African American Education* : A Reference Handbook
Cynthia L. Jackson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2001. 320pp.
Main Library Stacks LC2741 .J33 2001
Contemporary education issues. The African American quest for the American dream has always been a quest for knowledge. African American Education provides important information and resources on the main issues concerning the education of blacks: schooling, education equity, legislation, and higher education, with emphasis on the past two decades. The coverage includes materials based on the author's interviews with working teachers, contemporary statistical data and analyses, as well as testing, curricula, and instructional approaches. The book looks at desegregation and affirmative action, precedent-setting legislation and court cases, historically black colleges and universities, and provides a roster of key organizations, government agencies, and print and nonprint resources.

African Americans and Political Participation : A Reference Handbook
Minion K. C. Morrsion, ed. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 400pp.
Main Library Stacks E185 .A2538 2003
A comprehensive study of the political history of African Americans, from the colonial period to the present. The text is designed as a textbook and reference work analyzing four themes: protest, political organizations, behavior, and elections.

Agricultural Crisis in America : A Reference Handbook
Dana L. Hoag. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1999. 270pp.
Main Library Stacks HD1761 .H56 1999
1999 edition available electronically.
Providing a comprehensive summary of the challenges facing our agricultural industry, this book investigates problems and considers solutions. Topics of importance to the vitality of America's farms are thoroughly examined: the pollution of groundwater, the loss of quality farmland to urban development, food safety, wildlife impact, animal welfare, economic difficulties facing farmers today, government policy, and much more. A wealth of tables, graphs, and other statistical information supports the text, so readers may objectively evaluate the situation.

AIDS Crisis in America : A Reference Handbook
Eric K. Lerner and Mary Ellen Hombs. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 2nd edition, 323pp.
Main Library Stacks RA644.A25 H655 1998
1992 edition available electronically.
This revealing and sobering volume brings the big picture of the HIV/AIDS epidemic into focus. Virtually every aspect of the crisis is covered, from the basic science of AIDS to demographics and public policy issues. Using facts and findings on the crisis in the United States, the authors give an informative and insightful look at the impact of the epidemic on a variety of populations, including homosexuals, drug users, women, children, hemophiliacs, and various ethnic groups. Other featured topics are AIDS activism, the impact of triple combination therapy, the evolution of public opinion, and HIV/AIDS and the law. The volume concludes with a list of organizations, government agencies, hotlines, and Internet resources, as well as other print and nonprint resources. Students and researchers will find everything they need to know about the AIDS crisis in this timely and comprehensive work.

Alternative Schools : A Reference Handbook*
Brenda Edgerton Conley. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 274pp.
Main Library Stacks LC46.4 .C66 2002
"...In this comprehensive and well-written addition to the series, the author presents brief descriptions of 20 currently available alternative learning options, such as school without walls, charter schools, and magnet schools. In addition, summaries of numerous model or innovative alternative curricular methods and programs are provided, along with directories of alternative programs currently in operation in public, private, and independent schools in the United States...will be a tremendously useful resource for teachers, parents, teacher educators, administrators, and students of education. It is highly recommended for both academic and public libraries." American Reference Books Annual

American Families In Crisis : A Reference Handbook
Jeffrey S. Turner. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2009. 307pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ536 .T796 2009
An authoritative reference that helps general readers understand the varieties of crises impacting modern-day families and the intervention techniques designed to resolve them.

American Homelessness: A Reference Handbook
Mary Ellen Hombs. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2001. 3rd edition, 275pp.
Main Library Stacks HV4505 .H647 2001
Electronic copy also available.
American Homelessness, 3rd ed. offers a fresh look at a persistent problem that is often accepted by the American public as part of the social fabric. The book examines the growth of homelessness in the United States since 1980, and covers the renewed interest in solving the problem at both federal and local levels. Fully updated (50 percent new material), this third edition:
(1) Details the recent passage of laws to regulate homeless people in public
(2) Looks at the record amounts of federal funding designated to fighting the problem
(3) Examines housing and health issues associated with homelessness as well as state problems and policies
(4) Examines other western countries for comparable statistics
(5) Makes available critical resources not easily accessed
(6) Provides unique coverage--history, chronology, biographies and events, facts and statistics, print and nonprint materials, all in one place.
1994 edition also available.
1990 edition also available.

America's International Trade : A Reference Handbook
R. Willard Miller, Ruby M. Miller. Santa Barbara, Cal. : ABC-CLIO, 1995. 325pp.
Main Library Stacks HF3035 .M55 1995
1995 edition available electronically.
This book addresses the importance of international trade to the American economy and the influence it has on American businesses. Also covered are international trade agreements such as NAFTA and GATT, U.S. participation in international institutions such as the World Bank, important concepts, relations with key U.S. trading partners, and imbalances in U.S. international trade. A list of relevant organizations is included, as well as an extensive annotated bibliography of print and nonprint resources.

Animal Rights : A Reference Handbook
Clifford J. Sherry. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1994. 240pp.
Main Library Stacks HV4764 .S5
1994 edition available electronically.
This volume helps readers understand the debate and issues surrounding animal rights, including scientific experimentation and animal harvesting, by presenting its history, significant federal legislation, and the opinions and arguments of animal rights activists and those who support the use of animals in research, education, and product testing. Contents: Overview -- Chronology -- Biographical sketches -- Animal rights litigation -- Federal legislation in the United States -- Organizations -- Selected print resources -- Selected nonprint resources.

Animals and Science : a Guide to the Debates (Controversies in Science)
Niall Shanks. Oxford : ABC-Clio, 2002. 380pp.
Main Library Stacks HV4915 .S495 2002
Animals and Science examines the debates, from the Renaissance to the present, surrounding issues of animal rights, consciousness, and self-awareness. Are animals consciousable to feel pain and emotionand self-aware? Are they then beings worthy of moral respect? Do they have rights? Do we have obligations and duties toward them? These questions are examined in light of the evolution of modern science. Features: (1) Details how comparative anatomy and vivisection in the 16th and 17th centuries revealed structural similarities between humans and animals. (2) Explores the moral debate ensuing from the scientific discovery that animals and humans experience pain the same way, which resulted in the emergence of animal welfare groups. Also contains a collection of primary source documents.

Antisemitism : A Reference Handbook
Jerome A. Chanes. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 347pp.
Main Library Stacks DS145 .C464 2004
Electronic copy also available.
A survey of the historical, political, and sociological contexts of antisemitism in more than 50 countries.

The Assessment Debate: A Reference Handbook*
Valerie J. Janesick. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, Nov. 2001. 232 pp.
Main Library Stacks LB3051 .S66 2001
Contemporary education issues. Assessment is education’s hottest topic. Previous methods of gauging and evaluating what students know have not served well. But now you can take advantage of the latest measuring and analytical tools that can help improve student performance. The Assessment Debate allows you to: (1) Keep track of student growth and development with new, more effective techniques (2) Gain valuable insights into student thinking and learning processes (3) Gauge and analyze the capabilities and limitations of students (4) Find out how “portfolios” can dramatically improve student performance. Assessment is helpful in charting student growth and evolution. It provides a constant source of feedback to the learners, enabling them to demonstrate what they have absorbed. The book explains the difference between authentic assessment and performance assessment and describes how typical tests differ from the techniques of assessment. Included in the coverage are many resources on the topic in books, articles, videos, and on the Internet.

Bilingual Education: A Reference Handbook*
Rosa Castro Feinberg. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, March 2002. 311pp.
Main Library Stacks LC3731 .F45 2002
Contemporary education issues. In a nation of immigrants, bilingual education is a topic that never goes away, raising questions that range from the number of minority students in public schools to how such education differs from English as a Second Language (ESL) or foreign-language programs. Bilingual Education focuses on the purposes of bilingual education programs and schools and their historical development, from the 1960s to the present, examining such subjects as program types, components, curricular approaches, assessment, accountability, and teaching methodologies. The book explains how bilingual education programs emerged as a means to address educational equity and excellence, and debunks prevalent myths about educational innovation and opposition to reform. It examines the purpose and scope of various specific programs, and the curricular approaches adopted and the reasons for them; state and federal laws on bilingual education; and political controversies about the roles of educators and the community. The book also demonstrates why bilingual education programs are a preferred alternative to traditional curricula by many parents, educators, and elected officials.

Biodiversity : A Reference Handbook
Anne Becher. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 275pp.
Main Library Stacks QH541.15.B56 B435 1998
Electronic copy also available.
This carefully researched handbook describes the intricacies of biodiversity, a term that describes the interconnectedness of all forms of life within a given habitat. It justifies and describes the value of biodiversity from the scientific, socioeconomic, and political viewpoints, stressing the difficulty of meeting human needs without undue destruction of habitat and with it, biodiversity. Current threats to biodiversity, extinction of species, and major changes in human behavior that experts think are needed to conserve existing biodiversity are all addressed. Successful examples of biodiversity conservation provide a hopeful conclusion for the book. Filled with data, anecdotes, and examples, Biodiversity will capture the interest of a variety of readers from students to scientists.

Campaign and Election Reform : A Reference Handbook
Glenn H. Utter and Ruth Ann Strickland. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1997. 351pp.
Main Library Stacks JK1976 .U88
Electronic copy also available.
Why is voter turnout in the United States so low compared to other Western democracies? Many experts feel that the present system of campaigns, elections, and election laws has caused mass disillusionment, which discourages voter participation. Criticisms focus on negative campaigning, special-interest funding, the perceived influence of the mass media, and election laws. In a single volume, Campaign and Election Reform gathers a wealth of information about past and present attempts to reform the electoral process. The authors discuss such political circumstances as party corruption, which led to the rise of reform movements, and excessive campaign donations, which resulted in campaign finance legislation. Emphasis is placed on the various explanations for continued low voter-turnout rates and suggested changes in the electoral system that may increase citizen participation. Topics include development of the secret ballot, the electoral college and the twelfth amendment, progressive era reforms, discrimination, gerrymandering, term limits, ballot format reform, and unintended consequences of reform. The book is packed with facts and data from voting studies. It also includes excerpts from legislation and court cases, and the varied opinions of political researchers and activists. Scholarly and thorough, Campaign and Election Reform presents an excellent overview of a timely topic.

Campaign and Election Reform : A Reference Handbook
Glenn H. Utter. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO,2008 2nd edition, 371pp.
Main Library Stacks JK1976 .U88 2008
This handbook provides a sweeping overview of U.S. campaign and election reform efforts, past and present, from the introduction of the secret ballot to touch-screen voting.

Capital Punishment : A Reference Handbook
Michael Kronenwetter. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2001. 2nd edition, 369pp.
Main Library HV8699 .U5 K76 2001
Why is the United States the only industrialized country in the world to persist with capital punishment? This updated edition addresses this and other controversial questions. New features include sections on DNA and the Innocence Project, as well as special cases dealing with the mentally ill and incompetent, women, and children. Includes a chronology, biographies, glossary, index, lists of organizations and print and nonprint resources.
1993 edition available in Main Library Stacks.
1993 Electronic version also available

Censorship in America : A Reference Handbook
Mary E. Hull. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1999. 233pp.
Main Library Stacks Z658.U5 H84
Also available electronically
From its very beginning, the United States has struggled with "dangerous" points of view and today, at the dawn of the twenty-first century, attempts at censorship are still going strong. Presenting an overview of information control in America, this book focuses on contemporary arenas of censorship: adult bookstores, schools, libraries, newspapers, plays, movies, television shows, photography, books, music lyrics, and the Internet. It discusses why works of art and literature are considered controversial and examines the arguments of both those who advocate unlimited free speech and those who would impose some limits. The volume explores the current wave of censorship in the form of political correctness and also covers groundbreaking litigation and proposed legislation.

Charter Schools: A Reference Handbook*
Danny Weil. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, Nov. 2000. 211pp.
Main Library Stacks LB2806.36 .W45 2000
Contemporary education issues. From zero in 1991 to 1,100 seven years later, charter schools (public schools under contract) today educate well over a quarter of a million students. Charter Schools examines this unusual experiment and the controversies that surround public choice and charter schools as a means of educational reform. The coverage looks at what motivates the rise of charter schools, from the frustrations of parents, teachers, and students to the expectations of community members. This unique work illuminates the political and pedagogical maneuvering as it examines the charter school challenge from multiple perspectives, looks at political realities, offers a critical perspective on key school programs and curriculum design, and provides analyses of race, class, and special education needs as they affect charter schools. The book examines critically the record and curriculum of charter schools, the laws that govern them, the circumstances that surround them, and how both legislation and politics define and maintain the charter school movement. The coverage concludes with a directory of organizations, associations, and government agencies associated with the movement.

Chemical and Biological Warfare : A Reference Handbook
Albert Mauroni. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 250pp.
Main Library Stacks UG447.8 .M33 2003
Electronic copy also available.
Surveys the history of modern chemical and biological weapons, from their genesis on World War I battlefields through their World War II deployment and Cold War research and development to present-day policies and strategies. Casting aside moral issues and scare tactics, this uniquely unbiased reference explores both sides of this highly controversial topic, explaining the utility, necessity, and protected use of such weapons as well as the ramifications of their abuse. From delivery systems (bombs, missiles, rockets) and defense methods (detection devices, protective suits, decontaminants) to the deployment of such weapons in the Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars, students and concerned citizens alike will discover the real reasons behind U.S. support for chemical and biological warfare.

