Research Guides: General Reference Guide: Background Info: General Reference

Encyclopedias and more

Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
A research starting point for students looking for background information to inform their topic. With millions of articles pulled from hundreds of books, Credo is a general knowledge database providing articles, images, charts, maps and other materials on thousands of topics.
Oxford Very Short Introductions This link opens in a new window
Offer concise introductions (ebooks) to a diverse range of subjects from Climate to Consciousness, Game Theory to Ancient Warfare, Privacy to Islamic History, Economics to Literary Theory.
1-concurrent user.
CQ Researcher Online This link opens in a new window
Comprehensive reports about current issues and news in the United States. Coverage: 1991-present.
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window
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Contextual information and opinions on hundreds of today's hottest social issues.

Search for Encyclopedias, Handbooks, and Dictionaries
A general search, but add a subject word AND search again.

The Oxford English Dictionary
The definitive English language dictionary; includes meanings, histories, and pronunciations. All 20 volumes online.

CIA World Factbook This link opens in a new window
Information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military and transnational issues for most countries.

WolframAlpha
a fundamentally new way to get knowledge and answers, not by searching the web, but by doing dynamic computations based on a vast collection of built-in data, algorithms, and methods.
QuickFacts: US Census
Quick statistical information of each US state and territory.
GapMinder
It uses its videos and data visualization tools to help people better understand statistics and other information about social, economic and environmental development at local, national and global levels.
WorldBank: Countries Data
Overall data on each country of the world

About New Mexico
Info on New Mexico's State Government, State Symbols (e.g. State Question), State Songs, New Mexico History, and Publications (e.g. legal).
NM History - Wikipedia

Encyclopedia of New Mexico (2001)
Call Number: Zimmerman: F794 .E5 2001
Historical encyclopedia of New Mexico (1945) by Davis (ed.)
Call Number: Zimmerman: F796 H5
Hudspeth Directory Company's Albuquerque City Directory (1917-1947)
Call Number: CSWR: F804.A3 A18
Miracle on the Mesa (2006) by William E. Davis
Call Number: Zim: LD3781.N52 D38 2006
Written by former UNM president William 'Bud' Davis, Miracle on the Mesa covers the changes and growth experienced by the University since its founding on February 28, 1889.
New Mexico Historical Review (Journal)
Publication Date: 1926-p
New Mexico Indians, A to Z: Tribes, nations, and People of the Southwest by Hamlin-Wilson, Ricky and, Capace (Eds.)
Call Number: CSWR: E78.N65 N467 2001
The Place Names of New Mexico (1996) by Robert Julyan
Call Number: Zim: F794 J84 1996
An invaluable guide to the state's geography and history. It explains more than 7,000 names of features large and small statewide.
Private land claims in the Southwest (1969) by JJ Bowden
Call Number: CSWR: KF5675 .B6 1969a
Six volumes that include maps, portraits and bibliographical references.
Pueblo nations: Eight centuries of Pueblo Indian history (1992) by Joe S. Sando
Call Number: Zim: E99 P9 S186 1991
Pueblo Nations is the story of a vital and creative culture, of a people sustained by ages-old traditions and beliefs, who have adapted to the radical challenges of the modern world.