Selected Sources of Information on Current Topics
http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/currenttopics.html
Introduction ~
Topic and Opinion Finders ~
Current Events ~
Hybrid Sources
INTRODUCTION
The primary focus of this guide is finding quick information. In practice this means digest sources--reference materials that pull together news, statistics, or plots of novels from many places. This distinguishes them from most of the news sources in Finding the News, a companion to this guide that you may wish to consult. A secondary emphasis is on sources of opposing points of view, the pros and cons of an issue presented in one print publication or online source. In this latest revision, I have retained a few titles that I believe may be useful even though they are no longer current. They are clearly labelled.
TOPIC AND OPINION FINDERS
SEE ALSO Congressional Digest under Current Events
CQ Researcher. Washington: Congressional Quarterly, 1991- . (Formerly Editorial Research Reports, 1946-1990, shelved in Uris 7th level.)
(Find Databases - Library Gateway; 1991-2003 in Uris Reference Current Awareness Sources section)
CQ Researcher is issued weekly on subjects of current interest. Now online only. Divided into several standard sections, each Researcher discusses one major issues of current concern, followed by background and historical developments, and concluding with a discussion of the future, as well as a select bibliography of books, articles, reports, and studies. Every issue also includes a pro-con sidebar and a chronology. The best one-stop source for speech topics and short papers.
Information Series on Current Topics. Wylie, TX: Information Aids, dates vary. (Formerly Information Plus; published in Detroit, MI by Gale Group since 2000.)
(Uris Reference Current Awareness Sources section)
Most useful for statistics on the volume topic. The source for each statistical table is cited. Updated biennially. Volumes recently covered the following subjects [partial list; new topics are added: search Information Series on Current Topics as a Journal Title to see all current titles in this series].
Abortion
AIDS/HIV
Alcohol/Tobacco/Illicit Drugs
American Economy
American Family
Animal Rights
Capital Punishment
Careers & Occupations
Child Abuse
Crime/Prisons/Jails
Death and Dying
Electronic America
Education
Endangered Species
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Energy
Environment
Gambling
Garbage & Other Pollution
Genetics/Genetic Engineering
Growing Old in America
Growing Up in America
Gun Control
Health & Wellness
Health Care System
Homeless in America
Illegal Drugs
Immigration/Illegal Aliens
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Mental Health
Minorities
Nutrition
Prisons & Jails
Profile of the Nation
Recreation/Leisure
Social Welfare
Space Exploration
Sports in America
Transportation
Violent Relationships
Water
Weight in America: Obesity...
Women's Changing Role
World Poverty
Youth Violence, Crime, Gangs
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Issues and Controversies on File. New York: Facts on File, 1995- .
(Uris Ref index tables - Current Awareness Sources)
A CQ Researcher imitator, this title is also weekly. It covers current topics in the CQ Researcher style. Print only.
CURRENT EVENTS
Congressional Digest. Washington: Congressional Digest, 1922- .
(Not in Reference. Current issues in Current Periodicals room. Olin JK 1 .C655 ++; also Law KF 4935 .A15 C74)
A monthly pro-con source that features opinion essays on both sides of current issues before Congress written by Representatives and Senators (or, more likely, their staffs). Excellent summary and background essays introduce each topic. Indexed in ProQuest Research Library; use Advanced Search and select Publication title from the drop-down menu to restrict your search to this title.
CQ Weekly. Washington:
Congressional Quarterly, online 1983- , print 1946 - .
(Find Databases - Library Gateway; print version, Olin Ref + JK 1 .C661; also Uris Ref)
CQ Weekly provides news summaries of congressional legislation, commission
reports, presidential talks and appointments, and even information about birth
dates, religious affiliation and occupation of senators and representatives. One
of the best and most current of all publications dealing with government action.
Covers Congress in depth, but also includes information on the executive and judicial
branches of government. Quarterly indexes cumulate annually and provide access
by subject. There are also special indexes for lobby registrations, Presidential
texts, Committee roll call votes, etc.
Facts on File. New York: Facts on File, 1940- .
(Olin D 410 .F14 +, last 5 volumes in Ref)
A longstanding weekly news digest service. Coverage emphasizes the U. S.