Chemical and Biological Warfare : A Reference Handbook
Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2007. 2nd edition, 319pp.
Main Library Stacks UG447.8 .M33 2007
A thorough handbook covering the facts, history, and controversies surrounding our most controversial and misunderstood unconventional weapons.

Child Care Crisis : A Reference Handbook
Diane Lindsey Reeves. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1992. 173pp.
Main Library HQ778.7.U6 R44 1992

Childhood Sexual Abuse : A Reference Handbook
Karen L. Kinnear. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2007. 2nd edition. Main Library Stacks HV6570 .K55 2007
This work is an important new edition of a classic study—one of the few exhaustive examinations of childhood sexual abuse available—with 40 percent new material.

Childhood Sexual Abuse : A Reference Handbook
Karen L. Kinnear. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1995. 333pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6570 .K55 1995
Electronic copy also available.
This volume offers an overview of child sexual abuse, summarizing current scientific knowledge and historical views about the subject. Featured in this important reference work are an objective evaluation for identifying possible abuse, recommendations for protecting alleged victims and alleged perpetrators, descriptions of treatment and legal ramifications, and more. Biographical sketches, relevant organizations, a chronology, and print and nonprint resource sections are also included.

Children's Rights : A Reference Handbook
Beverly C. Edmonds, William R. Fernekes. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1996. 364pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ789 .E35 1996
Electronic copy also available.
This volume examines children's rights worldwide and how major individuals and organizations have aided the development of those rights. Topics include the "three P's"--Protection, Provision, and Participation--as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Issues addressed are child refugees, child soldiers, children and work, children in difficult circumstances, children as victims of tourism, and intercountry adoption. Major contributors to the children's rights movement are profiled, and data from both government and nongovernment sources on the contemporary condition of children are presented. A comprehensive list of resources aids further investigation into the varied dimensions of children's rights.

Civil Liberties in America : A Reference Handbook
Samuel Walker. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 323pp.
Gast Business Library KF4749 .W35 2004
Electronic copy also available.
Written for a general audience, this work clearly defines civil liberties and explains their legal basis in the Bill of Rights, state constitutions, legal statutes, and administrative regulations. It reviews the subject's history from 1917 to the present, and covers the full range of civil liberties issues: the First Amendment, due process, equal protection, and privacy. In addition to extensive material on past controversies, such as the Scopes trial and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the book discusses important contemporary issues, such as censorship on the internet and drug testing. The coverage also examines conflicting civil liberties issues such as hate speech, which pits one person's freedom of expression against another's right to equal protection. The book contains extensive bibliographic references to books and articles and a long list of website links to organizations active on all sides of today's civil liberties controversies.

Climate Change : A Reference Handbook
David L. Downie, Kate Brash, and Catherine Vaughan. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2009.
Main Library Stacks QC981.8 .C5 D693 2009
An accessible introduction to climate change that outlines key scientific, economic, and political issues, reviews how the global community has addressed the issue to date, and discusses the options being explored for further action.

Conflicts over Natural Resources
Jacqueline Vaughn. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, February 2007. 312pp.
Main Library Stacks S944 .V38 2007
This work is an overview of the critical natural resource conflicts facing the United States and the world, and current attempts to resolve them peacefully.

Consciousness : a Guide to the Debates (Controversies in Science)
Anthony Freeman. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 338pp.
Main Library Stacks B808.9 .F74 2003
An exciting introduction to consciousness research and its applications to our waking and sleeping moments.

Consumer Culture : A Reference Handbook
Douglas J. Goodman and Mirelle Cohen. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 300pp.
Main Library Stacks HC79.C6 G665 2004
Electronic copy also available.
An engrossing review of consumerism and its impact on sociological issues. Conspicuous consumption and compulsive buying have been with us since time immemorial. Today shopping can even be patriotic. But how did it all begin? What effect does it have on consumers? Why is there a growing backlash against consumerism? Is the Walmart mentality of American consumerism here to stay? The phrase "shop til you drop" has become as American as apple pie and the trend does not appear to be slowing. Consumer Culture begins with the history of our consumer culture, which reveals that our fascination with consuming shows not only the hidden significance of everyday items, such as sugar and fashionable clothing, but also reveals the uniqueness of our way of life. Consumer Culture also presents the views of economists and sociologists that see consumption as an expression of freedom. The book covers the social impact of consumption, examining such dubious milestones as physical attacks upon McDonald's and Starbucks, and best sellers that are critical of consumption. There is coverage of important research, such as whether consumers are making rational or impulsive choices and the effect of advertising on children.

Consumer Fraud : A Reference Handbook
Lee E. Norrgard and Julia M. Norrgard. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 338pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6695 .N67
Electronic copy also available.
Consumer Fraud examines and places in historical and contemporary context the subject of consumer fraud. Issues such as telemarketing fraud, consumer awareness, and truth in advertising are explored as are the social implications and the impact consumer fraud has had on our lives. In one compact volume, readers will find an informative introduction, a chronology of significant milestones related to consumer fraud, facts and statistics, a collection of biographical sketches, a directory of organizations, and a listing of print and nonprint resources, including Internet coverage. Rounded out by a comprehensive index, this handbook is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a one-stop reference work on consumer fraud.

Corporate Crime : A Reference Handbook
Richard D. Hartley. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2008. 257pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6768 .H37 2008
Corporate Crime examines the ever-present problem of white-collar and corporate crime, not only within the United States but also worldwide.

Counterterrorism: a Reference Handbook
Graeme C. S. Steven and Rohan Gunaratna. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 293p.
Main Library Stacks HV6431 .S744 2004
Electronic copy also available.
An up-to-date analysis of the wave of terrorism in the post-Cold War era and the ways in which states and societies are responding.

Courts and Trials : A Reference Handbook
Christopher E. Smith. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 263pp.
Gast Business Library KF8719 .S552 2003
Electronic copy also available.
A collective overview of contemporary developments affecting court organization and judicial procedures. From Perry Mason to Judge Lance Ito, courts are among the least understood institutions in American society. They are shrouded in myth; they fascinate us with the special atmosphere, complicated rules, legal rituals, and confrontations. That's the mystique, here's the reality: an authoritative, comprehensive survey and a critique of the American court system. America has a long history of sensationalized trials and infamous lawyers and judges, but what is the truth about how our system of jurisprudence really works? Courts and Trials: A Reference Handbook makes the subject accessible by presenting an overview of the organization of courts and procedures used in criminal and civil cases, with special emphasis on contemporary developments. The book analyzes specific issues: methods of selecting judges, the capacity of citizen-jurors to make appropriate decisions, cameras in the courtroom, "three strikes" laws, and the prosecution of juveniles as adults. The discussions illuminate competing perspectives on controversies that influence new initiatives and reforms affecting courts and their operations.

Crime in America : A Reference Handbook
Jennifer L. Durham. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 318pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6787 .D87 1996
Electronic copy also available.
This volume approaches the full spectrum of crime as an issue in American society today, describing trends in various types of crime: murder, theft, arson, rape, assault, white collar crime, organized crime; and the more recent rise of computer- and technology-related crime. Felonies and misdemeanors are identified and defined, as are sociological trends that are directly related to crime, such as drug use and gangs. This handbook also includes different viewpoints on the control of crime, anti-crime efforts through legislation and community action, and the successes and failures of law enforcement and the criminal justice system in dealing with crime in American society today. A chronology detailing historical developments and significant statistical fluctuations in U.S. crime during the twentieth century, important figures in the ongoing anti-crime crusade, legislation excerpts, statistics, annotated print and nonprint resource lists, and descriptions of government and private agencies round out this valuable reference tool.

Cults : A Reference Handbook
James R. Lewis. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2005. 2nd edition, 341pp. Main Library Stacks BL2525 .L486 2005
With overviews of the principal cult groups, personalities, and issues, this second edition offers an up-to-date, concise, yet thorough coverage of this fascinating and controversial topic.

Cults in America : A Reference Handbook
James R. Lewis. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 232pp.
Main Library Stacks BL2525 .L486 1998
Electronic copy also available.
Since the early 1970s, alternative religious movements known as cults have been the focus of ever-increasing controversy in America. This reference handbook compares present-day cults to events in earlier American history, while primarily dealing with cults as a contemporary phenomenon. The key issue of mind control is covered in detail, as are deprogramming and the anti-cult movement. Overviews of the most controversial churches, and biographies of their leaders, are prominent features of this book. Legislative efforts and court decisions, particularly those surrounding the issue of religious liberty, are covered in detail. The volume features a directory of organizations in both the United States and Europe, a selected bibliography, print and nonprint resources, a chronology with the dates of religious events in American history, and coverage of events such as the Solar Temple and Heaven's Gate incidents.

Curriculum Trends : A Reference Handbook*
Valerie J. Janesick. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 235pp.
Main Library Stacks LB1570 .J33 2003
Curriculum Trends is an authoritative exploration of curriculum history in America and the theory and foundations currently influencing school practices for pre-K through 12th grade.

Cybercrime : A Reference Handbook
Bernadette h. Schell and Clemens Martin. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 247pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6773 .S3547 2004
Documents the history of computer hacking from free long distance phone calls to virtual espionage to worries of a supposed "cyber apocalypse," and provides accessible information everyone should know.

Dating and Sexuality in America: A Reference Handbook
Jeffrey Scott Turner. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 287pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ801.A3 T87 2003
Electronic copy also available.
Never has there been a greater need for a better understanding of dating and sexuality as today, particularly among teens. As sexual attitudes and behaviors are passed on by the media and rates of sexually transmitted diseases among teens continue to soar, it is more important than ever to enable young dating singles to make educated, responsible decisions. This up-to-date reference work sheds light on some of the most compelling research findings and pressing issues related to dating and sexuality in 21st-century America. In Dating and Sex in America: A Reference Handbook, human development expert Jeffrey Turner provides a balanced, highly readable examination of the dynamics of dating and sexual behavior, from promiscuous sex to responsible decision making.
A history of dating and sexuality illuminates new trends and problems that were absent just a few decades ago. The most important dating and sexuality issues facing teenagers today are explored, including solutions and implications for educational intervention. The work elucidates how dating unfolds and how sexual attitudes and behaviors impact intimacy. Valuable information about organizations and individuals as well as print and electronic resources are included in this authoritative work.

Defendant Rights : A Reference Handbook
Hamid R. Kusha. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2004. 300pp.
Gast Business Library KF9625.Z9 K87 2004
Electronic copy also available.
The only handbook that offers a comparative analysis of defendant rights in criminal courts under the four major international systems of law from Islam to America. Innocent until proven guilty. Free legal representation. Habeas corpus. That's our system. But how are defendants treated in the other three major justice systems in the world? What are their rights? What is permissible in other courts? Look no further than this unique reference work that reveals how defendants are treated around the world. Written for the general reader, this book examines the scope of the legal rights that the four major international legal systems (common law, civil law, Islamic law, and socialist law) provide for those accused of a crime. Defendant Rights examines the history of the Anglo-American legal tradition and compares and contrasts this with the major international systems of the world. Of special significance are the book's sections on the development of the British Dooms Law books under the Anglo-Saxon kings, and the Magna Carta's impact on American legal thought. Especially important in today's political climate is the coverage of Islam's sacred text, the Koran, and the role of the Islamic Kadi.

Diverse Sexuality and Schools : A Reference Handbook*
David Campos. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 287pp.
Main Library Stacks LC192.6 .C26 2003
An overview of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students in our schools—what they endure, their special needs, and the programs and groups that support them.

Domestic Violence : A Reference Handbook
Margi Laird McCue. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1995. 273pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ809.3.U5 M385 1995
Electronic copy also available.
This timely volume provides accurate, comprehensive information on all phases of domestic violence, from root causes to prevention and education.

Domestic Violence : A Reference Handbook
Margi Laird McCue. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2008. 328pp.
Main Library HV6626.2 .M43 2008
Domestic violence is a problem that often remains unseen, hidden behind the walls of the family home. Worldwide, at least one in every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused during her lifetime. In 2001, more than half a million American women were victims of nonfatal domestic violence. The psychological and sociological complexities of domestic violence make it hard to face and even harder to understand, yet it occurs in all segments of society — in all economic, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups.

Drug Abuse in Society : a Reference Handbook
Geraldine Woods. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1993. 269pp. Available through Interlibrary Loan from Library of Michigan. MSU users can ask at Circulation desk.

Drug Use : A Reference Handbook
Richard Isralowitz. Santa Barbara, Ca : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 269pp.
Main Library Stacks HV5801 .I67 2004
Electronic copy also available.
A balanced and straightforward survey of the key issues, facts, and controversies surrounding the use and abuse of harmful drugs in the United States and abroad.

