Library Resources for Controversial Issues

General Databases

CQ Researcher

The CQ Researcher is an excellent source on the most critical events and controversial subjects of the day. Each of the 44 weekly issues offers a balanced, in-depth analysis of a contemporary topic by a veteran journalist, pro and con arguments by experts, a chronology, and annotated bibliographies to guide additional research. The CQ Researcher reports on important issues in a wide range of areas including social, economic, political, and environmental policy.

Issues & Controversies in American History

The database provides explanations of the most contentious issues in American history, contains essays of opposing points of view, as well as biographies, timelines, background articles, photographs, and maps.

Issues and Controversies

Provides up-to-date, in-depth factual information on a broad range of current issues and controversies.

Interdisciplinary Databases

Academic OneFile

Academic OneFile is a source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's English language journals and reference sources. It has extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature and other subjects, & millions of full text articles available in both PDF and HTML.

Academic Search Premier

mobile version. The world’s largest academic multi-disciplinary database, Academic Search Premier provides full text for nearly 4,650 serials, including full text for more than 3,600 peer-reviewed titles. PDF backfiles to 1975 or further are available for well over one hundred journals, and searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,000 titles.

Reference Books

Taking sides. Clashing views on controversial issues
     Call number: REF H35.T142

This set includes 18 to 20 debates, or issues, per volume that present the pros and cons of many current controversies. Included in each issue is the context and historical background to each debate followed by two opposing viewpoints.

Best Reference Books Online

Alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs 2009

This volume focuses on the social and moral issues surrounding alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. Table of contents: Drugs: a definition -- Alcohol -- Tobacco -- Illicit drugs -- Alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and youth -- Drug treatment -- How alcohol, tobacco, and drug use affect economics and government -- Drug trafficking -- Antidrug effors and their criticisms.

Animal rights 2009

This volume focuses on the social and moral issues surrounding animal rights. Table of contents: The history of human-animal interaction -- The animal rights debate -- Wildlife -- Farm animals -- Research animals -- Animals in sports -- Entertainment animals -- Service animals -- Pets.

Gambling: What's at Stake? 2005

The Information Plus Reference Series compiles all the pertinent data, both current and historical, on a wide variety of contemporary social issues. Designed as ready-reference tools providing key data on social concerns, these books save researchers and students from the cumbersome task of locating the various data in pamphlets, legal journals, congressional reports, newspapers and other sources.

Genetics and Genetic Engineering 2009

Focuses on the social and moral issues surrounding genetics and genetic engineering. Table of contents: The history of genetics -- Understanding genetics -- Genetics and evolution -- Genetics and the environment -- Genetic disorders -- Genetic testing -- The human genome project -- Cloning -- Genetic engineering and biotechnology -- Ethical issues and public opinion.

Gun Control: Restricting Rights or Protecting People? 2005

The Information Plus Reference Series compiles all the pertinent data, both current and historical, on a wide variety of contemporary social issues. Designed as ready-reference tools providing key data on social concerns, these books save researchers and students from the cumbersome task of locating the various data in pamphlets, legal journals, congressional reports, newspapers and other sources.

Illegal Drugs: America's Anguish 2005

The Information Plus Reference Series compiles all the pertinent data, both current and historical, on a wide variety of contemporary social issues. Designed as ready-reference tools providing key data on social concerns, these books save researchers and students from the cumbersome task of locating the various data in pamphlets, legal journals, congressional reports, newspapers and other sources.

Immigration and Illegal Aliens: Burden or Blessing? 2009

Focuses on the social and moral issues surrounding immigration and illegal aliens. Table of contents: Immigration in U.S. history -- Immigration laws and policies since the 1980s -- Current immigration statistics -- The worldwide refugee challenge -- Illegal aliens -- The cost of immigration -- The impact of immigration on the United States in the 21st century -- The United States needs more tolerant immigration laws -- The United States needs tougher immigration laws.

Pop Culture Universe

This database includes more than 250 volumes of reviewed, published material that offer thousands of overviews of pop culture from the 1920's through the present, including TV shows, awards, fads, fashions, and news. Includes images, Decades Pages, Web links and more.

Prisons and Jails: A Deterrent to Crime? 2005

The Information Plus Reference Series compiles all the pertinent data, both current and historical, on a wide variety of contemporary social issues. Designed as ready-reference tools providing key data on social concerns, these books save researchers and students from the cumbersome task of locating the various data in pamphlets, legal journals, congressional reports, newspapers and other sources.

Social Welfare: fighting poverty and homelessness 2009

Focuses on the social and moral issues surrounding America's homeless. Table of contents: Poverty in the United States -- Who are the poor? -- Public programs to fight poverty -- Characteristics of the homeless -- The housing problem -- Dealing with the problem of homelessness -- Health and hunger.

Reference Books Online

Reference Books Online

Complete list of online Reference Books (specialized books, encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.).