Asian Studies
Collier Library - Pathfinder
ASIAN STUDIES
SCOPE: The purpose of this pathfinder is to introduce some of the resources available in Collier Library in the field of ASIAN STUDIES. The various types of library materials useful in research are described along with some examples of each type. This guide is not a comprehensive listing of sources, but it is intended to be a starting point from which students can begin their research according to their specific needs.
BASIC INTRODUCTION OR OVERVIEW MATERIAL can be found in:
Meyer, Milton Walter. Asia: A Concise History. c1997.
Electronic Book (a link is provided in UNACAT to the online full text of this work)
Murphey, Rhoads. A History of Asia. c1992.
DS 33 .M87
Somers Heidhues, Mary F. Southeast Asia: A Concise History. 2000.
DS 525 .H43
Soucek, Svatopluk. A History of Inner Asia. 2000.
DK 856 .S66
Books in ASIAN STUDIES can be located by using some of the following SUBJECT HEADINGS that appear in UNACAT, a computerized catalog of library holdings.
Highly relevant SUBJECT HEADINGS are:
(Name of country or region or continent)
--BIBLIOGRAPHY
--CIVILIZATION
--DESCRIPTION AND TRAVEL
--ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
--FOREIGN RELATIONS
--HISTORY
--POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
--SOCIAL CONDITIONS
Other SUBJECT HEADINGS can be identified by using:
Library of Congress Subject Headings (annual)
(Located on the dictionary stand in the Reference Room)
BROWSING the following CALL LETTERS may also produce helpful titles:
Library of Congress (2nd Floor)
DS
JQ 1-1849
REFERENCE TOOLS that may be useful in ASIAN STUDIES that are found in the Reference Room include:
LITERATURE GUIDES may provide an evaluative discussion of the methods and materials for doing research in a selected area.
York, Henry E. Political Science: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources. 1990.
Ref JA 71 .Y68
BIBLIOGRAPHIES list books, periodical articles, and/or other materials by subject or by author.
Kurian, George Thomas. Global Data Locator. 1997.
Ref HA 36 .K87
(Guide to international statistical sources.)
Use the following subject heading in the UNACAT to locate bibliographies on individual countries or regions:
(Name of country or region or continent)-BIBLIOGRAPHY
ENCYCLOPEDIA AND DICTIONARIES provide brief definitions or concise overviews of the topic, often followed by lists of further references.
The Encyclopedia of Asian History. 4 vols. 1988.
Ref DS 31 .E53
Encyclopedia of World Cultures: South Asia. 1991-Vol. 3.
Ref GN 307 .E53
Tucker, Spencer C., ed. Encyclopedia of the Korean War. 3 vols. 2000.
Ref DS 918 .E53
__________. Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War. 2000.
Ref DS 557.7 .E53
See Also: Encyclopedias and dictionaries on individual countries.
ALMANACS OR STATISTICAL SOURCES provide miscellaneous bits of facts and data.
Mitchell, B. R. International Historical Statistics: Africa, Asia & Oceania, 1750-2000. c2003.
Ref HA 4675 .M552
Statistical Yearbook (UNESCO). 1999.
Ref AZ 361 .U45
United Nations. Demographic Yearbook. (most recent)
Ref HA 17 .D45
United Nations. Statistical Yearbook. (most recent)
Ref HA 12.5 .U63
The World Almanac and Book of Facts. (annual)
Ref AY 67 .N5 W7
The World Bank. Social Indicators of Development. 1993.
Ref HC 59.69 .S63
World Tables. 1991.
Ref HC 59 .W669
HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS cover broad subjects in a brief, concise manner and may include odd bits of information about a variety of topics. They are also referred to as companions or compendia).
Levinson, David. Ethnic Groups Worldwide: A Ready Reference Handbook. 1998.
(See Part III: Asia and the Pacific)
Electronic Book (a link is provided in UNACAT to the online full text of this work)
The Middle East and South Asia. 1996.
Ref DS 44 .C55
YEARBOOKS cover the happenings of the year in a particular area of interest. Yearbooks may also be called annuals.
The Europa World Year Book. 2 vols. 2005.
Ref JN 1 .E85
The Statesman's Year-Book. 2006.
Ref JA 51 .S7
BIOGRAPHICAL SOURCES contain articles about the lives and works of various individuals.
Biography Index. 1946- (annual)
Periodical Index Section
Biography Resource Center (Online Database)
Current Biography Yearbook. 1940- (annual)
Ref CT 100 .C8
Encyclopedia of World Biography. 17 vols. 1998.
Ref CT 103 .E56
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS are primarily annual reports, studies, and statistics from the various departments and agencies of the government.
U.S. Dept. of State. Background Notes. 3 vols. (Irregular)
Available on the web: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
The World Factbook.
Available on the web: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
An ATLAS is a book of maps or charts that may include either a specific region or the entire world. Atlases may also contain thematic information for the subject region on such topics as climate, geology, vegetation, or population.
Atlas of the World. 1999.
Ref G 1021 .N38 (Atlas Stand)
O'Brien, Patrick K. Atlas of World History. c1999.
Ref G 1030 O85
Ulack, Richard, et al. Atlas of Southeast Asia. c1989.
Ref G 2360 .U4
See Also: atlases on individual countries.
OTHER PERTINENT REFERENCE TOOLS
Kurian, George Thomas. The Illustrated Book of World Rankings. 2001.
Ref HA 155 .K87
Gale Country and World Rankings Reporter. 1995.
Ref HA 154 .G35
The World in Figures. 1988.
Ref HA 161 .W67
INDEXES AND DATABAES that will help locate periodical articles and other papers in ASIAN STUDIES are:
ABI/INFORM Complete (Online Database)
Historical Abstracts (Online Database)
Humanities Index (Print Index: 1974-1989)
INFOTRAC OneFile (Online Database)
JSTOR (Online Database)
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe (Online Database)
Newspaper Source (Online Database)
ProQuest Research Library Complete (Online Database)
Regional Business News (Online Database)
Social Sciences & Humanities Index (Print Index : Apr. 1966-Mar. 1974)
Social Sciences Index (Print Index: 1974/1975-1986/1987)
Sociological Abstracts (Online Database)
A few frequently-used PERIODICALS on ASIAN STUDIES are:
Asian Survey
China Business Review
China Quarterly
Current History
Foreign Affairs
Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies (J-Stor online database has backfiles of this title)
The Journal of Asian Studies
The Journal of Japanese Studies (J-Stor online database has backfiles of this title)
World Politics (J-Stor online database has backfiles of this title)
PERIODICALS held by the library can be identified in the PERIODICALS HOLDINGS database on the library website at http://www.una.edu/library or in UNACAT.
INTERNET SITES - For subject listings of Internet resources, see the following:
Collier Library Web Page at: <
-Internet Resources <http://www.una.edu/library/vref.htm>
-History & Political Science
Virtual Library - Asian Studies (part of the WWW Virtual Library)
http://vlib.org/AsianStudies.html
INTERLIBRARY LOAN - It is possible to borrow books or obtain copies of periodical articles from other libraries if the material is unavailable locally. The material can be requested online by filling in the appropriate forms at: <http://www.una.edu/library/illindex.htm>.
LT/12-05
