CURRENT EVENTS
SOURCES/PAMPHLET FILES
Next, you should look at print sources like CQ Researcher, SIRS, Taking Sides, and A Matter of Fact. Also, check out Internet sites that cover current events. For other examples of current events sources and pamphlet files in print, investigate the links shown here.
| Internet | |
- Bartlett's Familiar Quotations Ref PN6081.B27
- Current Biography 1940—present (annual). Ref CT100.C8 (also available on CD-ROM)
- Historic Documents of....1972—present (annual). Ref E839.5.H57
- A Matter of Fact (annual). Ref AI 3 .M38
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (biennial) Ref HD8051.A62
- Statistical Abstract of the U.S. (annual). Ref HA202.U5.
- Texas Almanac (biannual). Ref AY311.G3T5.
- What They Said In....1969—present (annual). Ref D410.W46
- World Almanac (annual). Ref AY67.N5W7.
Note: Most recent copy may be available at the library's reference desk.
Annual Editions. Contains reprints of significant recent articles; topics covered include drugs, society and behavior, economics, environment, marriage and the family, social problems, and state and local issues.
Contemporary Issues Criticism. Contains excerpts from leading social critics.
Contemporary World Issues. Fact-filled resources designed to serve as both one-stop information sources and guides to in-depth exploration. Each volume includes: introduction, overview, facts, documents, chronology, biographical sketches, directory, and selected lists of print and non-print materials.
CQ Researcher. 4 per month. Each report is about 6000 words in length and covers newsworthy subjects and issues. Cumulative index in back of latest volume.
CQ Weekly Report. Weekly summary of U.S. congressional and governmental activities; includes special reports on important issues.
Facts on File. Weekly digest of world news and events.
Global Studies. Each volume provides concise information and current world press articles on the geographic, cultural, economic, political, historical, artistic, and religious dimensions of Africa, China, Latin America, Japan, India, South Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union.
Hot Issues. Easy to read books about a variety of controversial topics. Issues include overviews, backgrounds, causes and effects, outlooks and possible solutions.
Information Plus: Information Series on Current Topics. Each volume gives an excellent summary of the facts and statistics on the topic covered. Topics include gun control, capital punishment, education, crime, domestic violence, abortion, women, homeless, etc.
Issues & Controversies On File. An excellent, ongoing series similar to the CQ Researcher.
Library in a Book. A series of one volume sources of information similar to Contemporary World Issues. Each volume includes history and background, biography, annotated bibliography, and index for major issues covered (abortion, capital punishment, AIDS, etc.).
Life Issues. Easy to read books on problems that often plague individuals in our society. Topics include drug abuse, aids, alcoholism, etc.
A Matter of Fact. Contains full text abstracts of material from the Congressional Record, as well as over 200 newspapers and periodicals on public policy issues in the areas of society, economics, politics, health and environment. Good source of statistics.
National Issues Forum. A series of booklets on important issues published by the Kettering Foundation for use in local and national discussion groups.
Public Issues Handbook. Contains information on 24 issues of concern including aging, capital punishment, housing, unemployment, etc.
Social Issues Resources Series (SIRS). Contains reprints of outstanding articles on current events topics.
Taking Sides. Selected sharply opposed essays with background introduction and summary for each area covered; covers economic, social, educational, political issues, etc.
Vital Speeches of the Day. Each semimonthly issue contains the text of speeches given by notable persons on subjects of current interest and controversy; indexed by Readers’ Guide and cd-rom indexes.
Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents. Contains the text of presidential speeches, news conferences, veto messages, etc.
At Issue. A new series by the Opposing Viewpoints publisher which focuses on recent issues not covered in their other publications. Includes topics like Internet, the jury system, welfare reform, etc.
Congressional Digest. Covers controversial issues in Congress; each issue covers one topic; has its own index, also indexed in Readers’ Guide and cd-rom indexes.
Controversial Issues Index (see under "Special Sources & Files" below).
CQ Researcher. Note the "At Issue" page in each issue; described in "Current Events Sources" above.
Current Controversies. A source for opposing opinions, background information and documents on various controversial issues like sexual harassment, gun control, AIDS, drug trafficking, women in the military, etc.
Editorials on File. Semimonthly selection of about 175 significant editorials reprinted from U.S. and Canadian newspapers.
Ideas in Conflict. Similar to the popular Opposing Viewpoints Series by a different publisher.
Opposing Viewpoints Series. Monographs containing reprints of articles from newspapers, magazines, reports, etc. Each volume covers a major social issue.
Opposing Viewpoints Pamphlets. A series of over 400 pamphlets, each of which contains opinions on a controversial issue in education, crime, religion, genetic engineering, bioethics, politics, economics, sociology, environment, or health. Opinions are reprinted from a variety of mainstream and alternative printed sources.