East Asian Americans and Political Participation : a Reference Handbook
Tsung Chi. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2005. 277pp. Main Library Stacks E184.A75 C49 2005

Education in Crisis : A Reference Handbook
Judith A. Gouwens. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2009. 299pp. Main Library Stacks LB17 .G6 2009
A description and critique of education reform in the United States since the 1950s, focusing on the current condition of American schools and efforts to increase both educational opportunity and overall excellence.

Educational Leadership : a Reference Handbook*
Pat Williams-Boyd. Santa-Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 341pp.
Main Library Stacks LB2805 .W517 2002
Contemporary education issues. This handbook defines the 20th century view of educational leadership in the US. It examines leader qualifications and focuses on leaders ranging from students to school boards and legislators.

Emergency Management : A Reference Handbook
Jeffrey B. Bumgarner. Santa Barbara : ABC-CLIO, 2008. 293pp.
Main Library Stacks HV551.3 .B85 2008
This work is the first nontechnical guide to the principles, practices, policies, and profession of emergency management.

Endangered Species : A Reference Handbook
Clifford J. Sherry. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 269pp.
Main Library Stacks QL82 .S49
Elecronic copy also available.
Protecting endangered and threatened species and restoring them to a secure status in the wild is the primary objective of many concerned individuals, organizations, and policy makers. This timely volume examines the complex questions surrounding endangered animal and plant species. The book defines endangered species, presents arguments over their importance, and addresses the question of biodiversity. Also included are biographical sketches of individuals and organizations committed to saving endangered species, as well as key U.S. and international laws and covenants. An extensive list of print and nonprint resources is provided to facilitate further research. With the world's attention now focused on this vital issue, this volume will prove indispensable to school, public, and academic libraries.

Energy and American Society : A Reference Handbook
E. Willard Miller, Ruby M. Miller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC/CLIO, c1993. 418pp.
Main Library TJ163.235 .M55 1993

Energy Use Worldwide : A Reference Handbook
Jaina L. Moan. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC/CLIO, 2007. 337pp.
Main Library TJ163.2 .M62 2007
This book examines recent energy use trends and their potential consequences for the global population.

Environmental Activism : A Reference Handbook
Jacqueline Vaughn Switzer. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 329pp.
Main Library Stacks GE195 .S88 2003
Electronic copy also available.
A balanced presentation chronicling both the major events that sparked environmental activism and the nature of that activism in the past century. Beginning with an overview of activism in the past century, this volume puts organizations and their activities into historical context. Environmental Activism: A Reference Handbook first offers an American perspective and then a global one. It chronicles the major events that sparked environmental actions; aligns individuals with organizations, such as John Muir and the Sierra Club; and presents a balanced treatment of activities in both conservative and liberal political spheres. Separate chapters identify six eras of activism from 1900 to 2001 and include their characteristics, issues, strategies, and advocates. This is followed by summaries of the various types of organizations and their strategies, including direct action (ecoterrorism, monkey wrenching) as well as mainstream activity (lobbying, letter writing).

Environmental Hazards : Air Pollution: A Reference Handbook
E. Willard Miller, Ruby M. Miller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1989. 250pp.
Main Library HC110.A4 M55 1989
The atmosphere is one of the earth’s most precious resources, and until recently it was thought that the atmosphere was so vast that it could not be affected by human activity. With the coming of the age of environmental awareness and concern, issues of air quality are looming as major public policy frontiers in the 1990s, and we are now aware that human activities can alter the world’s atmosphere. This volume begins with a description and analysis of the broad aspects of air pollution. A discussion of natural air pollution is followed by sections on environmental hazards that are caused by atmospheric pollution. The most important of the pollutants are sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxides, chlorofluorocarbons, radioactive emissions, and radon. These pollutants provide the basis of the creation of acid precipitation, the greenhouse effect, the depletion of ozone in the stratosphere, and potential deleterious effects on human health. Other chapters provide information on a variety of topics. A chronology lists some of the critical dates and shows that atmospheric hazards have plagued humankind for centuries, and short biographies are presented for a number of individuals who have made significant contributions to solving the problem of air pollution. Many organizations have been established to consider the problems of air pollution, and an organizational directory is divided into three major parts. The first considers the private organizations that represent a discipline, such as the American Meteorological Society; the second lists U.S. government agencies, of which the Environmental Protection Agency is the major one; and the third lists international organizations. The volume concludes with an annotated list of film and film strips dealing with environmental problems and a glossary.

Environmental Hazards : Marine Pollution
Martha Gorman. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1993. 252pp.
MSU College of Law Library GC1085 .G67 1993
Electronic edition also available.

Environmental Hazards : Radioactive Materials and Wastes : A Reference Handbook
E. Willard Miller, Ruby M. Miller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1990. 298pp.
Main Library TD196.R3 M55 1990

Environmental Hazards : Toxic Waste and Hazardous Material : A Reference Handbook
E. Willard Miller, Ruby M. Miller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1991. 286pp.
Main Library TD1030 .M56 1991
A guide to information on the environmental problems caused by toxic wastes, with suggestions for possible solutions.

Environmental Justice : A Reference Handbook
David E. Newton. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 271pp.
Main Library Stacks JC578 .N485 1996
Electronic copy
Do poor people, minorities, and the citizens of developing nations bear the brunt of environmental hazards such as toxic waste dumps and air pollution? This is the question at the heart of the debate over the concept of environmental justice, a relatively recent concept with origins in the early years of the environmental movement itself. This timely, well-balanced volume provides readers with background on the origins of the concept of environmental justice and discusses the controversy surrounding the concept. It also carefully examines both sides of the issue as it applies to specific examples of such environmental hazards as lead paint in houses, toxic waste sites, nuclear power plants, and air and water pollution. The scope of the book is global, and readers will come away with a solid understanding of environmental justice. A suitable resource for high school and college students, academics, legislators, activists, and laypersons.

Environmental Justice : A Reference Handbook
David E. Newton, ed. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2009. 2nd edition, 308pp. On order 10/20/09

Espionage : A Reference Handbook
Glenn Hastedt. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 225pp.
Main Library Stacks JF1525.I6 H36 2003
Electronic copy also available.
Espionage: A Reference Handbook illuminates the murky underworld of espionage and counterespionage efforts in the United States and around the world. Combining an academic treatment of the causes and forces that shape espionage with narrative accounts of how spying and spy catching are conducted, this is the only work of its kind to cover Benedict Arnold, J. Edgar Hoover, the CIA, the KGB, and Jay Pollard, all in one volume. Though special attention is focused on the American experience, British, Soviet, and Israeli cases are presented, along with recent world events of terrorism and ethnic conflict, providing a unique comparative perspective on the international forces behind spying.

Euthanasia : A Reference Handbook
Carolyn S. Roberts, Martha Gorman. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 348pp.
Main Library Stacks R726 .R53 1996
Electronic copy also available.
Euthanasia is one of the most hotly contested issues in American society today. This handbook covers euthanasia from its historical origins to the present, including an extensive discussion of contemporary arguments for and against the practice. Other right-to-die issues are also discussed. Biographies of doctors, lawyers, politicians, and patients are presented, as well as excerpts from key legal documents and hearings. A directory of organizations that advocate, oppose, or discuss euthanasia and selected print and nonprint resources complete the volume.

The Evolution Wars : a Guide to the Debates (Controversies in Science)
Michael Ruse ; foreword by Edward O. Wilson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2000. 428pp.
Main Library Stacks QH361 .R874 2000
This award winning text draws on history, science, and philosophy to examine the development of evolutionary thought through the past two and a half centuries.

Families in America : A Reference Handbook
Jeffrey Scott Turner. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2002. 351pp.
Main Library Reference HQ536 .T798 2002
For anyone who thinks of the American family as still conforming to the Leave It to Beaver model, it’s safe to say that the reruns are far out of step with reality. Families in America provides a thorough review of the diverse, fluctuating needs of the contemporary American family.
There is little doubt that the American family has changed from colonial times to the present. But what have those changes been? How have family dynamics shifted to deal with the countless new looks of the American Family? In Families in America, author Jeffrey Scott Turner has written a current and complete work that will be of great interest to general audiences as well as students of psychology and sociology. This work sheds light on everything from multicultural family variations and reproductive technologies to families of divorce and blended families. The book is bolstered by chapters that cite recent and important books on family life, as well as a listing of educational videotapes on family life in America.

Feminism : A Reference Handbook
Judith Harlan. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 308pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ1410 .H365 1998
Electronic copy also available.
Women today are creating a new brand of feminism--one that emphasizes political strength, spirituality, and a partnership model as a constructive force for change in society. This insightful work addresses the disparities related to women's status that continue to exist, but also takes stock of the real gains achieved by the women's movement. While its primary focus is the United States, Feminism also examines how multiculturalism and global thinking have infused today's feminists with a sense of widened responsibility for girls and women worldwide. Readers will find a cultural overview of society's changing perception of women and a thoughtful analysis of the directions feminism is taking today. Other sections include a chronology of significant events, a collection of biographical sketches, and annotated listings of organizations and print and nonprint resources, including Internet coverage. Rounded out by a comprehensive index, this volume is excellent for anyone seeking a one-stop reference work on feminism.

Food Safety : A Reference Handbook
Nina E. Redman. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2007. 2nd edition, 331pp. Main Library Stacks TX531 .R44 2007
This work is a detailed survey of food safety issues today, from E-coli contamination in fruits and vegetables to food production practices that increase antibiotic resistance.

Food Safety : A Reference Handbook
Nina E. Redman. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2000. 317pp.
Main Library Stacks TX531 .R44 2000
Electronic copy also available.
Salmonella, mad cow disease, pesticides -- just how safe is the food we eat? This book is packed with information about current and historical issues in food safety. The laws, the facts, and figures are backed up with real-life events: Upton Sinclair's 1906 expose of the meat packing industry, The Jungle, led to the Beef Inspection Bill, but 90 years later 732 people were poisoned and 4 children died after they ate tainted beef. From biographies to a directory of organizations and resources, this comprehensive introduction to the subject is also an excellent guide to further study.

Forest Conservation Policy : A Reference Handbook
V. Alaric Sample and Dr. Antony S. Cheng. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 300pp.
Main Library Stacks SD412 .S26 2004
Electronic copy also available.
Forest Conservation: A Reference Handbook chronicles the dramatic history, current status, and global influence of U.S. forest policy. Beginning with the foundations of early forest law during the colonial period through the rise of the Conservation Movement in the wake of 19th century massive forest exploitation, this comprehensive reference also discusses the environmental challenges that have rewritten recent U.S. forest policy and explores future policy directions. What are the effects of forest destruction on biological diversity? Has the sustainable forest management movement been effective? Given the fact that individual landowners control the greatest share of U.S. forestland, how are forests on private lands regulated? Students and concerned citizens alike will discover answers to these and other critical questions regarding what is left of the nation's dwindling forests.

Forest Fires : A Reference Handbook
Phillip N. Omi. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2005. 300pp.
Main Library Stacks SD421 .O64 2005
Fire management involves protecting natural resources from fire but also using controlled burning for land management purposes. Who are the stewards of land management and the researchers who devote their entire careers studying fire? How are ecosystems restored after major fires? What are the economic ramifications and what assessment tools are available? Forest Fires: A Reference Handbook explores the historical, ecological, economic, and social dimensions of wildland combustion in North America and its impacts. Explaining how legislation and public perception have been shaped by historic fires and fire seasons, particular emphasis is placed on the summer of 2000 as a way of understanding and managing future fires.

Freshwater Issues : A Reference Handbook
Zachary A. Smith and Grenetta Thomassey. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2002. 281pp.
Main Library Stacks TD345 .S65 2002
Electronic copy also available.
Water. One of the most hotly contested issues in the United States today. The issue is complicated by pollution; waste, growing usage, legal battles, federal and state regulations, and a host of other factors. The "elixir of life" will be the source of debate and conflict for years to come. Battles have been fought, lives have been lost, countries divided-and all for one reason-water. Freshwater Issues provides a quick education in the basics and essential issues of freshwater management. From water supply and resource information to the role of water in ecosystems, the coverage also provides global water data, examines uncertainties about future water supplies, and addresses technological advances in the development of water resources and environmental safeguards. Comprehensive treatment is given to water rights, allocation issues, and U.S. water laws and their many regional variations. This is followed by an explanation of the economics of water, from ownership and pricing to social impact and discussions of often-conflicting public, environmental, and private interests. The war over water has just begun.

Gangs : A Reference Handbook
Karen L. Kinnear. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2009. 2nd edition, 303pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6439.U7 K55 2009
A thoroughly updated look at the world of gangs, charting their growth and development in the United States and worldwide, as well as the efforts to curb their expanding criminal enterprises.

Gangs : A Reference Handbook
Karen L. Kinnear. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 237pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6439.U7 K55 1996
Electronic copy also available.
Gang activities have been reported since the late eighteenth century. Today, gangs are an issue in America more than any other country. The definition of a gang continues to be revised and tailored, and the perennial questions of how best to deal with them come up in conversation and legislation. The research, discussion, and action on this topic has produced varied findings and results. Gangs contains a survey of literature documenting these results. The topics addressed include the history of gangs, who joins gangs, why they join, and where gangs are found. This volume also provides statistical information, data on intervention programs, and summaries of print and nonprint resources. This book is a vital reference work for students, educators, journalists, child welfare workers, and legislators and other policy makers as well as parents and interested laypersons.

