine, community development, philosophy, demography, political science, and social psychology.

• JSTOR - Includes the electronic backfiles of many social sciences journals, but does not provide access to current issues.

• EBSCO Academic Search Premier - General database covering business, humanities, news, science and social sciences, containing both academic journals and general interest magazines.  Some articles are full-text.

• InfoTrac OneFile - General database which includes refereed academic journals spanning the disciplines and general interest magazines. Some articles are available  full-text.

Biographies

• Geographers Biobibliographical Studies, edited by Patrick H. Armstrong and Geoffrey J. Martin.  New York: Continuum.  This series is a collection of scholarly biographical texts chronicling the lives of those who have made a significant contribution to the field of geography.  The work is international in scope, and includes entries for both famous and obscure individuals. New volumes are published irregularly.  [Ref  G 67 G46X]

• Biographical Dictionary of American Geography in the Twentieth Century, compiled by Gary S. Dunbar.  Baton Rouge: Geoscience Publications, 1996.   Contains brief entries including birth and death dates, place of birth and parents, earned academic degrees, and employment history.  [Ref  G 67 D86 1996]

• Biographical Dictionary of Geography, by Robert P. Larkin and Gary L. Peters.  Westport: Greenwood Press, 1993.  Includes a select list of geographers chosen for their importance to geography and for representation of its subfields. Describes the geographer's life, academic attainment, contribution to geography, brief bibliography, and when available, provides other biographical references.  [Ref G 67 L37 1993]

Statistics and Facts

• American Statistics Index.  Bethesda, MD:  Congressional Information Service, 1973-.   ASI provides references to U.S. government publications containing statistical information.  Most of the documents indexed in ASI are available in the Library in either print or microfiche. [Ref  Z 7554 U5 A46]

• CIA World Factbook - Provides basic information on a country's economy, infrastructure, geography and government.

• Index to International Statistics.  Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Services, 1983-.   This service provides references to statistical publications of international government organizations.  Many of the documents indexed in IIS are available in the University Library in either print or microfiche.  [Ref  HA 154 I53X]

• Library of Congress Country Studies - This series presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world.

• Statistical Abstract of the United States .  Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1878-. An annual publication providing summary statistical information on the social, political, and economic organization of the United States, available in print and online.  [Ref  HA 202; latest issue shelved in ReadyRef]

• Statistical Reference Index. Bethesda, MD: Congressional Information Service, 1980-. Provides references to selected American statistical publications from private and state government sources.  Most of the referenced documents are available in either print or microfiche at the University Library.   [Ref  HA 195 Z999 S78X]