Latin American Studies Reference Sources
Below are some examples of available on-line and printed indexes (note locations). This is not an exhaustive list, but a representative one.
(Bibliographies are lists of readings and sources, usually by subject or area.)
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The G.K. Hall Bibliographic Guide to Latin American Studies
- (Guia Bibliografica Para Los Estudios LatinoAmericanos)
is a large comphrensive annual subject bibliography of materials cataloged by the Benson Latin American Collection (Univ. of Texas) with additional materials from the Library of Congress. Our library subscription for this series started in 1978. The series is no longer published but is still a valuable resource for information published through 2000.
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The Historical Dictionary series
- For many years, utilizing experts in the respective areas, Scarecrow Press has published a series of "Historical Dictionary of ..." particular countries. Search ALICE by keyword for
"Latin American Historical Dictionaries ". These dictionaries are often very encyclopedia-like in content and are quite useful. Recent editions of most of these are kept in the Center for International Collections area, 1st floor, here are two samples.
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- The World Bibliographical Series is published by ABC-Clio Press. Full-text titles for most of this series are also available on NetLibrary. Use a title search with the name of the country.
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If you are interested in a title not listed in NetLibrary try ALICE using a "word search" for World Bibliographical Series and 'name of country' -- searching by title is not reliable.
Biographical Resources
- InfoTree
- The InfoTree's Biography section is a good place to start. Some other Latin America-specific printed sources are listed below.
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- Archivo biográfico de España, Portugal e Iberoamérica, 1960 - 1995
- This is a large microfiche collection (CT1345 .A7 1996x) located in the Microform Department on the First Floor of Alden Library. This series contains more than 172,000 entries on personalities from the Spanish and Portuguese speaking world for the above period of time from approximately 200 biographical reference works. There may be updates.
- This series is part of a larger set produced by K. G. Saur called the World Biographical Information System which contains information on nearly 3 million persons from approximately 4,800 reference works of the 16th thru 20th centuries.
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Here are several specific printed volumes on Latin American biography. All are in the Center for International Collections (CIC), on the first floor of Alden Library.
- Libros en venta
- Libros en venta is a quite comprehensive guide to Spanish-language books for sale, from interfiled sources worldwide. There are several ways to search, upon locating an item you will be directed, or linked, directly to the distributor or publisher. (Spanish or English options).
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- LANIC
- The University of Texis LANIC site offers a listing of booksellers and distributors, including ones based in specific countries.
- InfoTree's listing of News Sources
- A good general list of potential sources, some of which are available only to Ohio University, others are freely available to anyone.
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- LexisNexis Easy News Search
- A huge general database for finding news stories from a wide variety of international and national sources.
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- World News Connection
- A major source for full text translated and English-language news and information from foreign media.
- InfoTree
- Consult InfoTree under "Latin America"
- and then choose a specific country on the right
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- ALICE
- Searching ALICE by the name of a country as 'Subject' will most likely yield too much material, but browsing the Subject Headings might provide some leads. If your topic is more specific (e.g., 'Belize' and 'agriculture' for example) try a Keyword search.
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- CIA World Fact Book
- For a quick reference to a particular country, including a map, the World Fact Book
may prove useful as well as other CIA publications.
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- Country Pages (LANIC)
- TheLatin American Network Information Center (LANIC) which has been cited several times includes a country directory. For each country, links are divided in broad subject categories and lists are quite comprehensive.
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- Economist Intelligence Unit
- The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) produces objective and timely analysis and forecasts of the political, economic and business environment in more than 180 countries, including thirty-eight countries in the Americas. The link above leads to the index page for those reports that we have online. Country Reports provide general information on each nation. The Country Profile consists of information on climate, public holidays, currency, population, major towns, languages, political and historical background, natural resources, health, energy and transport.
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- For earlier printed country reports from EIU try this ALICE title search "country reports," then select country.
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Encyclopedias are a good starting point for any type of research.
The Columbia Encyclopedia On-Line provides succinct coverage of all topics.
The Encyclopedia of Latin American history and culture is a five-volume printed set in the CIC reference area. Call number: 1st floor, F1406 .E53 1996.
Kurian, George Thomas (ed) Encyclopedia of the Third World is one of the old standards. Call number: 6th floor, HC59.7 K87 1987.
There are several encyclopedias available in the CIC reference area on the 1st floor pertaining to specific countries, such as for Mexico, or Cuba. You may wish to browse the F1200 - F3700+ call number range of reference or the sixth floor.
- Library of Congress Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS)
- "The Handbook is a bibliography on Latin America consisting of works selected and annotated by scholars. Edited by the Hispanic Division of the Library of Congress, the multidisciplinary Handbook alternates annually between the social sciences and the humanities. Each year, more than 130 academics from around the world choose over 5,000 works for inclusion in the Handbook. Continuously published since 1935, the Handbook offers Latin Americanists an essential guide to available resources."
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Earlier editions of the Handbook are also available in the printed format and CD-ROM (Check ALICE).
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- CIA World Fact Book
- As mentioned above, for a quick reference to a particular country, including a map, the CIA World Fact
Book site may prove useful.
- InfoTree
- Here is a ready-made search in InfoTree for statistical resources relating to International Studies: "International - Statistical Resources". This should yield a good updated list of potentially useful statistical resources.
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Current National Statistical Compendiums
- These sets of microfilm provide both current and retrospective statistical reports for many countries. Located in Alden Library's Microforms Department on the 1st floor.
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Demographic Yearbook.
- From the United Nations. The most recent editions are at Alden Library's Reference Desk. Call number: Ref. HA 17 D45
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International Population Census Publications.
- Located in Microforms Collection on the 1st floor. Here is a listing of their contents.
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Statistical Abstract of Latin America (SALA)
- Covers 1955 to the present. Call number: Ref. HA 935 S8 (latest edition at Reference Desk)
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- Statistical Yearbook
- From the United Nation. Call number: Ref. HA 12.5 U63 (latest edition at Reference Desk)
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- World Development Report
- From the World Bank. Call number: Ref. HC 59.7 W659 (available online and at the Reference Desk)
There is considerable Latin America-related material located in the Microform Collection on the 1st floor. As you peruse InfoTree or ALICE you will encounter most of these.
Here is a list of larger microform and primary resource sets relating directly to Latin America.
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