Representative Reference Sources for Geography
When searching for information, its best to start by establishing a basic understanding of the terms and concepts in the field. Reference works such as gazetteers, atlases, and encyclopedias are great sources for this type of information. Some of these materials are located on the shelves, while the larger atlases/maps are located in the maps case by the reference desk.
A-Z of the Countries of the World R 910.3 S782a 2004
Encyclopedia in nature, this resource provides the basic statistics and a short overview (dealing with the history, economic conditions, etc) of numerous countries.
Atlas of the World R 912 N277n 2005
Produced by National Geographic, this source contains maps, grouped by continent, along with specialty maps presenting concepts like population density or climate zones.
Cambridge Gazetteer of the United States and Canada R 910.3 C178 1995
This gazetteer, or dictionary of places, provides information, or “definitions” of towns, cities, rivers, mountains, etc. in the US and Canada. It also contains some maps of these areas.
Census Atlas of the United States R 304.6 U58c 2007
Converts census data to coded maps and graphs representing population distribution, education, work, income, housing, and other topics analyzing the US population.
Encyclopedia Britannica Online
An online version of the popular print encyclopedia, it is a great source for basic information in multiple subject areas.
Rand McNally Historical Atlas of the World R 911 R187 1981
Each map in this atlas corresponds with a major event or civilization, like the colonization of North America. There is also a short article that discusses the represented event.
Satellite Atlas of the World R 912 S253 2005
These amazing satellite images represent places from all continents, excluding Antarctica. Some have had their colors altered to highlight important geographic characteristics.
Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World R 912 T583 2008
Up to date maps of the world. Topographical and political maps are included.
Virginia Atlas and Gazetteer R 912.755 V8172 1999
Contains detailed maps of the entire state along with information and statistics on its cities and other places.
Finding Books and Other items in the Library
To find books and other resources on geography in our collection, it is best to start by going to the ALEX online catalog and searching by subject. If a subject search is not successful, searching by keyword broadens your search and retrieves more information.
To browse by call number:
· 910 Geography & travel
· 911 Historical geography
· 912 Graphic representations of earth
*The library also has a collection of USGS maps (current and historical) dealing with Virginia and the surrounding states. Please ask a librarian for assistance in finding and using these materials.
Resources for Finding Articles on Geography
For the latest information from authoritative sources, use scholarly journals. Online library databases like Academic Search Complete and JSTOR are examples of general databases that contain information from multiple disciplines. The following databases are other examples, typically more specific in nature, that contain information concerning this discipline.
Country Studies
Produced by the government, this resource was meant to assist officials traveling overseas. It is very selective in nature, so not all countries are listed, and the data is only current up to 1998.
GeoBase
This database allows you to search through international literature dealing with geography, geology, and ecology.
GPO Monthly
GPO Monthly provides full-text access to US government publication, searchable by keyword, title, or author.
Oxford Reference Online
A Combination of many of Oxford’s reference resources, this database includes A Dictionary of Geography and World Maps.
World Almanac
Contains up to date information from World Almanac and Books of Facts, and full-text of these resources since 1999. Accessed through standard keyword searching.
Journal Finder
If you are having trouble finding the full text of a journal, Journal Finder can help point you towards the right database.
Web Resources in Geography
There are a great many web resources that could be helpful; the following are only a few examples. For additional resources in this area, check out the library's delicious page of websites.
CIA World Fact Book
Provides up to date information in its country profiles, along with a number of reference maps.
Earth Science World
The image bank located at this site, and provided by the American Geological Institute, contains images from all parts of the world. They are searchable by keyword or are categorized by topic.
Geography Network
A combination of data and resources from a number of geographic information users and providers.
NASA Earth Observatory
Displays images from NASA satellites illustrating climate change, natural disasters, and the wonderful features of Planet Earth. Featured articles and other scientific writings help to explain just want you are looking at, and its ramifications.
NOAA Office of Coastal Survey – Historical Map and Chart Collection
Along with current and historical coastal maps, this site also contains items like historical city maps and topographical surveys.
Royal Geographic Society
The society is one of the premiere organizations concerned with geography. This site provides information on current issues in geography, along with links to other recommended resources.
Science.gov
Provides links to U.S. government agencies related to the sciences. The websites are arranged by topics, including Mapping and Cartography.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.