Gay and Lesbian Americans and Political Participation : a Reference Handbook
Raymond A. Smith and Donald P. Haider-Markel ; foreword by Tammy Baldwin. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 339pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ76.3.U5 S59 2002

Gay and Lesbian Issues : A Reference Handbook
Chuck Stewart. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 403pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ76.25 .S748 2003
Electronic copy also available.
Traces the developments, people, and organizations responsible for bringing homosexual issues to the public's attention. In addition to exploring such controversial issues as gays in the military and child adoption, this title discusses court decisions, pivotal events, and key individuals like Magnus Hirschfeld, Radclyffe Hall, and Harvey Milk, the San Francisco town supervisor who along with Mayor George Moscone was murdered by ex-supervisor Dan White. What happens when a same-sex couple marrying in Holland returns to the United States expecting to be treated as legally married? This one of a kind reference explores the interplay of international politics with U.S. policies. Students, administrators and parents alike will discover a wealth of supportive data and statistics on hate crimes, adolescent suicide, military discrimination and much more.

Gay and Lesbian Rights : A Reference Handbook
David E. Newton. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1994. 214pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ76.3.U5 N48 1994
Electronic copy also available.
Designed to serve as both a one-stop information source and a guide to in-depth exploration, this engaging volume examines the controversial subject of gay and lesbian rights. Thoroughly objective in its presentation, the volume includes a chronology of significant developments in the gay rights movement, biographical sketches of important and influential people, a review of relevant legislation, and excerpts from speeches and articles on both sides of the issue. Selected print and nonprint resource listings direct readers to additional information on this complicated, emotional matter. This volume provides solid, useful information that can serve as a foundation for further research and enhanced understanding of this critical issue.

Genetic Engineering : A Reference Handbook
Harry LeVine III. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1999. 264pp.
Main Library Stacks TP248.6 .L4 1999
Electronic copy also available.
Scientists successfully recombined DNA from different organisms for the first time in the early 1970s. Since then, the controversy over genetic engineering has ranged from its effects on the environment to questions of morality and ethics, privacy issues, information access, and the very future of human society. Genetic Engineering presents a complete overview of this pressing topic, including key background material for understanding the science; a historical account of genetic engineering; biographical sketches of leading contributors; data and documents central to the debate; a glossary that explains technical terms; and resources for those who wish to delve deeper into the subject.

Genetic Engineering : A Reference Handbook
Harry LeVine III. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2006. 313pp. TP248.6 .L4 2006
From Dolly the sheep to Frankenfood, life-saving medicines, and beyond, this insightful work describes the technology and controversy behind genetic engineering.

Global Aids Crisis : A Reference Handbook
Richard G. Marlink, ed. : Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 283pp.
Main Library Stacks RA643.8 .M36 2004
Electronic copy available.
The most authoritative account published to date on the history, spread, and chilling repercussions of one of the deadliest pandemics the world has ever seen.

Global Development : A Reference Handbook
William Savitt, Paula Bottorf. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1995. 369pp.
Main Library HC59.7 .S283 1995

The Global Refugee Crisis : A Reference Handbook
Gil Loescher and Ann Dull Loescher. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, c1994. 261pp.
Main Library Stacks HV640 .L625 1994
Electronic copy also available.
This fact-filled resource helps readers understand the current turmoil and controversy surrounding the global refugee problem. Here, in one volume, can be found a comprehensive overview of the refugee crisis -- from the early 1900s to the present day. The events that created refugee populations and the efforts of international agencies and governments to deal with the crisis, as well as the financial and legal constraints those organizations face, are all covered in detail. Biographical sketches of refugee activists and notable refugees are also included. A directory of international organizations and resettlement agencies and annotated lists of print and nonprint resources assist readers in further study efforts. This volume delivers solid, useful information that can serve as a foundation for decision-making, research, or simply enhanced understanding of this critical subject.

Globalization : A Reference Handbook
Justin Ervin and Zachary A. Smith. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, 2008 293pp.
Main Library Stacks JZ1318 .E77 2008
This extensive yet concise introduction to the phenomenon of globalization looks at its economic, environmental, and security dimensions as interpreted from different political points of view. The Great Dinosaur Controversy : a Guide to the Debates (Controversies in science)
Keith M. Parsons. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2004. 294pp.
Main Library Stacks QE861.4 .P38 2004

Gun Control : A Reference Handbook
Earl R. Kruschke. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1995. 408pp.
Main Library Stacks HV7436 .K78 1995
Electronic copy also available.
Centered on the issues concerning gun control in the United States today, this handbook contains a wealth of material on arguments for and against the regulation of firearms. A chronology of significant events and reviews of historic court cases, legislation, constitutional provisions, and statistical data pertaining to gun control are provided. Biographical sketches introduce major figures involved in the gun control controversy. An extensive directory of organizations, a glossary of terms, and a listing of print and nonprint resources facilitate further research.

Gun Control in the United States : a Reference Handbook
Gregg Lee Carter. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2006. 408pp.
Main Library Stacks HV7436 .C36 2006
This balanced, objective examination of the gun control debate in America gives the general reader access to contemporary research on both sides of the argument.

Hate Crimes : A Reference Handbook
Donald Altschiller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1999. 204pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6773.52 .A47 1999
Electronic copy also available.
Crimes committed against individuals because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or ethnic background have increased significantly in recent years. What factors in American society have spawned this alarming trend? How are hate crimes different from other crimes committed against individuals? Should the legal penalties be harsher? These questions and many more are explored in Hate Crimes, the first comprehensive reference source on this important topic. This volume includes an overview of legislation, statistics on hate crimes, and biographies of individuals combating violent extremist activities. A historical survey of the main targets of hate crimes -- gays and lesbians, Jews, African-Americans, and Asian-Americans -- is also featured.

Hate Crimes : A Reference Handbook
Donald Altschiller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2005. 2nd edition, 204pp.
Main Library Stacks Main Library Stacks HV6773.52 .A47 2005
This second edition covers the alarming increase in hate crimes in the United States and abroad, and the legal, political, and educational efforts to combat intolerance and violence against minority group members.

Health Care Crisis in America : A Reference Handbook
Linda Brubaker Ropes. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1991. 172pp.
Main Library RA445 .R758 1991

Healthcare Reform in America : A Reference Handbook
Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld and Michael R. Kronenfeld. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2004. 300pp.
Main Library Stacks RA395.A3 K7593 2004
Electronic copy also available.
This book reviews the failed attempts at health care reform in the last century, identifying the economic, social, and political forces that pushed for a national system and those that prevented it from happening. Written by two of our most respected and incisive health care critics, the book vividly demonstrates that right now, concerns about quality and cost, plummeting consumer satisfaction, and the need for reform are as great as they have ever been. Balanced, authoritative, and compelling, the book gives readers the basic tools they need to understand the core problems, access important data, and make informed decisions and valuable contributions toward reforming the system.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities : A Reference Handbook*
Cynthia L. Jackson and Eleanor F. Nunn. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 253pp.
Main Library Stacks LC2781 .J26 2003
A highly readable overview of the rich past of historically black colleges and universities, and how their role in higher education is evolving for the future.

Homosexuality and Science : a Guide to the Debates (Controversies in Science)
Vernon A. Rosario ; foreword by Richard Pillard. Santa Barbaram Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2002. 323pp.
Main Library Stacks QP81.6 .R656 2002
This comprehensive resource explores the role of science and scientific discovery in the nature v. pathology debate surrounding homosexuality. Is homosexuality perfectly normal? A sin? A medical problem? A psychological problem? For 200 years, scientists have searched for objective answers to these questions. Yet even today, scientific thinking about homosexuality remains entangled in social values and political currents. Homosexuality and science is the compelling history of this intense, ongoing scientific controversy. The story begins in the Victorian era, when doctors were horrified to discover that homosexuality, which they called "sexual perversion" was widespread--probably the result of childhood masturbation--they theorized, and sure to result in mental weakness and blindness for generations to come. The story progresses to a world where gay, lesbian, transgender, and bisexual scientists are involved in sexuality research, but where the AIDS pandemic has given rise to "reparative therapy" and ministries that claim to "cure" homosexuality. This title shows how our understanding of homosexuality has been shaped not only by theories of evolution, eugenics, endocrinology, neurobiology, molecular biology, psychology, genetics, anthropology, and sexology, but also by the values of the times.

Human Evolution : A Guide to the Debates (Controversies in Science)
Brian Regal. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2004. 357pp.
Main Library Stacks GN281 .R412313 2004
Many of the controversies surrounding theories of human evolution play out, not in the arena of "science versus religion" but within the field itself. Competing interpretations of evolution have always led to conflicting ideas. The "evolution" of evolutionary theory is itself a story filled with intense debates, fascinating personalities, intellectual wrong turns, outright hoaxes, and serendipitous breakthroughs. Written for those new to the subject, Human Evolution: A Guide to the Debates presents the remarkable history of our understanding of human origins as it developed from the 1800s to the present. Most works on this topic focus narrowly on one individual, theory, or debate. In contrast, Human Evolution draws from a wide range of sources to offer a fully rounded portrait of the entire field. The chapters of the book follow a basic chronological order covering the issues, personalities, and discoveries that are central to the questions and controversies surrounding human evolution. The coverage draws from a wide range of associated topics and examines not only controversies of a religious nature but also those that have little to do with religion, allowing readers to weigh the information, come to their own conclusions, and even begin their own debates.

Human Rights : A Reference Handbook
Nina Redman and Lucille Whalen. Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 2nd edition, 301pp.
Gast Business Library K3240.4 .W46 1998
Electronic copy also available.
The second edition of Human Rights provides a completely revised and updated guide to this vital topic—from the latest human rights legislation to current publications, Internet resources, information on human rights organizations, and United Nations human rights documents. The section of selected human rights instruments is an especially useful reference tool and it includes recent declarations on the rights of women and children. High school and college students, the general public, and human rights organizations will find this volume an excellent source of information on every aspect of human rights.
1989 edition also available in Gast Business Library.

Human Rights Worldwide : A Reference Handbook
Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat, ed. Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, 2006. 313pp. Main Library Stacks JC571 .K23 2006
This work offers an insightful guide to the global struggle for human rights, the problems and shortcomings of the international human rights regime, and the resources essential to human rights studies.

Hurricanes : A Reference Handbook
Patrick J. Fitzpatrick, ed. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2005. 2nd edition, 412pp.
Main Library Stacks QC944 .F58 2006
From killer storms to their implications for the insurance premiums of U.S. residents, this much-awaited update explores the ecological, social, and economic consequences of hurricanes and their effects on both coastal and inland areas.

Illegal Immigration : A Reference Handbook
Michael LeMay. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2007. 341pp.
Main Library Stacks JV6483 .L45 2007
This work is an overview of America's attempts to deal with the problem of illegal immigration, with discussions of every immigration law passed since 1965, crucial court cases, key actors and organizations, and proposed solutions.

Illicit Trafficking : A Reference Handbook
Robert J. Kelly and Eugene F. Smith. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2005. 260pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6252 .K45 2005
Smuggling used to be a family business. Today it is big business. Illicit Trafficking: A Reference Handbook offers a comprehensive introduction to the problems of illegal trafficking that have emerged from and been intensified by globalization. This title provides an examination of how criminal enterprises have exploited opportunities to enrich themselves and broadened their involvement in many areas of illegal trafficking while compromising or evading legal authorities. The coverage includes a brief history of illicit trafficking, analyzes current problems, and examines local and global containment policies such as Presidential Decision Directive 42. It also explores key international agreements on money laundering, bank secrecy laws, extradition treaties, and technologies that have proven to be effective transnational crime-fighting tools.

Indoor Pollution : A Reference Handbook
E. Willard Miller, Ruby M. Miller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 330pp.
Main Library Stacks TD883 .M52 1998
Electronic copy also available.
Although the problems of indoor air quality began when humans first brought fires into their caves, the general public has only recently become aware of the hazards. Even the U.S. government has been reluctant to provide guidelines for indoor pollution. Indoor Pollution educates concerned readers about the sources of indoor pollutants, the illnesses associated with them, and the measures used to control them. Readers will also find a comprehensive listing of relevant laws and regulations, a directory of organizations, a complete bibliography, and a listing of audio-visual aids. Appendixes listing organizations, chemical compounds, measurements, and testing information and series of statistical tables complete the volume.

Intellectual Freedom : A Reference Handbook
John B. Harer. Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, 1992. 315pp.
Gast Business Library KF4770.Z9 H3 1992

Intellectual Property : A Reference Handbook
Aaron Schwabach. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2007. 318pp. Gast Business Library KF2979 .S39 2007
This book examines the history of the concepts of intellectual property and the current state of U.S. and international intellectual property law.

International Environmental Disputes : A Reference Handbook
Aaron Schwabach. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2005. 341pp.
Gast Business Library K3585 .S388 2006
This book offers an intensive investigation of past and present achievements and failures in international environmental law.

