INFORMATION ABOUT COUNTRIES: A Pathfinder

This guide will introduce some of the resources available in the Combined Arms Research Library on COUNTRY STUDIES. Materials covering country studies will provide historical, cultural, demographics, economics and military overviews. For the best collection of online materials, check out our Crisis Planning / Country Studies Page.

ALMANACS

These sources will help locate PERIODICAL ARTICLES — citations, abstracts and fulltext from magazines about consumer issues. The online indexes are available through our Databases Page.

• Information Please Almanac Atlas and Yearbook (Ref. 031.02143)
• World Record of Major Conflict Areas (Ref. 904.7 M968w)
• World Almanac and Book of Facts (Ref. 031.02 W927)

ATLASES & MAPS

Atlases are your best source for maps and site coordinants. Some atlases may include political, social and economic information. The CARL's atlases are shelved in atlas cases and on the reference shelves. Large atlases are in the CARL's oversized collection on the 2nd floor.

• Maps on File (Ref. 912 M297 — Countries studies table)
• Times Atlas of World History (Ref. 911 T583 — Atlas case in reference section)
• Times Atlas of the World (Ref. 912 T583 — Atlas case in reference section)

ENCYCLOPEDIAS AND SPECIALIZED RESOURCES

Besides general encycopedia, overviews and information on international defense forces can be found in the following titles

• CIA World Factbook (Ref. 320.9 W927 — Country studies table)
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (Ref. 903 W927 — Country studies table)
• Europa World Year Book (Ref. 341.184 — Country studies table)
• Statesmans's Yearbook (Ref. 320.9 S797 — Country studies table)
• Military Balance (Ref. 355.033205 M644 — Country studies table)
• Jane's Sentinel (Reference desk and Online)
• Strategic Assessment (Ref. 355.033073 S8988 — Country studies table)

BOOKS

Try your region as well as the name of the country in the CARL's Online Catalog for books. To find the Area Handbook series, use the title keyword search: type country study and the name of the country wanted. e.g. country study nigeria (no puncuation)

INDEXES AND ABSTRACTS

These resources will help locate citations, abstracts, and in some cases, full-text to PERIODICAL ARTICLES covering a country/region, or a specific subject such as current economic status, elections, historical & military overviews, or culture. Also try

• Air University Library's Index to Military Periodicals
• EbscoHost
• FirstSearch
• ProQuest Direct
• Readers Guide to Periodical Literature (1st Floor Reference)

INTERNET

• CARL's Crisis Planning / Country Studies Page
• CARL's Military Databases
• CARL's Links (Some countries in the Current / Topical Category)
• Dept. of State Background Notes

ASK AT THE REFERENCE DESK(S) FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE

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