Content area
Full Text
Keywords
Electronic resources, Reference resources, Country studies, Country information, World cultures
Abstract
Purpose - This paper aims to summarize the quality and usefulness of several online resources, both subscription and free, for finding information on countries of the world.
Design/methodology/approach - The paper describes several free and commercial sources that can be used for conducting research on countries of the world, evaluates them and makes recommendations regarding their use and appropriateness for specific clientele.
Findings - There are many free resources that can be used for locating information on countries of the world, but researchers needing current and in-depth economic and demographic information may need to consult subscription databases.
Research limitations/implications - This paper intentionally limits its analysis to resources that provide basic statistical and narrative information, along with descriptions of culture; online tools for gathering comprehensive data on country economics and demographics have been excluded for purposes of brevity.
Originality/value - This paper offers a comparative overview, survey and analysis of multiple references sources that can be utilized to locate country information, which will be of value to information professionals, as well as information seekers.
Whether one is a soon-to-be world traveler or a student doing a presentation on world cultures, there are copious amounts of free and subscription-based information available on countries of the world. This article will discuss some of the standard, as well as lesser-known, online subscription and free resources. Analysis has been limited to resources that provide basic statistical and narrative information, along with descriptions of cultures. For the purpose of brevity, online tools for gathering comprehensive data on a country's economics and demographics are not included here. Information on cultures of the world, such as their marriage customs, family structure, sports and recreation, is not now freely available, as will be seen below. Libraries supporting advanced programs in political science, business and international relations will, of course, still be best served by also offering access to subscription tools, but the general reader does have options that are free, and libraries that support these patrons have low-cost, yet high-quality options. Of course, very few of the free tools have the features that students have come to expect, such as ready-made citations and the ability to email information. Free resources...