Internet and Society : A Reference Handbook
Bernadette H. Schell. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2006. 300pp. Main Library Stacks HM851 .S25 2007
An examination of the social impact of the Internet, this volume explores political, social, technical, legal, and economic controversies in a manner accessible to the general reader.

Invasion of Privacy : A Reference Handbook
Kevin M. Keenan. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2005. 259pp.
Main Library Stacks JC596.2.U5 K44 2005
An authoritative analysis of one of the most revered rights of peoples and cultures around the world—privacy.

Jewish Americans and Political Participation : a Reference Handbook
Rafael Medoff ; foreword by Edward I. Koch. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, Inc., c2002. 369pp. Main Library Stacks E184.36.P64 M45 2002

Juvenile Justice : A Reference Handbook
Donald J. Shoemaker and Timothy W. Wolfe. Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, 2005. 223pp.
Main Library Stacks HV9104 .S448 2005
Juvenile Justice: A Reference Handbook highlights continuing controversies and emerging solutions and provides a discussion of the programs, laws, and policies concerning our young people. Also featured are profiles of notable individuals, agencies, and policy-makers in juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. While the focus is on the United States, comparisons to international programs and policies are here as well. A directory of national and international organizations dealing with children's rights and juvenile justice wraps up this highly readable and insightful reference. Students, and those who work with children and teens, will appreciate this broad overview of the causes of delinquency and the workings of the juvenile justice system. Also provided are cutting-edge research studies, up to the minute statistics, and authoritative sources to further explore these topics.

Latino Americans and Political Participation : a Reference Handbook
Sharon Ann Navarro, Armando Xavier Mejia, editors. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2004. 321pp. Main Library Reference E184.S75 L3557 2004

Legalized Gambling : A Reference Handbook
William N. Thompson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1997. 2nd edition, 297pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6710 .T48 1997
Electronic copy also available.
This newly revised and expanded edition examines sanctioned gaming in relation to its impact on economics, crime, government, laws and regulations, public attitude, and other key issues of political debate, updating developments in North American gaming since 1994. From the industry's history and spread to its variety of ventures -- including casinos, state lotteries, charity bingo, and horse racing -- this reference work offers insight into legalized gambling. Maps, charts, and tables; a brief chronology of the industry; and an annotated bibliography are also included. For public officials, students, educators, and general readers, this handbook provides an accessible overview of the pros and cons of legalized gambling.
1994 edition

Literacy and Learning : A Reference Handbook*
Brett Elizabeth Blake and Robert W. Blake. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 267pp.
Main Library Stacks LC151 .B58 2002
A state-of-the-art compendium of resource materials and current practice that answers two basic questions: "What is literacy?" and "How do individuals become literate?"

Lobbying in America : A Reference Handbook
Ronald J. Hrebenar and Bryson B. Morgan. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2009. 289pp.
Main Library Stacks JK1118 .H849 2009
A comprehensive presentation of the way lobbying and interest-based political activism works in the United States.

Mainline Christians and U.S. public policy : a reference handbook
Glenn H. Utter. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2007. 336pp.
Main Library Stacks BR515 .U88 2007
This insightful reference work explores the relationship between mainline Christian denominations and U.S. politics and public policy, from colonial times to the present.

Media and American Courts : A Reference Handbook
S. L. Alexander. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 231pp.
Gast Business Library KF9223.5 .A9154 2004
Electronic copy also available.
The Lindbergh kidnapping ... O. J. Simpson ... Bush vs. Gore ... Throughout the 20th century, news coverage of dramatic court cases captivated America. Now in the cable/Internet age, the media takes us into the courtroom as judicial events unfold—and leaves us susceptible to sloppy reporting and ratings-driven sensationalism. At a time when two-thirds of local news is crime- or court-related, when Court TV broadcasts daily, and when one lurid case can push all other news aside, Media and American Courts: A Reference Handbook offers a much-needed examination of how the press and the judicial system interact. Despite the benefits (a better-informed public, judicial accountability), has expanded coverage of the courts in fact weakened our democracy? Media and American Courts approaches this question by exploring the cases, the personalities, and the controversies that have redefined the court/press relationship in the past century as the media expanded from print and radio to courtroom cameras, cable, and the World Wide Web. It also includes suggestions from legal and media experts for making court news more accurate, informative, and useful.

Media and Politics in America : A Reference Handbook
Guido H. Stempel III. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 237pp.
Main Library Reference P95.82.U6 S74 2003
Is our president elected by the people or the media? Why has voter turnout dropped from 63 percent in 1960 to less than 55 percent in 2000? Is it because we rely on TV campaign coverage that the television industry admits is superficial? Can the American political system survive in the media-saturated world of today? Where mass media and politics intersect is a distinctly American brand of political communication. Media and Politics in America: A Reference Handbook examines the major events, people, controversies, and resources of political communication from the Revolutionary War to the election of 2000. It follows the adoption of the First Amendment, the emergence of the penny press, women's suffrage, the selection of presidential candidates, the advent of radio and television, and the influence of the Internet. Readers will find government documents, Supreme Court cases, campaign statistics, media trends, and public opinion polls. The chapter on resources and the directory of organizations are extensive.

Mental Health in America : A Reference Handbook
Donna R. Kemp. anta Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2007. 315pp.
Main Library Stacks RA790.6 .K4644 2007
This extensive overview charts the fluctuating course of mental health policy in the United States from colonial times to today.

MIAs : A Reference Handbook
Jeanne M. Lesinski. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 238pp.
Main Library Stacks UB803 .L47 1998
Electronic copy also available.
MIAs addresses an issue that is both timeless and timely. Many families of those missing in action in Vietnam have not given up hope of learning the truth about their loved ones. This volume provides an overview of issues related to U.S. soldiers missing in action from the Vietnam conflict, along with background on MIAs/POWs from pre-Vietnam conflicts. Topics include imprisonment and release of MIAs, efforts of the U.S. government and civilian organizations to determine their fate, and the effect the MIA controversy has had on diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam. Some believe there are currently no missing soldiers living in Indochina; others believe that soldiers still await rescue. Readers of MIAs will obtain a succinct and balanced view of this complex subject.

Middle Grades Education : A Reference Handbook*
Pat Williams-Boyd, Editor. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 465pp.
Main Library Stacks LB1623 .M53 2003
An expert guide to the development of the middle school model as the best educational environment designed to address students' developmental and social needs as well as educational needs.

Migrant Education: A Reference Handbook*
Judith A. Gouwens. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, Dec. 2001. 294pp.
Main Library Stacks LC5151 .G68 2001
Contemporary education issues. What are the unique problems of providing schooling for a population on the move? This book describes the demographics of migrant workers and probes the attendant economic, political, sociological and language issues.

Militias in America : A Reference Handbook
Neil A. Hamilton. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 235pp.
Main Library Stacks HN90.R3 H355 1996
Electronic copy also available.
The Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 has stimulated national interest in organized militias. Questions abound as to where these groups come from, where they are located, what they believe in, and how many exist. This volume provides readers with a historical overview of militias and other extremist groups, including the Ku Klux Klan, Black Panthers, Skinheads, and Liberty Lobby. The book delves extensively into the nature and ideology of today's prominent militia groups, including the Michigan Militia, the Virginia Hunt and Gun Club, and the Militia of Montana.

Multicultural and Diversity Education : A Reference Handbook*
Peter Appelbaum. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 191pp.
Main Library Stacks LC1099.3 .A66 2002
A state-of-the-art resource concentrating on the practical applications, philosophical and social policy motivations, and historical development of various approaches to multicultural education in the United States.

Nation-Building : A Reference Handbook
Cynthia A. Watson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 333pp.
Main Library Stacks E840 .W38 2004
Electronic copy available only.
A revealing exploration of nation-building around the world and its related problems and challenges—from conflict to the role of democracy.

Native American Education : A Reference Handbook*
Lorraine Hale. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2002. 308pp.
Main Library Stacks E97 .H138 2002
This authoritative volume puts the schooling of Native American children in the broader context of the country's educational agenda and demonstrates how Native American learning continues to be a challenge to minority education in the United States.

Native American Issues : A Reference Handbook
William N. Thompson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 329pp.
Main Library Stacks E98.T77 T56 1996
Electronic copy available also.

Native American Issues : a Reference Handbook
William N. Thompson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2005. 329pp.
Main Library Stacks E98.T77 T56 2005
This handbook provides an unbiased, in-depth assessment of the struggles, successes, and status of Native Americans in what is now the United States from the time of the first European settlers to the present.

Native Americans and Political Participation : a Reference Handbook
Jerry D. Stubben. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2006. 341pp. Main Library Stacks E98.T77 S78 2006

Natural Disasters : Floods : A Reference Handbook
E. Willard Miller, Ruby M. Miller. Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, c2000. 286pp.
Main Library Stacks GB1399.3 .M56 2000
Electronic copy also available.
What causes killer floods? Why are they so destructive? Can they be predicted, tamed, eliminated? Find the answers in Natural Disasters: Floods, which discusses where and how often floods occur in the United States, how the federal government handles flood control, the many agencies and organizations that help flood victims and municipalities, and the extent of the economic and social damage caused by floods. Did you know that:
(1) The first recorded flood was in 2297 B.C.?
(2) 3,800 U.S. towns with a population greater than 2,500 are located on floodplains?
(3) Satellites are vital in flood prediction?
Also included are statistics on U.S. floods from 1903 to 1994, a summary of laws and regulations relevant to floods, and an extensive bibliography of books and articles, and an index.

Natural Disasters : Hurricanes : A Reference Handbook
Patrick J. Fitzpatrick. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1999. 286pp.
Main Library Stacks QC944 .F58 1999
Electronic copy also available.
This easily accessible reference work reveals the workings of savage tropical storms, charts their actions and cycles, assesses their economic and environmental impact, and reviews the latest research, including:
(1) Intensification (transformation into tropical storms and hurricanes or typhoons)
(2) Impact upon landfall (storm surge, wind damage, flooding)
(3) Human influence (global warming, Project Stormfury)
The book includes a summary of hurricanes in the past century in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and portraits of important recent storms such as Agnes, Hugo, Camille, and Andrew. Advances in field studies and forecasting are also examined, from observations in the Virgin Islands in the early 1900s to satellite pictures and computer projections..

The New Information Revolution : A Reference Handbook
Martin K. Gay. Santa Barbara, CA : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 247pp.
Main Library Stacks ZA3225 .G39 1996
Electronic copy also available.
The era of the new information revolution is arriving faster than any other era in the history of humanity -- and its implications for communication, work, democracy, and education are discussed in detail in this volume. Topics include universal access, the potential merging of cable/telephone/ computer companies and public libraries or post offices as online resource centers; the redefinition of community from the place where one lives to cyberspace, where groups emerge with like interests; and the redefinition of work to center upon manipulating information, telecommuting, and virtual companies. The potential for conducting education online is also examined, as well as issues of security and censorship. This volume will interest students, educators, and citizens concerned with the emerging "information superhighway" and its implications for daily life.

New Slavery : A Reference Handbook
Kevin Bales. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2000. 225pp.
Main Library Stacks HT867 .B37 2000
Electronic copy also available.
Horrific as it may seem, today there are some 27 million slaves in the world. New Slavery brings into focus the reality of contemporary slavery with vivid examples drawn from recent cases from Sudan and India to France and the United States. Weaving statistical and narrative information, this volume explores the causes of the practice and sketches the organizations that exist to battle it. New Slavery compares modern and ancient versions of slavery, demonstrates that globalization is the driving force behind current practice, looks at who is responsible, spotlights the exploiters and the exploited, and, finally, points the way out, citing some present-day success stories. Also included are biographical sketches of modern abolitionists, many of whom risk their lives fighting the slave trade, and testimony from real-life slaves.

New Slavery : A Reference Handbook
Kevin Bales. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2004. 2nd edition, 273pp.
Main Library Stacks HT867 .B37 2004
A shocking account of how slavery continues to afflict millions around the world today—from children in the carpet trade in Asia, to immigrants forced into prostitution in Europe, to domestic workers in the United States and other Western countries.

Nuclear Energy Policy : A Reference Handbook
Earl R. Kruschke and Byron M. Jackson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1990. 246pp.
Main Library HD9698.U52 K78 1990

Nuclear Power : A Reference Handbook
Harry Henderson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2000. 250pp.
Main Library Stacks TK9146 .H45 2000
Electronic copy also available.
When nuclear power first made headlines, it was hailed as the energy that would power the twenty-first century. Now when it makes the news, it is usually bad news-a reactor accident or a debate about storing radioactive waste. This comprehensive guide helps readers explore the science, technology, politics, and culture that surround nuclear energy. Issues covered include:
(1) Arguments for and against the expansion of the nuclear industry
(2) Accidents and their aftermath
(3) The problem of nuclear waste
(4) The nuclear legacy
With a detailed chronology, statistics, and a directory of resources for further research, this is an essential reference for anyone with an interest or involvement in the nuclear debate.

