LibGuides: Environment & Society: Reference sources

What are reference sources?

Reference sources are resources used to locate basic information and secondary literature.

There are many types of reference sources, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, handbooks, guides, and style manuals.

They are a fantastic places to begin your research, especially if you are exploring a new topic.

Reference sources can help you to:

define your topic in general terms
find background information, including themes and key points
identify keywords and alternative terms for conceptualising your subject, and for database searching.

Dictionaries

Desktop access to an authoritative and comprehensive reference collection combining access to in-depth scholarly resources offered by titles in the Oxford Companions series, together with quick reference coverage using over 120 key Oxford dictionaries and reference works.

A Dictionary of Climate Change and the Environment by R. Quentin Grafton; Harry W. Nelson; N. Ross Lambie; Paul R. Wyrwoll
Call Number: CHIFLEY - HC79.E5 G685 2013
Publication Date: 2013
A Dictionary of Climate Change and the Environment bridges the gap between the many disciplines encompassing climate change, environmental economics, environmental sciences, and environmental studies.
A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation by Michael Allaby; Chris Park
Call Number: View online [ANU staff and students only]
Publication Date: 2013
Thoroughly revised and updated to include the latest research in the field, A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation provides over 9,000 A to Z entries on scientific and social aspects of the environment - its key thinkers, treaties, movements, organizations, concepts, and theories.Covering subjects such as sustainable development, biodiversity, and environmental ethics, it is at the cutting edge of environmental and conservation studies.This is the ideal reference for students studying these subjects and anyone with an interest in environment and conservation.

Encyclopaedias

The Oxford encyclopedia of climate change communication by Matthew C. Nisbet (Editor); Mike S. Schäfer (Other); et al...
Call Number: View online [ANU staff and students only]
Publication Date: 2018
Through a comprehensive collection of articles, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Climate Change Communication explores the origin and evolution of our understanding of climate change as it is presented in communication and media.
Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change by S. George Philander (Editor)
Call Number: View online [ANU staff and students only]
Publication Date: 2008
The impact of global warming is rapidly evolving. This valuable resource provides an excellent historical overview and framework of this topic and serves as a general resource for geography, oceanography, biology, climatology, history, and many other subjects.

Handbooks and guides

Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation by Chen, Seiner, Suzuki & Lackner (Eds.)
Call Number: View online [ANU staff and students only]
Publication Date: 2012
The book is divided into the following sections: Scientific Evidence of Climate Change and Societal Issues, Impacts of Climate Change, Energy Conservation, Alternative Energies, Advanced Combustion, Advanced Technologies, and Education and Outreach.
Handbook of Environmental Protection and Enforcement by Andrew Farmer
Call Number: TD194.7 .F47 2007
Publication Date: 2007
Environmental Enforcement Authorities (EEAs), sometimes called Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs), are the regulatory, monitoring and enforcement agencies of national, state/provincial and local governments worldwide responsible for implementing, monitoring and enforcing environmental legislation.