Encyclopedia of Global Resources

In step with current popular, academic, and governmental concern that tries to see natural resources with a wide view and a long view, this four-volume reference for students and general readers offers 575 essays on pertinent topics. Based on a three-volume reference published in 1998 titled Encyclopedia of Natural Resources, this expanded work includes both broad topical entries and more narrow entries, with length varying from 500 words to about 3,000 words. Arrangement is alphabetical. Indexing in the final volume is by subject and also by category. These categories give a sense of the broad scope: countries (40 entries for individual countries); biological resources; energy resources; environment, conservation, and resource management; geological processes and formations; government and resources; laws and conventions; mineral and other nonliving resources; obtaining and using resources (e.g. clear-cutting, dams, dynamite, freeze-drying of food); organizations, agencies, and programs; people; plant and animal resources; pollution and waste disposal; products from resources (e.g. alloys, brick, textiles); scientific disciplines; and social, economic, and political issues. Appendices include tables of elements; major US, Canadian, and worldwide mineral resources and producers; and a time line, glossary, bibliography, and web sites listing. Purchase of the set includes access to the online version through 12/31/2011. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)