Nuclear weapons and nonproliferation : a reference handbook
Sarah J. Diehl, James Clay Moltz. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2008. 2nd ed. 335pp.
Main Library Stacks U264 .D53 2008
2002 edition
From the Manhattan Project to Saddam Hussein's covert nuclear program, this title provides an overview of the world's nuclear weapons and the various attempts to control them. Hardly a day goes by without a nuclear news story: India and Pakistan's nuclear weapons tests, Russia's ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, North Korea's continued battles with the International Atomic Energy Agency, or the implications of U.S. plans for a missile defense shield. A comprehensive reference work now explores all key issues related to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and efforts to curb their development, from the start of the U.S. atomic bomb project during World War II to the current debates over the test ban treaty, missile defenses, and nuclear weapons dismantlement. The book also provides a useful overview of a host of issues related to international nonproliferation treaties and regimes, as well as grassroots efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. There are short histories of the bomb-building programs of countries that have openly tested nuclear weapons (the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, India, and Pakistan), descriptions of the still-covert Israeli nuclear program, and information on countries seeking nuclear weapons today (Iraq, Iran, and North Korea).

Ocean Politics and Policy : A Reference Handbook
Peter Jacques and Zachary A. Smith. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, April 2003. 267pp.
Main Library Stacks GC64 .J33 2003
Electronic copy also available.
Ocean Politics and Policy covers the major types of pollution, deep sea-bed mining, international jurisdictional disputes, and piracy, examining the underlying reasons for these problems and providing practical policy suggestions for reducing their impact. Special focus is placed on historical and contemporary ocean laws, from the concept of "freedom of the seas" to the 2001 Fishery Stock Agreement. Solving the problems facing the world ocean should be a high priority for the international community, and this book provides a starting place for this process.

Organized Crime : A Reference Handbook
Patrick J. Ryan. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1995. 297pp.
Main Library Reference (1 East) HV6441 .R9 1995
Electronic copy also available.
The phrase "organized crime" calls to mind images from The Godfather, yet organized crime today takes on far more varied forms and guises. This volume explores the pervasiveness of organized crime, examines its history and chronology from La Cosa Nostra to Colombian drug cartels and Jamaican posses, and covers nontraditional organizations such as the Hell's Angels and the Pagans. The volume includes biographical information on organized crime members, interdictors, and researchers, and discusses the legislative and law enforcement milestones used to combat organized crime. Listings of print and nonprint resources aid in further research.

The Ozone Dilemma : A Reference Handbook
David E. Newton. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1995. 195pp.
Main Library Stacks QC879.7 .N49 1995
Electronic copy also available.
This comprehensive volume gives readers a thorough understanding of all sides of the ozone debate. Possible causes and solutions are explored. A 190-year chronology tracks our growing understanding of the ozone layer. The book also supplies a compilation of facts and statistics, excerpts from scientific papers, extensive sections of regulations, and international agreements.

Police Misconduct in America : A Reference Handbook
Dean J. Champion. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2001. 236pp.
Main Library Stacks HV8141 .C44 2001
Electronic copy also available.
Rodney King. Amadou Diallo. Ever wonder how many you haven’t heard about? With just the right dose of academic pragmatism, Dean Champion’s Police Misconduct assesses the history of police excesses from 1900 to the present. Picking up where the headlines leave off, readers will have the chance to:
(1) Thoroughly explore the history of police misconduct in America
(2) Research the issues and controversies that surround police brutality
(3) Examine Supreme Court cases that inform how we deal with policing the police
(4) Find the agencies and organizations that exist in creating (and responding to) the problem
(5) Broaden their knowledge of the topic through extensive print and nonprint resources

Policing in America : A Reference Handbook
Leonard A. Steverson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2008, 327pp.
Main Library Stacks HV8133 .S84 2008
This book maps the development of modern policing—both theory and practice—from humans' first efforts at social control, through the British roots of modern policing, to the unique institution of American policing today.

Pornography in America : A Reference Handbook
Joseph W. Slade. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2000. 349pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ471 .S59 2000
Electronic copy also available.
From the prosecution of birth control information as “indecent” to the explicit sexual offerings on the Internet, sexual expression and pornography have always been part of American culture. Today, as conservatives and feminists fight it and the Supreme Court protects it, pornography is an $8 billion industry. Pornography in America: A Reference Handbook now offers a complete overview of this volatile subject, treating pornographic genres as cultural resources, sorting out issues, illuminating controversies, and framing the debate. Here you’ll read that the first colonial newspaper was suppressed because it revealed the sexual shenanigans of the French king, that the first antipornography law was passed in 1842, that in 1997 the Oscar-winning The Tin Drum was seized in Oklahoma as child pornography, and much more. Biographical sketches focus on noted figures in the controversy: Lenny Bruce, Anthony Comstock, Andrea Dworkin, Larry Flynt, Catherine MacKinnon, Robert Mapplethorpe, and others. A chronology, facts and statistics, organizations on both sides of the issue, print and nonprint resources, a glossary, and a comprehensive index complete this valuable reference work.

Prisons in America : A Reference Handbook
Nicole Hahn Rafter and Debra L. Stanley. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1999. 226pp.
Main Library Stacks HV9471 .R36 1999
Electronic copy also available.
"Lock 'em up and throw away the key" seems to be our favorite approach to punishment. To find out what we get for the $30 billion spent on the penal system each year, consult this comprehensive handbook, which covers such important subjects as punishment in the United States since colonial times; the most critical penal problems today; mandatory sentencing; units for special populations; private prisons; costs; demographic changes; key penologists, and more. Prisons in America is a handy source for basic statistics on prisoners, penal trends, programs, and services, as well as professional organizations and print and nonprint resources.

Profiling and Criminal Justice in America : a Reference Handbook
Jeffrey B. Bumgarner. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 299pp.
Main Library Stacks HV9950 .B86 2004
Electronic copy also available.
A much-needed reference work on one of the hottest subjects today—profiling and its use and misuse by legal and police authorities.

Public Schooling in America : A Reference Handbook*
Richard D. Van Scotter. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1991. 240pp.
Main Library LA217.2 .V36 1991
Electronic edition

Punishment in America: A Reference Handbook
Cyndi Banks. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2005. 319pp.
Main Library Stacks HV9466 .B35 2005
From the Salem witch trials to death row, this work is a gripping analysis of the evolution of punishment practices, policies, and problems in America.

Racial and Ethnic Diversity in America: a Reference Handbook
Adalberto Aquirre, Jr. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 277pp.
Main Library Stacks E184.A1 A385 2003
Electronic copy also available.
A thorough overview of the populations and social forces that have shaped the character of racial and ethnic diversity in the United States.

Racial Justice in America : A Reference Handbook
David B. Mustard. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 271pp.
Main Library Stacks E185 .M95 2003
Electronic copy also available.
This book examines a volatile social issue that is always in the news, focusing on five critical areas: criminal justice, education, employment, living accomodations, and political participation. The main focus of this work is the past and present relationship between African Americans and whites. The discussions are set within a historical context since current racial relationships are the heritage of past events. By 1451, Africans were used as slaves in the Madeiras and Canary Islands. Not until 1502 did they arrive in the New World. All told, nearly 10 million Africans—equal to the year 2000 populations of Virginia and Mississippi combined—were transplanted across the Atlantic as slaves. Despite the termination of the U.S. slave trade in l807 and emancipation after the Civil War, members of a racial couple married as late as l958 were jailed for one year for breaking Virginia's antimiscegenation law. So where are we today? This book, which provides historical perspective and a discussion of different types of discrimination, examines how systemic changes have been made and analyzes the debates that still exist.

Rainforests of the World : A Reference Handbook
Kathlyn Gay. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2001. 2nd edition, 257pp.
Main Library QH541.5.R27 G39 2001
Electronic copy also available.
Rainforests of the World covers everything from the basic biology and chemistry of rainforests and their geographic location to problems, controversies, and solutions. A section highlights people and events like Gifford Pinchot, Lester Brown, Anita Roddick, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, and the Kyoto Protocol. The documents provided include the Declaration of Curitiba, the Indigenous People's Declaration, and the North American Free Trade Agreement. The book includes a chronology, charts, tables, and graphs on rainforest destruction; a list of groups working to protect rainforests; an extensive annotated bibliography; and other references.
1993 edition also available.

Rape in America : A Reference Handbook
Rob Hall. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1995. 202pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6561 .H337 1995
Electronic copy also available.
This handbook presents an overview of the historical and social context of rape in America. Major law enforcement, judicial system, and correctional system trends in dealing with both the rapist and the victim are discussed. Also included are an analysis of the types and motivations of rapists, a psychological profile of rapists, and a statistical profile of rape victims. For easy reference this volume features detailed listings of print and nonprint resources and an extensive directory of organizations that have a significant impact nationally or regionally in the movement to stop and prevent sexual violence. An invaluable source of information for students, researchers, and journalists, as well as rape crisis counselors, administrators of women's shelters, and law enforcement officials.

Recycling in America : A Reference Handbook
Debra L. Strong. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1997. 2nd edition, 330pp.
Main Library Stacks TD794.5 .S77 1997
Electronic copy also available.
The award-winning first edition of Recycling in America riveted our attention on the challenges our world faces in light of diminishing resources. This revised edition updates the acclaimed first edition with new information on organizations, legal issues surrounding recycling, and new recycling technology. The information-packed volume focuses on the role of recycling in solid waste management and in relation to other pressing environmental issues such as global warming, deforestation, conservation, and the depletion of natural resources. The author reviews materials currently being recycled and those that can no longer be overlooked, and the responsibility of industry to create new materials and products in the future. This book will make you look at and think about the way you live and what you waste.
1992 edition

Religion and Politics: A Reference Handbook
John W. Storey and Glenn H. Utter. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 342pp.
Main Library Stacks BL65.P7 S76 2002
Electronic copy also available.
Illuminates the Islamic revolution in Iran as well as the mergency of the Falun Gong in china. Here one also finds insightful articles on Gandhi and Hinduism, Pat Robertson and Christian fundamentalism, Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Ayatollah Khomeini and Shi'ite Islam.

Religion in the Schools : A Reference Handbook
James John Jurinski. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1998. 209pp.
Main Library Stacks LC111 .J87 1998
Electronic copy also available.
Since the founding of our nation, separation of church and state in American public schools has remained a continuing and often heated topic of debate. How does one person's freedom to practice religion impinge on other people's rights to be free from that religion? Religion in the Schools examines the many facets of this complex subject, including prayer in the schools, the teaching of evolution, and other issues that continue to generate controversy. It provides a broad overview of the subject, as well as a detailed examination of the legal and constitutional underpinnings of the legal and societal wall between church and state. Biographical sketches of over 20 key individuals involved in the issues. Although the book discusses many legal issues and court cases, Religion in the Schools is written for laypersons with minimum legal jargon. It also stresses the results of court decisions rather than detailed legal analyses of the cases. Readers will come away from this informative volume with a solid understanding of both sides of this controversial and ever-current topic.

The Religious Right : A Reference Handbook
Glenn H. Utter and John W. Storey. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2001. 2nd edition, 285pp.
Main Library Stacks BR526 .U88 2001
Electronic copy also available.
Whether you consider Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson true icons or false idols, this second edition of an award-winning reference work will be of interest to you. The book updates and expands its examination of the religious right and its influence on our government, citizens, society, and politics. The coverage offers a critical-historical survey of the movement, focusing on its increased involvement in the political arena, attempts to forge coalitions, and notable successes and failures. Recent elections are given special attention as a yardstick of the Right's continuing effort to further a conservative social agenda. Biographies of the men and women who have advanced the cause and an up-to-date chronology illuminate the movement’s goals. Further research is facilitated by annotated listings of print and nonprint resources and websites (both pro and con) and organizations affiliated with the religious right, as well as those in opposition. Comprehensive in scope, this enlarged and updated work offers easy-to-read information for those seeking a better understanding of religious advocacy and its evolving role in American life.
1995 edition

Renewable and alternative energy resources [electronic resource] : a reference handbook
Zachary A. Smith and Katrina D. Taylor. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2008. 323pp.
TJ808.3 .S65 2008 Online
This volume provides an insightful overview of renewable and alternative energy technologies and policies in the United States and around the world.

Reproductive Issues in America : A Reference Handbook
Janna C. Merrick and Robert H. Blank. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 241pp.
Main Library Stacks RG133.5 .M47 2003
Electronic copy also available.
A comprehensive and thoughtful analysis of human reproduction issues in the U.S. with emphasis on the ethical and policy implications of cutting-edge reproductive technologies. Human cloning. Stem cell research. Abortion. All of these subjects are surrounded by controversy. But now readers can cut through the usual emotion, misinformation, and distortion and get a fair and balanced picture of human reproduction issues in the United States. Few subjects are as divisive and partisan as the issues surrounding the propagation of the human species. This thorough examination covers the full scope of the debates and offers an up to the minute survey of the controversial technologies that are at the heart of reproductive rights in the United States. The areas explored range from abortion and sterilization to fetal research and human cloning. The moral, societal, and public policy implications of each subject are examined thoroughly, with emphasis on those areas where cutting-edge technology has raced ahead of public policy, thereby creating new concerns for ethicists and policy-makers. Legislative oversight or the freedom to pursue reproductive technologies at any cost, this debate is far from over.