Pro & Con. Contains a brief statement of the pro and con position on several controversial issues like gun control, creationism, nuclear freeze, etc.
Taking Sides. Selected sharply opposed essays with background introduction and summary for each area covered; covers economic, social, educational, political issues, etc.
Ask at the library’s Reference or Periodals Desk for resources of this sort:
Pamphlet/Clipping File. Separate folders of recent materials on 1000+ topics; an index should be available at the Reference Desk and/or the Periodicals Desk.
Opposing Viewpoints Pamphlets. Each one covers a separate question; ask for a list of titles at the Reference Desk or Periodicals Desk.
Public Affairs Pamphlets. Filed in Pamphlet File by topic; request Pamphlet File Index at the Reference Desk or Periodicals Desk.
Vital Issues. Filed in Pamphlet File by topic; ask for Pamphlet File Index at the Reference Desk or Periodicals Desk.
Map File. Ask the reference librarian for a Bibliography of Maps and Atlases.
Corporate Report File. Annual reports of major local companies and some national; a list should be available at the Reference Desk.
Analytics File. A card file which locates short stories, plays, essays, and critical/biographical sketches in books. Ask a reference librarian for assistance.
Look for facts and statistics at these sites:
** Highly recommended
- ** Statistical Resources on the Web - University of Michigan Documents Center - excellent links to statistical sources for a variety of different subject categories.
- ** Fast Facts - compiled by Gary Price - a list of sites useful for web-based research containing information from almanacs, factbooks, statistical reports and related reference tools.
- Data on the Net - University of California San Diego - Search or browse this collection of 810 Internet sites of numeric Social Science statistical data, data catalogs, data libraries, social science gateways, addresses and more.
- The Current World Fact Book - maintained by the CIA - facts about countries and governments around the world.
- County and City Data Books - maintained by the University of Virginia Library.
- The DataWeb - a network of online data libraries. Includes data from census, economic, health, income and unemployment, population, labor, cancer, crime, transportation, family, etc.
- Government Information Sharing Project - from Oregon State University Information Services.
- Price's List of Lists - prepared and updated by Gary Price, MLIS, at Gelman Library at George Washington University - a collection of lists like "Top Ten..." and "50 Best..." that contain rankings of different people, organizations, companies, etc.
- Stat USA Internet - one-stop browsing for trade, business, and economic information from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
- The Statistical Abstract of the United States - this will require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
CURRENT AND CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS
These sites will cover current and controversial topics:
- The Best Information On The Net - maintained by O'Keefe Library, St. Ambrose University - A Librarian's Guide to the Best Information on the Net - Hot Paper Topics.
- Documents in the News - University of Michigan Documents Center identifies issues archived from 1995 to the present about government making news headlines and web sources with additional information.
- Find Articles.Com - a database from LookSmart of hundreds of thousands of articles from more than 300 magazines and journals, dating back to 1998.
- Google Web Directory -a listing of a variety of social issues, each with links to multiple authoratative sites.
- International Affairs.Com - excellent links to a wide variety of resources addressing matters of international interest from Oxford Analytica.
- The Internet Public Library - Social Sciences Reference.
- Links to the News - resources for researching current topics in the news. Excellent web site from the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. Topics date back to January 1995.
- Multnomah County Library - provides links to web sites for students researching current social issues from multiple perspectives.
- National Issues.com - a non-partisan, issue-oriented research web site that presents summary information on each topic as well as a compilation of experts' views on each of the issues.
- OCLC PAIS Archived Hot Topics - Online Computer Library Catalog (OCLC) Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) is the premier global public policy resource database. It was established in 1914 for the purpose of chronicling the world's public affairs, public and social policies, international relations, and world politics. This site has links to excellent web resources for controversial topics.
- Public Agenda Online - a non partisan, nonprofit public opinion research and citizen education organization with information on major policy issues.
- Speakout.Com (The Policy Community Online) - a comprehensive public policy resource and community. Drawing from its network of policy influentials, Speakout.com showcases leading research, opinions and events shaping public policy on dozens of issues including education, technology and healthcare. Speakout.com is non-partisan and free to users.
- Yahoo Political Issues - multiple links to U.S. government and political issues.
- Yahoo Society and Culture - multiple links to issues and causes.
- Yahoo Top Stories - Full Coverage of the Top Stories of the Day for the
following categories:
| US | World | Sci/Tech | Business | Sports | Entertainment.
For more about searching internet sites for current events topics, see the Internet Sources section of this tutorial.
These Internet sites will locate quotations and their sources.
- Quotez - Over 5,000 quotations arranged into over 500 subjects. Over 800 authors are indexed.
- Bartlett's Familiar Quotations - Passages, phrases, and proverbs traced to their sources.