ENVS 3400: Environmental Policy Guide
Overview
For additional help contact Michele Behr, michele.behr@wmich.edu (387-5611). Mike McDonnell, michael.mcdonnell@wmich.edu the Government Documents librarian, on 2nd floor Waldo (387-5208), is best qualified to provide in-depth help with locating government publications.
Typical ENVS 3400 projects include:
- Case study of a specific recent or ongoing environmental policy issue/controversy.
- Technical evaluation of an environmental policy question.
- Creation of a policy proposal to address an environmental policy question.
Whatever you choose as a project you will need to find out enough about the issue/problem to be able to describe it in context (pointing out where it is similar to and different from comparable cases), discuss the strengths and weaknesses of alternative viewpoints, actions and outcomes surrounding this issue, and make an evaluation (and possibly a recommendation) based on your findings. To do this successfully you need to use reliable information sources. The quality of the information you cite and your ability to present it in context will influence the strength of your argument, and your paper.
Don't just rely on the visible (open to the public) Internet. Some information will be available only via online or print sources that the Library has paid for. Use the suggested indexes below.
Some print materials will be in the library, you may need to order others through interlibrary loan.
The Basics
Searchpath is an online library skills tutorial for WMU students.
See also?Finding Articles and Finding Books.
Books and many government publications from 1976-current can be found by title or keyword searching in WestCat. Additional indexes are available in the Documents Department on the second floor of Waldo Library that the staff at Gov. Docs. will help you with.
Obtaining information from the web using a search engine such as?Google is not recommenced as a primary strategy because of the lack of quality control over what is put on the public Web. If you choose to use the public Web critically evaluate the information for accuracy, currency and bias. Guidance for doing this is available at:
Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages, Bare Bones 101: Evaluating Web Pages and Searchpath Module 5.
Some Suggested Indexes
Because of the range of possible projects topics and the complexity of these issues no single index will be appropriate for everyone, nor is a single index likely to provide all the information needed for any single project. Try several of these indexes and expect the information-gathering process to take time.
ABI/INFORM Global An index of over 1,800 publications with abstracts, and full text from over 700 of these titles, selected from newspapers, trade publications, and journals on business including, for example, administration, economics, computers, finance, human resources, management, and marketing. Full-text of Wall Street Journal articles available from 1984. Otherwise coverage is from 1971 to the present with some older material available. Updated daily. Useful for topics with business implications
Columbia Earthscape This interdisciplinary environmental database provides current environmental and public policy information from research institutions, government agencies, and other organizations. Continuously updated. To access from off campus, please set up a username and password from the Login page while on campus. Includes full-text online.
CQ Researcher Explores a current news issue in-depth each week. Articles typically include an overview and background of the issue, pro-con essays on a question in the issue, a chronology, and lengthy bibliography. Coverage from October 1991 to present.
This subscription is limited to three simultaneous users. Please logout when finished. Topics range from social issues to environment, health, education, science and technology. Full text online.
Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management Multidisciplinary index with abstracts of journals, conference proceedings, reports, books and government publications in the environmental sciences. Coverage: 1967- present. Updated monthly.
- RefWorks Info: Imports checked citations directly into RefWorks.
LexisNexis Environmental Indexes environmental content in journals, conference papers and proceedings, federal and state government reports, newspapers, trade magazines, newsletters, law reviews, administrative codes, case law, regulatory agency decisions, and waste site and hazardous material data. Full text online. For additional coverage in news sources, select Academic (on left side of search screen).
Michigan Newspapers Index to 75 Michigan newspapers including the Kalamazoo Gazette, Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, Grand Rapids Press, and more. Starting coverage dates vary from 1982 to 2007.
PAIS International (Public Affairs Information Service) Indexes articles, books, conference proceedings, government documents, research reports, statistical directories, and more about public affairs worldwide. Coverage is from 1972 and is updated monthly. Citations to published articles with some links to full-text online.
Scopus Scopus is a very large abstract and indexing database primarily covering scholarly literature in science and social science. Use this to get extensive inter-disciplinary access to journal articles and also to find out which articles are being cited by other scholars. Scopus includes 14,000 peer-reviewed titles from more than 4,000 international publishers. Coverage from 1995. Tutorial
- RefWorks Info: Scopus will export marked citations directly into your RefWorks account. (You will be prompted to login.)
Social Sciences Abstracts Indexes over 600 periodicals in anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, feminist studies, geography, human services, international relations, law and criminology, police science, political science, population studies, psychology, public administration, public health, social work, sociology, urban studies, and related social science subjects. Coverage: indexing from 1983 and abstracts from 1994. Updated weekly.
Details Citations to published articles with some links to full-text online.
Web of Science Contains three major databases: (1) Science Citation Index Expanded (1900-present), (2) Social Sciences Citation Index (1956-present), and (3) Arts & Humanities Citation Index (1975-present). Cited Ref. Search allows users to search for articles that cite a particular author or work.  Tutorial
Please LOGOFF when finished, so others may use the database.
RefWorks Info: For Import Filter, choose "ISI (Institute for Scientific Information)". For Database, choose "Web of Science". Both Science Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation Index should be useful for this assignment. Select both these indexes on the opening screen to search them concurrently.
Citations to published articles with a few links to full-text online.
Worldwide Political Science Abstracts An index with abstracts to articles from over 1,100 international journals in political science and related disciplines. Includes book reviews. Based on the Political Science Abstracts from Plenum and ABC POL SCI from ABC-CLIO. Coverage: 1975 to the present. Updated monthly. Citations to published works with some links to full-text online.
Article Indexes by Subject For additional indexes by discipline (for example, medicine, biological sciences, chemistry etc.)