Rich and Poor in America : A Reference Handbook
Geoffrey Gilbert. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2008. 275pp.
Main Library Stacks HC110.I5 G55 2008
This work provides a thorough overview and analysis of the increasing gap between the Americans at the top and bottom of the economic scale.

School Violence : A Reference Handbook*
Deborah L. Kopka. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1997. 184pp.
Main Library Stacks LB3013.3 .K68 1997
Electronic copy also available.
All across the United States, from urban areas to suburbs and rural districts, children are carrying weapons to school -- as many as 100,000 guns every day, according to a recent Department of Justice report. This volume focuses on the current situation regarding violence in schools, including theories of violence, the availability of weapons to children, the legal system, and preventive measures, both physical and sociological, now being taken to curb and eliminate the critical problem of school violence.

School Vouchers and Privatization : A Reference Handbook
Danny Weil. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 320pp.
Main Library Stacks LB2828.8 .W45 2002
Explore this controversial approach to education, its practical applications, successes, and failures in a straightforward guide that covers every facet of the issue, from for-profit schools to outsourcing of school management to vouchers. The 1980s witnessed the rise of private choice and the voucher movement in public education followed by for-profit management of public schools in the 1990s. These highly controversial approaches to reform have been supported through legislation and are currently operating in states like Florida and Wisconsin.

Secondary Schools : A Reference Handbook*
Leila E. Villaverde. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 255pp.
Main Library Stacks LA222 .V55 2003
A broad survey of secondary schools, their historical origins, and present-day goals, intentions, and practices in educating adolescents.

Sentencing : A Reference Handbook
Dean J. Champion. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2008. 276pp.
Gast Business Library KF9685 .C48 2008
Sentencing: A Reference Handbook offers a complete overview of the complex sentencing procedures devised by the federal government and each of the 50 states.

Sex, Youth, and Sex Education : A Reference Handbook*
David Campos. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 316pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ57.5.A3 C36 2002
Contemporary education issues. Contents: Introduction -- Chronology of sex education -- A historical perspective of sex education in the twentieth century -- Sexual violence against youth: abuse and harassment -- Sexual orientation: gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth -- Sex education and youth with disabilities -- Organizations, associations, and governmental agencies -- Resources and selected publications -- A different world.

Sexual Harassment : A Reference Handbook
Lynne Eisaguirre. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1997. 2nd edition, 285pp.
Gast Business Library KFR4758 .E36
The controversial issue of sexual harassment remains at the forefront of contemporary American society despite widespread education on the subject. This work addresses the ongoing focus on sexual harassment in the United States. Current controversies are explored, including the highly publicized lawsuit against President Bill Clinton brought by Paula Jones, a former employee of the state of Arkansas. Conversely, readers are asked to assess a recent national debate over whether grade school children should be disciplined for "sexual harassment" when they kiss a playmate. Compelling cases of sexual harassment in the 1990s are examined. Sexual Harassment contains an overview, a detailed chronology, biographical sketches, primary source material, lists of print and nonprint resources, and a directory of organizations and agencies.
1993 edition also available in print and electronic format.

Single Parents : A Reference Handbook
Karen L. Kinnear. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1999. 263pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ759.915 .K56 1999
Also available in Main Library Stacks HQ759.915 .K56 1999
Electronic copy also available.
Single Parents offers an overview of this growing phenomenon, the problems faced by single-parent families, and their impact on society. Topics include men and women as single parents, single-mother families and poverty, the legal system and single parents, gay and lesbian parents, moral issues, and the effects of growing up in a single-parent family. The experiences of single parents in other countries are also discussed. This volume lists numerous resources, among them federal government programs; state statutes concerning child custody and adoption; private and public organizations; a guide to literature, films and videos; and information on the Internet.

Space Exploration : A Reference Handbook
Mrinal Bali ; introduction by Harrison H. Schmitt. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, c1990. 240pp.
Main Library TL794 .B34 1990

Special Education: A Reference Handbook*
Arlene Sacks. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, 2001. 235pp.
Main Library Stacks LC3981 .S33 2001
Contemporary education issues. What are the key issues in special education? What are the differences between special and regular education programs? Why Exceptional Student Education (ESE) instead of regular education? Those are just some of the questions answered in this new reference work that focuses on special education, its development, and the important issues that both positively and negatively affect the field. The book first offers a chronology of the special education movement and looks at how various schools deal with special education issues and their curriculum successes and failures. It also offers insights into the field’s legal and legislative complexities, as well as political realities, especially the challenge of funding. Special attention is paid to advocacy, focusing on successful cases and programs based on the support of parents and professionals in other fields. The coverage concludes with a directory of organizations, associations, and government agencies, as well as useful print resources. Multimedia research is supported in resource listings that include Internet chat rooms and websites of organizations, as well as films, audio, and video information.

Sports and Education : A Reference Handbook*
Anna Marie Frank. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, 2003. 226pp.
Main Library Stacks GV346 .F73 2003
A timely, unbiased look at the positive and negative effects of school-sponsored sports on the American education system.

Sports Ethics : A Reference Handbook
Lawrence H. Berlow. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1994. 204pp.
Main Library GV706.3 .B47 1994

Student Rights: A Reference Handbook
Patricia H. Hinchey. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, June 2001. 206pp.
Gast Business Library KF4150 .H56 2001
Contemporary education issues. At the start of the republic, young people were legally the property of their parents; today they have almost the same rights as adults. Student Rights offers a thorough and readable survey of the legal status of students, from a historical overview and a review of key legislation to discussions of landmark Supreme Court decisions, impact on school policies, and contemporary parent rights movements. The coverage answers many important questions: (1) When does a school's need to maintain order outweigh a student's right to free speech? (2) What searches may a school use without violating a student's privacy? (3) Which disciplinary actions warrant due process protection and which are minor? (4) Are students getting an equal education, or is discrimination still at work? (5) Can a student pray in school or is the separation of church and state absolute? The material is comprehensive and current, written in a clear, concise style. It puts the subject in historical context and is of practical relevance in today's classroom. Final chapters include rosters of organizations and associations, annotated bibliographies of both print and nonprint resources, a glossary, and an index.

Tax Reform : A Reference Handbook
James John Jurinski. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2000. 321pp.
Gast Business Library KF6289 .J87 2000
Electronic copy also available.
Written for ordinary mortals, not accountants or other tax experts, Tax Reform provides a brief historical portrait of the U.S. tax system, with emphasis on the twentieth century, and details the long history of tax revolts. Here you will find out:
(1) Who pays how much in taxes in the U.S. and the effects of current taxes, from death and social security levies to sales and property taxes
(2) How the infamous “marriage penalty” came about
(3) How income tax cuts have been subverted, and more.
Tax Reform also thoroughly examines the fundamentals of tax reform options, explains the political and public relations difficulties of tax reform, and reviews such current proposals as the flat tax, the value added tax, the green tax, and a national sales tax. The work concludes with an annotated bibliography of books, articles, films, and on-line resources.

Teacher Training : A Reference Handbook*
David B. Pushkin. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, November 2001. 249pp.
Main Library Stacks LB2165 .P87 2001
Contemporary education issues. A critical and thought-provoking look at the teaching profession, from academic preparation and training to opportunities for professional advancement. Topics covered include: (1) How teaching is viewed by those in the profession and society at large; (2) The choice of degree programs and majors, student teaching, and certification; (3) Recruitment and training, from probation to tenure, certification exams, hiring quotas, tenure, power structures, school culture, and leadership; and (4) Areas for new research and reform that lie ahead for teacher educators, supervisors, personnel administrators, and graduate students. Many chapters are written by practicing teachers, who offer teaching insights, classroom observations, and practical perspectives.

Terrorism : A Reference Handbook
Stephen E. Atkins. Santa Barbara. Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1992. 199pp.
Main Library HV6431 .A87 1992

Tobacco : A Reference Handbook
Harold V. Cordry. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2001. 419pp.
Main Library HV5735 .C67 2001
Tobacco addresses the many interrelated controversies surrounding the historical and current use of tobacco and presents a clear, objective, and comprehensive treatment of this contentious public health and legal issue. Drawing from a variety of solid sources, including medical reports and studies and documents from global organizations and federal agencies, the author identifies the various parts of the "tobacco debate." In order to ensure completeness and objectivity, the opposing points of view are presented as accurately as possible. Includes an annotated bibliography of important print and electronic resources, a chronology of developments in the history of tobacco use, and a selection of primary source documents from the World Health Organization, tobacco companies, and anti-tobacco activists.

Understanding Educational Reform : A Reference Handbook*
Raymond A. Horn, Jr. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2002. 338pp.
Main Library Stacks LA209.2 .H58 2002
The only handbook of its kind to bring together materials from a wide range of authoritative works, providing the reader with a comprehensive overview of reform in American education.

The United Nations System : A Reference Handbook
Chadwick F. Alger. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2006. 375pp.
Main Library Stacks JZ4986 .A44 2006
From the beginnings of the Cold War to efforts to control Saddam Hussein's weapons program, this indispensable guide to the history and workings of the UN system shows how this widely misunderstood organization has helped to make the world a safer place and what its future prospects are likely to be.

Urban Education : A Reference Handbook*
Kathy L. Adams and Dale E. Adams. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 243pp.
Main Library Stacks LC5131 .A33 2003
A comprehensive look at urban schools using history as a lens for coming to grips with present-day social, political, legal, and economic realities reflected in our urban education system.

Urban Sprawl : A Reference Handbook
Donald C. Williams. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2000. 264pp.
Planning and Design Library HT384.U5 W55 2000
Electronic copy also available.
One side claims that urban sprawl is spurring economic growth and creating jobs; the other claims that it is creating traffic jams, destroying cities, and using up too much space too fast. Which side is right? Find out by consulting the first reference work to jump head-first into the middle of this controversy, Urban Sprawl. A balanced overview, the handbook marshals the facts, sorts out the benefits and the drawbacks, and withholds judgment. This even-handed, up-to-date survey of contemporary urban development in America examines how and why a growing number of citizens are expressing concern over urban sprawl. It explains why urban development has been so haphazard, why farmland losses involve the best soil, how effective local governments have been in controlling development, what effect growth restrictions have on housing costs, if sprawl really threatens our food production, how to achieve smart growth, and more. The book includes a comprehensive list of organizations active in the debate, an up-to-the-minute bibliography of all the major works, and a wide range of electronic resources.

U. S. Homeland Security : A Reference Handbook
Howard Ball. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2005. 235pp.
Main Library Stacks HV6432.4 .B35 2005
A legal scholar details the creation and function of the Department of Homeland Security, placing it in historical context.

U.S. Immigration : A Reference Handbook
E. Willard Miller, Ruby M. Miller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 304pp.
Main Library Stacks JV6465 .M55 1996
electronic edition
In recent years, immigration issues--and their associated economic and racial tensions--have risen to the forefront of American life. This timely volume begins with a historical look at immigration, starting with the seventeenth century, then explores the mass migrations of the nineteenth century and investigates modern immigration trends. Topics include the transformation of the U.S. labor force, public policy issues, refugee immigration, and illegal immigration. This reference guide provides a summary of immigration laws and regulations, a directory of government and private organizations, a bibliography, and a glossary. An essential resource for all students, researchers, and laypersons concerned with immigration in the U.S. today.

U.S. Immigration : A Reference Handbook
Michael C. LeMay. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 283pp.
Main Library Stacks JV6483 .L46 2004
Electronic copy also available.
An expert examination of U.S. immigration law and its various reforms from 1965 to the present.

U.S. Military Service : A Reference Handbook
Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 2006. 319pp. Main Library Stacks UB323 .W358 2007
The end of the Cold War ushered in a new kind of war that has already made conventional tactics and strategy obsolete. How has the U.S. military responded? In U.S. Military Service: A Reference Handbook, Cynthia Watson, professor of strategy at the National War College, analyzes the major issues that are reshaping the military in the era of global terrorism: problems of recruitment, urban warfare, effective use of electronic media, and rebuilding failed states. She also examines the unprecedented policy of relinquishing military duties to the for-profit sector, which has occurred in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Through a combination of detailed analysis and broad overview, the work shows how the U.S. military is quickly transforming itself into a leaner, more agile force.

U.S. National Security : A Reference Handbook
Cynthia Ann Watson. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2008. 2nd ed. 281pp.
Main Library Stacks UA23 .W36397 2008
2002 edition
National Security is always front-page news. A unique reference work now focuses on every aspect of this critical area, from computer security to antiterrorist activities. Defense spending, budget cuts, the surveillance of spies, Star Wars scenarios, and satellite imaging—U.S. National Security covers it all. This reference explores the careers and accomplishments of well-known individuals in the field and analyzes major events in the security, espionage, and counterespionage landscape.

U.S. Social Security : A Reference Handbook
Steven Greene Livingston. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2008. 275pp.
Main Library Stacks HD7125 .L58 2008
This handbook is a one-stop forum for nonpartisan discussion of the major proposals for addressing Social Security's coming financial crisis.

