1. Country Information (http://library.uncwil.edu/is/Countries.htm)- guide from Randall Library (Africa, Asia, Developing Countries, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East)

Background Information On Countries

• Background Notes. State Department US Documents S 1.123: (also a file on the NTDB)
  available online Background Notes .
• Country Commercial Guides . (State Department) 
• Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade . (State Department)
• Country Studies/Area Handbooks . (Library of Congress)
• Culturgrams: The Nations Around Us.  Ref GT150. C85 1995 (2 vols.)
• Dun & Bradstreet's Guide to Doing Business Around the World.  Ref HF1416. M78 1997
• Europa World Year Book. Ref JN1 .E85
• Exporters' Encyclopedia. Ref HF3011 .E9
• International Business Practices list of informational reports on business practices, business protocols and etiquette by country.
• Portrait of the Regions. Ref HA1107.5 .P67 1993 (European Economic Community)
• Statesman's Year-Book. Ready Ref JA51 .S7. Earlier editions in the Reference Collection.
• World Economic and Business Review. Ref HC10 .W7975 1991
• World Factbook (CIA). Also Ref G122 .U56. (also a file on the NTDB) Earlier editions, US Documents PrEx3.15:

2. Resources for Economic, Customer and Industry Information

• Country Commercial Guides:  Annual publications prepared by U.S. Embassies with assistance from a variety of government agencies.  The reports provide an expansive look at countries' commercial environments, using economic, political and market analysis.  They are available via the internet from the U.S. State department at http://www.state.gov/www/about_state/business/com_guides and available through Export.gov at http://www.usatrade.gov/website/ccg.nsf.  They are also available through Stat-USA.

• Country Studies/Area Handbooks:  The Country Studies collection presents descriptions and analysis of the "historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of counties throughout the world and examines the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors."  The original series was designed to provide information on lesser known areas of the world.  As a result the series is not all-inclusive.  Over 100 countries are covered but Canada, France, the United Kingdom, other Western nations, and a number of African nations are not covered.  They are available through the internet from http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html or http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

• World Fact Book:  The World Fact Book is published by the Central Intelligence Agency from information gathered by the organization.  It provides a wealth of demographic, social, and economic information on each country.  Use the field Listing link at the top of the page to help you locate what information is available in what section of the report.  It is available online from the CIA website at http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/.  A print copy is located in the Reference Collection under the call number Ref G122.U56

Adapted from: Tims, Betty J. and Vaughan C. Judd. "International Marketing and Electronic Government Sources: A Collaborative Research Strategy Workshop." Reference Services Review 29 (2): Summer 2001, pp.157-164.

3. Databases for Cultural Information

Anthropological Index Online	Citations to anthropology articles with search engine. (1957-current)
Anthropological Literature	Citations to anthropology and archaeology, some art history, demography, economics, psychology, and religious studies. (19th cen.-current)
LeisureTourism.com	Leisuretourism.com abstracts database brings together an archive of worldwide information for all those interested in the research and strategic development of leisure, recreation, sport, tourism and hospitality activities, facilities, products and services (1974 to the present).

Last Update: December 12, 2005