Encyclopedia of Global Resources Review
"Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates. General readers."
- CHOICE
“This four-volume set provides a wide variety of perspectives about Earth’s natural resources and explains the interrelationships among resource exploitation, environmentalism, geology, and biology. Allin (political science, Cornell Coll.) presents 576 articles on resources such as oil and tar sands, nations from Argentina to Zimbabwe, government laws and conventions, and historical events. Essays range from 500 to 3000 words, and there are more than 150 charts, tables, and graphs in addition to 200 photos. Of special note are the nearly 200 entries on top mineral-based, biological-based, or energy-related resources, from aluminum to zirconium, and the myriad appendixes that feature an alphabetical and periodic table of elements, as well as a time line, glossary, and comprehensive list of websites. BOTTOM LINE This work’s first edition, Natural Resources, was named an Outstanding Reference Source of 1999 by ALA. With nearly 150 new articles, this edition offers real value and sheds important light on where we derive our mineral and biological resources, how they are processed, what they are used for, and how they fit into the global economy. A rich resource for reference collections in both academic and public libraries.”
-Library Journal
“Notable for authoritative content written at a level accessible to the student and layperson, the Encyclopedia of Global Resources is highly recommended for high-school, college, and public libraries.
Access to the online version is available free to purchasers of the print set.”
-Booklist
“Gr 9 Up–A revision of the publisher’s 1998 Natural Resources, this set adds a volume and 143 new articles (for a total of 581 entries). The frequent graphs, charts, and tables have been updated or replaced, and 110 new items included… the set also covers other resources and events, ideas, technology, people and groups, legislation, and countries. The sometimes complex but always clearly written pieces range in length from approximately 500 to 3000 words and are subdivided using headings such as “Category,” “Where Found,” “Primary Uses,” and “History.” Many of the relatively few black-and-white photographs are token. However, this resource will find uses in ready-reference and for reports on subjects as diverse as chemistry and social studies.”
-School Library Journal, 2010
“The scope of coverage is very broad, encompassing not only minerals and energy sources such as petroleum and coal, but also agricultural crops, domesticated livestock, and alternative energy generators like wind and water. Also covered are significant individuals and organizations as well as major resource-producing countries. The text should be accessible to most high school students and above… All college and university libraries will be well served by this set.”
-ARBA, 2010