Selected Journals
Environmental Resources - MSU Libraries. A gateway to environmental web-sites, with some on-line publications, compiled by MSU librarian Terry Link.
Global research Gateway - Environmental Science Includes environmental policy related material.
Journal Finder (Find It @ WMU)
Find electronic and print journals available at WMU. Search for a journal title, browse journals by subject or collection, or look for a specific article if you have a citation (CitationLinker).
Generate listings of online Environmental Science journals available at WMU.
National Library for the Environment - Journals. Maintained by the National Council for Science and the Environment as part of its National Library for the Environment.
Government Information
Catalog of United States Government Publications Title or keyword search for government documents 1994-present. Includes links to full-text publications.
EPA Federal Register Environmental Documents Provides access to Federal Register notices that affect environmental protection.
GPO Monthly Catalog (Government Printing Office) An index to US government publications, including reports, hearings, debates, records, judiciary materials, and documents issued by executive departments, such as the Defense, State, Labor, and the Office of the President. Online coverage from 1976 - present. Updated monthly.
Print: Z 1223 .A13 - .A18 (Documents, Ref.) 1895-1995
LexisNexis Congressional Provides access to information about the U S Congress, including: 1) publications from 1789-present (with some full text in the Historical Full Text file); 2) Congressional Information Service Legislative Histories for public laws from 1970-present; 3) testimony from congressional hearings; 4) access to bills; 5) the Congressional Record and Federal Register; and 6) information about members and committees.
LexisNexis Government Periodicals Index Indexes approximately 170 magazines and newsletters published by U.S. government agencies in a great variety of subjects with research value. Links to full text are provided when available. Coverage: 1988-present. Updated quarterly. Includes scientific research projects, educational, financial issues and more.
GAO Reports. Contains all publicly released Government Accountability Office Reports from 1995 to the present, as well as approximately 85% of the publicly released reports for 1994. Full text online.
Guides to Government Information
Ben's Guide to US Government A simple explanation to how the US Government is organized and operates for those who need a refresher course (and non-natives). Includes a helpful glossary.
International, Federal, State and Local Government Information Online. Produced by WMU's Government Documents librarian, this is an access point to many specialized resources.
Tapping the Government Grapevine ZA5055 .U6 R63 1998 (Ref) and as
Locating Government Information
To locate government documents on the library shelves, a Superintendent of Documents number or SuDocs call number is needed. This differs from call numbers used in the rest of the library. (In GPO Monthly it is called a GPO No. or GovDoc number.) When you find the number, write it down in its entirety, with all the punctuation. Call numbers of WMU's Government Monograph collection 1976 - current are included in our WestCat catalog.Before 1976, material in federal documents was indexed only in print indexes, the most important one being the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications (Z1223 .A18 Documents, Ref).
From 1976 forward the material in the federal documents collection is also indexed in:
- The GPO Monthly Catalog
- The MARCIVE GPO CAT/PAC index (CD-ROM Z-4, Documents, Ref).
From 1994 the material in the federal documents collection is also indexed in the Catalog of United States Government Publications. This index includes links to the full text of many publications.
FirstGov is a specialized search engine that searches the .gov and .mil section of the Web.
Google - Uncle Sam is another way of limiting Web searches to .gov and .mil sections.
Government Agencies
Thomas-Legislative Information on the Internet.National Archives and Records Administration. (info. on Federal Regulations, Public Laws, and Presidential Document-Executive Orders, etc.)
EPA Federal Register Environmental Documents.
Michigan Office of the Governor.
State and Local Government on the Net.
Michigan State and Local government on the Web. (includes info. on Great Lakes Environmental Groups)
Environmental Organizations
Center for A New American Dream.International forum on Globalization.
Michigan Environmental Council.
National Environmental Policy Institute.
National Parks Conservation Association.
Natural Resources Defense Council.
Union of Concerned Scientists.
Kalamazoo River, Superfund & PCB's
Kalamazoo River Superfund depository documents are located in Government Documents, Waldo Library (2nd floor) under call numbers starting TD1042.
A risk-management strategy for PCB-contaminated sediments, (2001), National Research Council.
This is an illuminating book with an excellent bibliography. One copy is in general stacks, call number TD 878 .R57 2001 (Waldo, lower level), one copy in permanent reserve and one available online.
Great Lakes Environmental & Molecular Sciences Center
A consolidated resource for scientific, educational and legislative information about the Great Lakes, and the Kalamazoo River.
WMU's Environmental Institute approach to Kalamazoo River gives some useful associated information.Kalamazoo River Superfund Site
This provides links to information about the Superfund process in general and
the Kalamazoo River in particular (last updated April 2001).
Writing Style Guides
Guide to Writing Styles Contains links to many practical examples for formatting citations in APA, Chicago, MLA, Turabian, and other writing styles. Examples include citations to both online or print materials. Call numbers for printed manuals are also given. Ask your instructor which writing style is required for your class assignment.
RefWorks This citation management software allows you to import citations directly from electronic indexes and create and manage your own bibliographies. Use with word processing software to cite and format references easily in a variety of writing styles. You will have to set up an individualized account the first time you use RefWorks. An excellent tutorial is available in RefWorks under Help. Tutorial
University of Memphis Libraries' Brief Guide to Citing Government Publications Provides examples of the elements needed to cite the most common examples of government document citations. Examples are based on the Chicago/Turabian standard bibliographic style. You may need to use a writing style manual to modify the citation to conform to the writing style you are required to use.
Ask A Librarian
Carrie Leatherman
carrie.leatherman@wmich.edu
269-387-5142
Last updated: October 2007