Keesing's Online: Keesing's Record of World Events. 1960 to date; print version, 1940/43 to date.
(Find Databases - Library Gateway; print version: Olin D 410 .K26 +, last 5 volumes in Ref)
Keesing's Online is the web-based version of Keesing's Record of World Events (1987- , Olin + D 410 .K26) and Keesing's Contemporary Archives (1940-1986, Olin + D 410 .K26). An authoritative monthly digest of worldwide political, diplomatic and economic affairs. Balanced worldwide coverage.
National Journal. 1969 to date. (Olin Ref + JK 1 .N27; also online -- see below)
Weekly issues review actions and events throughout the Federal Government, including the White House, Federal departments and agencies, Congress, and the Courts.
National Journal Group's Policy Central.
Updates on everything political. Provides direct links to the full text of National Journal publications such as National Journal, Almanac of American Politics, Congress Daily, Technology Daily, American Health Line, The Hotline, Markup Reports, Poll Track, Ad Spotlight ("Explore political and issue television ads with streaming audio or video"), Campaigns (updates on forthcoming elections), and a lot more.
Regional Services
Looseleaf or online services that track the breaking news in the geographical area covered.
Africa Research Bulletin: Economic, Financial, and Technical Series. Oxford, England: Blackwell, 1992 to date.
(online, 1997- ; print, 1964- [Olin DT 1 .A2364 +; latest volume in Reference])
Africa News Bulletin: Political, Social, and Cultural Series. Oxford, England: Blackwell, 1992 to date.
(online, 1997- ; print, 1964- [Olin DT 1 .A2365 +; latest volume in Reference])
African Chronicle: A Fortnightly Record on Governance, Economy, Development, Human Rights, and Environment. New Delhi: C.P. Chacko on behalf of Asian News Chroniclers, 2000 to date. (Previous title: African Recorder, 1962-1995, incomplete)
(African Chronicle: Africana Reference DT 1 .A2281; African Recorder: Olin + DT 1 .A2513)
Asian News Digest: A Weekly Record on Governance, Economy, Development, Human Rights, and Environment. New Delhi: C P Chacko, 1955- .
(Kroch Severinghaus Reading Room: DS 1 .A7671; latest 2 volumes in Severinghaus)
Canadian News Facts. Toronto, Marpep Pub., 16 Jan. 1967 - 2001. NO LONGER CURRENT
(Not in Reference. Olin F 1001 .C219 +)
Euro|topics [European press review]. [Berlin]: Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung), 2005- .
(Online only)
Special Topics
Full-text searchable collections of publications covering news and opinion for the area covered: alternative press publications, ethnic publications, gender-related publications.
Alt-PressWatch
(Find Databases - Library Gateway)
Full-text database of selected newspapers, magazines, and journals of the alternative and independent press. Basic or advanced subject searching takes you to in-depth articles on contemporary society, including coverage of the peace movement, ecology and the environment, labor, indigenous peoples, public policy, and grassroots organizing. This coverage of diverse points of view and perspectives complements the reporting in the mainstream press.
Ethnic News Watch
(Find Databases - Library Gateway)
Full-text articles from ethnic and minority press in America. In English and Spanish.
GenderWatch
(Find Databases - Library Gateway)
Full-text database of publications that focus on gender across a broad spectrum of subject areas. Coverage of subjects central to women's lives, including family, childbirth, birth control, daycare, domestic abuse, work and the workplace, sexual harassment, aging, aging parents, body image, eating disorders and social and societal roles.
HYBRID SOURCES
- Literature Resource Center Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 1999- .
- (Find Databases - Library Gateway)
- A complete literature database combining current and historical biographical, bibliographical, and
contextual information on authors and their works (fiction, nonfiction, poetry,
drama, history, and journalism). Draws from Gale Group's core literary databases
including Contemporary Authors, Dictionary of Literary Biography
[DLB], and Contemporary Literary Criticism. Provides additional search
capability for Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature and Gale
Literary Index. Many essays from the DLB include summaries of the author's
major works.
Last updated 15 May 2008
Michael Engle
Reference Department
URL: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/currenttopics.html
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