E.P.C.C. Logo

Finding Information on Cities

REFERENCE

Reference books are located on the lower level of the library.
Reference books do not check-out.

Sample Titles:

Encyclopedia Americana. REF AE5.E333
This is a good basic starting point. Articles discuss the people, economy, and history of each major world city. If your city does not have its own listing, look up the name of the state or country.

Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary.
REF GT3925.T46 1997
Use the "Ethnic and Geographic Index" to look up the entry numbers for festivals in cities and countries. Each entry includes a history of the celebration, dates, and contact information (usually the local embassy).

Culturegrams: The Nations around us. REF GT150.C84 vols. 1 - 4
Gives information about language, religion, customs and courtesies, lifestyle (holidays, family life, foods, & other social customs), as well as land, climate and history. This is useful for customs in foreign countries and cities.

 

CIRCULATING COLLECTION

Circulating books and cassettes are located on the upper level.
Books check-out for 3 weeks.
Audio-visual materials check-out for 1 week.

Search the Online Card Catalog (OPAC) for books, videos, C.D.s,
D.V.D.s and audiocassettes that you can check out.


Subject Search

  1. Choose a Subject search.
  2. Type in the name of your city and its country. For example: Paris (France)
    Note: For cities in the U.S., just type in the name of the city.
  3. Look for subheadings such as: Description and Travel, Guidebooks, Pictorial Works, Social Life and Customs.

If your city is not listed, try typing in the name of the country.


Country Series

There are two series of books that have good, relatively recent data on nations and their major cities. They are: Modern World Nations and Cultures of the World.

  1. Choose a Title search (it will search for a series as well).

  2. Type in:

    modern world nations or
    cultures of the world

  3. See if your country is listed.

PERIODICALS - PRINT VERSION

Periodicals include magazines and newspapers. They do not check-out.
New periodicals are located on the lower level, on the back wall.
Older periodicals are located on the lower level at the "Periodicals" counter.


These two magazines have good articles about cities and countries.
They could give you an idea of which city might interest you.


PERIODICALS - ONLINE (ELECTRONIC) VERSION

The online periodical databases are on all the library computers.
You can save to a flashdrive, email your article, or buy a copy card to print.


General OneFile

  1. Choose a "Browse Subjects" Search.

  2. Type in the name of your city and country. For example: Paris, France. For U.S. cities, type in the name of your city and then the state. For example: Seattle, Washington.

  3. Now, look for the "+" sign in front of your city. Click on it.

  4. Look for articles under the subdivisions "Buildings and Facilities," "Description & Travel," "History," "Portrayals," and "Social Aspects."

OPEN WEB

Sign-up at the "Computers" counter on the lower level of the library.
You will need your student I.D. with the current semester sticker, or
a photo ID AND your class schedule.

You can save to a flashdrive, email your article, or buy a copy card to print.


City Search. (Click on "Change city or neighborhood" and type in your city.)
Go to http://www.citysearch.com

The Lonely Planet Guides.
Go to http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/

Fodors.com.
Go to http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/

These sites give information on trip planning, hotels, dining, tourist attractions, health & safety, maps.



Back to Handouts Page

HOME

V. V. Library Home

To El Paso Community College Libraries District Page

To El Paso Community College Home Page

Created October 2, 2003; last updated October 28, 2009

Created and maintained by K. A. Gardner, E.P.C.C. Librarian.

Send Your Comments to: askalib

URL: http://www.epcc.edu/vvlib/Handouts/countries.htm