Temple University Libraries recently began electronic subscriptions to titles from the CQ Press. This gives the Temple community access to substantial resources on American government, politics, history, public policy, and current affairs. One of the sources of particular note is CQ Researcher, a weekly publication that focuses on a balanced presentation of one specific topic per week that follows the format of sections covering: Introduction to the issue, History of the issue, Recent events surrounding the issue, Where the issue is headed, Maps, graphs, tables, charts, Issue time line, Statements from representatives of opposing positions, Works cited, Readings for further research, Organizations concerned, and Notes on sources. It makes for an ideal starting point for forming opinions and beginning research, particularly on controversial issues and public policy. Recent topics have been: Philanthropy in America (12/08/2006)
The New Environmentalism (12/01/2006)
Privacy in Peril (11/17/2006)
Video Games (11/10/2006)
Understanding Islam (11/03/2006)
Middle East Tensions (10/27/2006)
Ecotourism (10/20/2006)
Caring for the Elderly (10/13/2006) In addition to CQ Researcher, Temple is subscribed to the titles that make up the Political Reference Suite through a common interface that is easy to navigate. The site describes these resources at:

“CQ Congress and the Nation is the signature resource for perspective and analysis of the U.S. Congress. It is the authoritative reference on Congressional trends, actions, and controversies.

CQ Historic Documents Series Online Edition collects more than 2,500 primary sources covering current events around the world from 1972 to present and provides a clear, logical organization and tools for exploring these rich resources. Comprehensive country profiles chronicling national history, government, and political parties, as well as profiles on intergovernmental organizations, development banks, and the agencies and specialized bodies of the United Nations. CQ’s Politics in America has been called “the ultimate insider’s guide to politics” and is an essential resource for readers who want authoritative information on the members of Congress. Explore the actions and opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court with clear and in-depth analysis of every decision made by the nation’s highest court since the 1989-1990 term. CQ’s Vital Statistics on American Politics is a powerful tool for researching statistical data on politics on the United States. Washington Information Directory Online Edition is the one resource you can trust to navigate the complicated web of official Washington. It’s your one-stop source for the right information.”

Feel free to contact me for further information about using these resources. –Rick Lezenby
Librarian Subject Specialist for Political Science
rlfile@temple.edu
215-204-4571