Country Studies Topic Guide
Welcome
This guide is intended to connect you to our library resources and reliable websites to assist you in your research. Click on the tabs above for information on how to find books, articles, streaming videos, citation assistance, and more. Contact your campus library with any questions.
Books
Library Catalog
Find books, DVDs, government documents, and more from any of the 5 CAC Libraries and all of the Pinal County Public Libraries.
If the book you want is at a different campus or one of the public libraries, hit the request button and enter your login information. Your barcode is found on your ID (not your 880 number) and your password is the last 4 numbers of your phone number.
Your student or staff ID is your library card. Twenty items can be checked out at one time, books for 3 weeks and DVDs for 10 days.
Use the call number to find items on the shelf.
*Articles, eBooks, and streaming videos accessed through our databases are available only to CAC students, faculty, and staff. For this reason, authorized users who are off-campus must log in through Blackboard. Once in Blackboard, select CAC Library Page under Your Institution or Student Library Resources under Organizations, then select Databases: Articles, eBooks, and Streaming Videos.
- D – World History and History of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Etc.
- G – Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
- J – Political Science
- JL – Political institutions and public administration (Canada, Latin America, etc.)
- JN – Political institutions and public administration (Europe)
- JQ – Political institutions and public administration (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.)
- JZ – International relations
- K – Law
- KD-KDK – United Kingdom and Ireland
- KE – Canada
- KG – Latin America – Mexico and Central America – West Indies. Caribbean area
- KH – South America
- KJ-KKZ – Europe
- KL-KWX – Asia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Area, and Antarctica
- KZ – Law of nations
- L – Education
- LE – Individual institutions – America (except United States)
- LF – Individual institutions – Europe
- LG – Individual institutions – Asia, Africa, Indian Ocean Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands
- P – Language and Literature
WorldCat
Lists materials from libraries worldwide and can be checked out through InterLibrary Loan. Come and speak to a library staff member to request books.
eBooks*
eBook Collection (EBSCO)
Search by keyword(s) in this growing collection of books covering a wide range of topics.
Gale eBooks
Complete, full-text eBooks covering most topics including subject-specific encyclopedias. Search by keyword(s) such as a country name, or select Nation and World under Browse Collections.
- Worldmark Encyclopedia of Nations (2012) Information on the nations of the world, including details on each country’s climate, political situation, economy, and population.
- Encyclopedia of Environment and Society (2007) Information about issues, concepts, theories, examples, problems, and policies.
- Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (2009) Covers cultural groups in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa. Each volume is organized by continent, covering history, politics, customs, religion, education, human rights issues, teen life.
- Encyclopedia of Anthropology (2006) This 5-volume encyclopedia has over 1000 entries that focus on topics in physical/ biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural/social anthropology, linguistics, and applied anthropology.
Instructional Videos
Here are some instructional videos on using your library account online and access the library’s eBooks. You can view more of our instructional videos on our YouTube page.
Journal Articles*
Academic OneFile
In addition to using search terms in a keyword search, you can click on Subject Guide Search and enter a country name as your search term. Click on the link for Subdivisions to find articles on specific topics within the overall subject of that country or click on Related Subjects to find broader, narrower, and related terms.
OmniFile
Access journal articles by entering your keyword(s) into the Search box. OmniFile also lets you search by subject. Click the Advanced Search link and select SU Subject from the drop-down Select a Field (optional) menu to the right of the search box.
*Articles, eBooks, and streaming videos accessed through our databases are available only to CAC students, faculty, and staff. For this reason, authorized users who are off-campus must log in through Blackboard. Once in Blackboard, select CAC Library Page under Your Institution or Student Library Resources under Organizations, then select Databases: Articles, eBooks, and Streaming Videos.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Enter the country name or your term as a keyword search.
Gale Power Search
Search all available Gale databases and modules from just one place or select specific ones to search, such as Diversity Studies Collection and World Scholar: Latin America and the Caribbean. Search by keyword(s).
Global Issues in Context
Journal, magazine, and newspaper articles covering a range of global issues. From the home screen, enter your country name in the search box. Scroll down to the reference sources section and select it to find resources. You can also search for cultures, peoples, tribes or ethnic groups using the search box.
Streaming Videos*
Films on Demand
Find full length streaming video by entering a keyword in the Search box. Click on the triple bar symbol to find the subject Area Studies under View All Subjects.
Magazines
Discover
Discover is a science magazine containing scientific news and current events, with topics that include technology, space, environment, health, and medicine.
Suggested Search Terms
Search by country name. Narrow your search with an advanced search for 2 terms such as the country name + history, folklore, customs, politics, foreign relations, economic conditions, social conditions, etc.
Instructional Videos
Here are some instructional videos on using library databases. You can view more of our instructional videos on our YouTube page.
Websites
BBC News: Country Profiles
Provides a brief overview about the country, including information on its leaders and media, as well as a chronology of key events and links to current news stories.
CIA World Factbook
Country profiles include information about the country’s geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues.
Library of Congress Country Studies
Comprehensive overviews of countries, including historical information.
Here are some helpful and reliable websites. Remember that anyone can put information online so it is always important to verify that what you find is accurate and unbiased.
MLA 9th ed.
Books
Last Name, First Name, and First Name Last Name. Title of Book. Edition if needed, Publisher, Publication Date.
Example:
Haenfler, Ross. Goths, Gamers, and Grrrls: Deviance and Youth Subculture. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2016.
Journal Articles from a Library Database
Last Name, First Name. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal, Volume, Issue, Publication Date, Page Range (p. for 1 page, pp. for multiple). Title of Container, URL (without the https://).
Example:
McDermott, Jim. “My Inner Zombie: Living with ‘The Walking Dead.” America, vol. 213, no. 12, 26 Oct. 2015, p. 29. Academic OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA436232268&v=2.1&u=cazc_main&it=r&p=AONE&sw=
w&asid=259323757322497d07e6671fa5267b47.
Here are handouts with additional examples and further assistance can also be found on our Citation Guide.
APA 7th ed.
Books and eBooks
Author, A. A., Second, B. B., & Third, C. C. (Year of publication). Title of book: Capital letter also for subtitle. Publisher. DOI or URL if available.
Example:
Wilson, F. (1998). The hand: How its use shapes the brain, language, and human culture. Pantheon.
Print and Electronic Journal Article
Author(s), A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year of Publication). Title of article. Title of Journal, volume number(issue number), pages. DOI or URL if available.
Example:
Craner, P. M. (1991). New tool for an ancient art: The computer and music. Computers and the Humanities, 25(3), 303-313.
Here are handouts with additional examples and further assistance can also be found on our Citation Guide.
RefWorks
RefWorks is an easy to use citation manager that can help you…
- Access and manage research information online, from any browser.
- Import references from CAC Library databases and websites.
- Generate and format bibliographies in virtually any style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) in seconds.
RefWorks is offered free to all CAC students and you can set up your account any time you are ready. Simply follow the link below and create your account using your campus e-mail address. After you create your account, RefWorks offers an easy tutorial when you get started. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact a Librarian or the Learning Center staff with any other questions you might have.
New Account Set Up
RefWorks Login