USA Patriot Act of 2001 : Balancing Civil Liberties and National Security : A Reference Handbook
Howard Ball. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 265pp.
Gast Business Library KF4850 .B35 2004
The USA Patriot Act: A Reference Handbook is an in-depth examination of the difficult wartime task of balancing civil liberties against national security.

Victims' Rights : A Reference Handbook
Leigh Glenn. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1997. 231pp.
Business Library KF9763 .G58 1997
Electronic copy also available.
In the past 20 years, the victims' rights movement has gathered momentum, often succeeding in its attempts to turn the tables on laws and legislation that traditionally loaded the scales of justice in favor of criminal defendants. Victims' Rights explores this movement and its implications in detail for the first time in a single, comprehensive handbook. It answers questions vital to every U.S. citizen: What is the criminal justice system, and what is the role of the victim in that system? How has this role changed in recent years? What are society's attitudes toward victims' and defendants' rights? Why is there a push for a constitutional amendment regarding the rights of victims? This volume answers all these questions and more, and is rounded out by a chronology, biographical sketches, documents, court cases, legislation, an annotated directory of victim and defendant advocate organizations, and a general index for ease of access.

Violence and the Media : A Reference Handbook
David E. Newton. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 254pp.
Main Library Stacks P96.V5 N48 1996
Electronic copy also available.
The controversial relationship between violent behavior in American society and violent acts portrayed in the media -- motion pictures, television, pop music, and video games -— forms the subject of this reference work. This handbook presents the views of those who believe violence in the media does cause violent behavior and those who remain unconvinced that any such relationship exists. This book also examines the results of studies on violence in the media and recommendations for its control. A section on legal data, opinions, and documents provides a close-up look at the legislative issues surrounding violence and the media. A vital resource for high school and college students, legislators, and concerned laypersons.

Violence in the Media : a Reference Handbook
Nancy Signorielli. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2005. 263pp.
Main Library Stacks PN1992.8.V55 S55 2005
From the popular video game Mortal Kombat to reality TV, this book offers a candid compilation of the history, problems, impacts, and solutions relating to media violence.

Violent Children : A Reference Handbook
Karen L. Kinnear. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1995. 251pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ784.V55 K56 1995
Electronic copy also available.
This volume presents a balanced survey of children and violence in the United States--specifically those children who commit acts such as murder, rape, and assault. The physical, cultural, social, economic, and legal aspects of this pressing issue are explored in detail. Topics include the causes of these acts, and what is being done to cope with and prevent this violence. Statistical information, intervention programs, and a list of print and nonprint resources are provided. An important reference work for students, parents, child advocacy groups, educators, law enforcement personnel, legislators, and other policy makers.

Voting in America : A Reference Handbook
Robert E. DiClerico. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2004. 329pp.
Main Library Stacks JK1976 .D53 2004
Electronic copy also available.
The 2000 election was one of the closest and most hotly contested presidential elections on record, one that resulted in the first U.S. Supreme Court hearing for a presidential race in its 210 year history. Why, after years of public debate, congressional acts, and media attention, is the voting process still so controversial and unresolved? Despite the successful struggles of women, blacks, soldiers, and other minorities to secure suffrage, voter turnout in America is among the lowest in westernized countries. Voting in America: A Reference Handbook surveys the history of voting examining how it has evolved since Colonial times. This book focuses on how various legal, constitutional, and social barriers such as the Voter Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act, the Motor Voter Act, and the 23rd Amendment have impacted the right to vote. It also focuses on what controversies, such as the two party monopoly and financial influence, still remain. The only book to consider the rise in voting opportunities for Americans also explores factors affecting the value of the vote, such as the redistricting, term limits, and low voter turnout.

War Crimes and Justice : a Reference Handbook
Howard Ball. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, Inc., c2002. 259pp.
Gast Business Library K5301 .B35 2002
A thorough introduction to the laws of war, the savagery of war crimes, and the international system that demands justice. Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Kosovo. Sierra Leone, East Timor, and Cambodia. The atrocities that occurred in these war-ravaged nations are horrifying issues of global concern. How can there be peace in a nation emerging from war unless there's some kind of justice for the victims, the survivors, and the perpetrators? How do you speak of the unspeakable and defend the indefensible? War Crimes and Justice: A Reference Handbook thoroughly examines the laws of war and how the world community handles the monstrous brutalities of war through the international justice system. Highlighted are 20th century war crimes and trials including Yugoslavia, Kosovo, and the Kerry incident in Vietnam. Also covered are the four international tribunals established to punish violators in Nuremberg, Tokyo, Yugoslavia, and Rwanda. Pulitzer Prize-nominated author Howard Ball discusses those who committed unspeakable acts during war, others who sought justice for victims, and case studies portraying both victims and perpetrators. Significant treaties and conventions are explored, as well as all the options available to nations emerging from the throes of bloody civil wars to ensure peace with justice.
Contents include War crimes : an introduction -- The pursuit of justice : current issues, controversies, and possible solutions -- International laws of war : a chronology of major treaties and events in armed conflicts that triggered their adoption, 1856-2002 -- War crimes : people and events -- War crimes and justice : major treaties and reports.

Waste Management : A Reference Handbook
Jacqueline Vaughn. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2008. 311pp.
Main Library TD791 .V38 2009
An authoritative review of issues in waste management both in the United States and globally that measures the scope of the problem and examines the latest scientific and policy initiatives for addressing it.

Water Quality and Availability: A Reference Handbook
E. Willard Miller and Ruby B. Miller. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, 1992. 430pp.
Main Library TD223 .M53 1992
1992 edition available electronically.
Designed to serve as both a one-stop information source and a guide to in-depth exploration, this eye-opening volume examines the availability and quality of our most fundamental resource: water. Solidly grounded in scientific fact and historical and environmental realities, it offers a sobering look at the state of our water supply, the factors that threaten its purity, government regulations designed to preserve and protect it, and how current water shortages are affecting the life-style and livelihoods of thousands of Americans. While not promising any easy answers, it provides solid, useful information that can serve as a foundation for decision making, further research, or simply enhanced understanding of this critical resource.

Welfare Reform : A Reference Handbook
Mary Ellen Hombs. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1996. 165pp.
Main Library Stacks HV95 .H554 1996
Electronic copy also available.
The contemporary debate about welfare reform in the United States provides the focus of this book. A wide range of programs makes up the assistance policies of the federal and state governments. The opening essay sorts out which programs are generally regarded as "welfare," where they came from, and the current trends and issues driving the need for change. Special attention is given to the block grant programs of the 1980s and the new Child Protection Block Grant proposed as part of the Republicans' "Contract with America." Facts and statistics about welfare programs, recipients of benefits, and public opinion regarding welfare are presented in detail. This volume represents an important contribution to understanding one of the most debated social issues of our time.

Wilderness Preservation : A Reference Handbook
Kenneth A. Rosenberg. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1994. 292pp.
Main Library Stacks QH76 .R66 1994
Electronic copy also available.
This fact filled resource helps readers understand the issues surrounding wilderness, preservation, and conservation. Here, in a single, unbiased volume, can be found the views and opinions that will shape America’s landscape for future generations. Government management of the public domain is detailed, as is federal legislation pertaining to the environment and wilderness areas. Biographical sketches of individuals who have influenced modern attitudes toward preservation and a detailed chronology of the events that have brought us the present are also provided. In addition, annotated listings of organizations and resources are included, to assist readers in further study. This volume delivers solid, useful information that can serve as a foundation for decision-making, research, or simply enhanced understanding of this critical subject.

Women and Equality in the Workplace : A Reference Handbook
Janet Zollinger Giele and Leslie F. Stebbins. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2003. 334pp.
MSU Main Library Stacks HD6095 .G48 2003
Electronic copy
An expert guide to women's quest for fairness in the workplace, marking the great legal and social advances as well as continuing inequalities.

Women and Political Participation : A Reference Handbook
Barbara C. Burrell. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2004. 277pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ1236.5.U6 B875 2004
An illuminating analysis of the long and ongoing struggle of women in America to gain political equality and bring about change in public policy.

Women in Prison : A Reference Handbook
Cyndi Banks. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 227pp.
Main Library Stacks HV9471 .B365 2003
Electronic copy also available.
Except for lurid exploitation movies, incarcerated women are ignored by society. Yet because of mandatory sentences and "three strikes" legislation, their number is growing rapidly. Moreover, everything is complicated by the fact that the prisoners are also mothers and family caregivers. This new book takes readers behind the bars. Focusing on an often overlooked subject, this volume explores women's incarceration, from the first women-only prison to modern state-of-the-art facilities. It explores controversies, problems, and solutions, such as excessive discipline, the lack of training programs, sexual abuse, medical services, and visitation policies. The book also investigates key issues such as the background of inmates, the disproportionate number of African American and Hispanic prisoners because of the "war on drugs," and how women cope with the separation from their children and families. A full chapter is devoted to important people and events, from the first female jail keeper in 1822 to changing prison goals and the impact of feminism.

Women in the Third World : A Reference Handbook
Karen L. Kinnear. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c1997. 348pp.
Main Library Stacks HQ1870.9 .K58 1997
Electronic copy also available.
Provides a balanced, comprehensive survey of existing literature on women throughout the third world. Topics include the status of women, their access to and enrollment in schools and universities, their access to medical care, their legal status, the actions that husbands can take against their wives as permitted by law, and the extent to which women are considered property. This volume also provides biographical sketches of noted women leaders, statistical information, data on programs, and summaries of print and nonprint resources. Students, educators, journalists, policy makers, women's center personnel, and anyone interested in the status of women will find this an excellent research tool.

Women's History as Scientists : A Guide to the Debates (Controversies in Science)
Leigh Ann Whaley. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2003. 252pp.
Main Library Stacks Q130 .W46 2003
A comprehensive historical review of the debates surrounding women's contributions and roles in science, with emphasis on women's access to education, training, and professional careers. This book belongs in most library collections—academic and public. It is essential to understanding the exclusion of women throughout most of history from science, and the reluctance of women to enter science programs...lively, well-written, solidly researched...helpful to anyone studying women in most facets of science and in many areas of women's studies. Educators and admissions representatives considering the lack of women in scientifically charged programs will find the book enlightening.

Work and Family in America : A Reference Handbook
Leslie Stebbins. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-CLIO, c2001. 294pp.
Main Library Stacks HD4904.25 .S84 2001
Electronic copy also available.
As more women pursue careers and more men stay at home, the spheres of work and family will never be the same. Work and Family in America offers a comprehensive and insightful overview of these two overlapping worlds as it:
(1) Provides the latest figures on and status of work-family demographics, from the number of working mothers to marriage and divorce rates
(2) Covers recent legislation and case law
(3) Offers biographies of relevant figures
(4) Summarizes recent books, videos, and other publications on the subject
(5) Spotlights key websites, Internet resources, and electronic discussion groups
(6) Includes an extensive directory of work- family organizations.
Surveying current research findings, social trends, and public controversies, the book examines the changing cultures of the workplace, family, and home. It looks at the shifting role of men as they become more involved fathers, trends in daycare and child development, the degree to which dual-career couples share housework, and the relationship between employment and self-esteem.

World Hunger : A Reference Handbook
Patricia L. Kutzner. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, 1991. 359pp.
Main Library Stacks HD9000.5 .K883 1991
Electronic copy also available.

World Population : A Reference Handbook
Geoffrey Gilbert. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, c2001. 223pp.
Main Library Stacks HB871 .G47 2001
Electronic copy also available.
In 1999, the world celebrated the dubious holiday “Six Billion People” day. As experts forecast 8 billion people worldwide before the year 2040, we require impartial and authoritative answers to questions about the population explosion: Will food become scarce in the future? Will epidemics become more difficult to control? And what will be the impact of increasing population on global climate, wilderness areas, and biodiversity? Packed with meticulously researched graphs, tables, and text, World Population provides the resources needed to understand the economic, demographic, and environmental issues at stake on a planet rushing toward “carrying capacity.” This handbook includes such information as:
(1) Historical records of population growth from Neolithic times to the present
(2) Long-range population growth projections and estimates of the carrying capacity of the earth
(3) Coverage of the most important demographic thinkers of the past and present, from Thomas Malthus to Julian Simon
(4) China’s and other nations’ population policies
(5) A directory of organizations, associations, and government and international agencies.

World Population : A Reference Handbook
Geoffrey Gilbert, ed. Santa Barbara, Calif. : ABC-Clio, c2006. 2nd edition, 298pp.
Main Library Stacks HB871 .G47 2005
Exhaustively updated, this second edition provides a current assessment of world population and the range of economic, social, and environmental issues it raises.

World Poverty : A Reference Handbook
Geoffrey Gilbert. Santa Barbara, Ca. : ABC-CLIO, 2004. 299pp.
Main Library Stacks HC59.72.P6 G53 2004
Electronic copy also available.
World Poverty provides an authoritative and balanced examination of the many facets of world poverty and the policy issues surrounding it.

*Includes books in the Contemporary education issues series as well.

WWW http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/general/