Some favored reference sources

Some of the reference sources that I find very helpful in helping students are:


The Community District Needs-- a series for NYC's five boroughs, published by the Department of City Planning. It provides census information for the community districts as well as identifying quality of life issues for the district, including among other things, police, parks, and economic development. Program needs for youth and senior citizens are addressed, as well as housing and other needs. The identified needs could be used by either public affairs students with an assignment to design a new service agency, or for entrepreneurs looking to start new businesses. Or, they could be used by funders to confirm claims made in applications for grants.
For example, if someone were seeking to expand after school programs, the community district needs might support this need.

U.S. Code Congressional and Administrative News--has new laws passed by Congress, and executive orders issued by the President, which can be found elsewhere (in print and online).

What is really helpful is the legislative history that is provided, which is sometimes difficult to find elsewhere and a popular names act table.
So, if you know an act by the name "Child Nutrition Act of 1966," you can learn the statutory number and name, and find the text of the act.


West's Encyclopedia of American Law. This encyclopedia gives basic background information.
For example, it explains what an affidavit is, and provides an example. Need a quick legal history of animal rights laws and need to know the leading cases? Read the summary of animal rights.

The International Motion Picture Almanac. I will confess to not using this annual publication as much as I did when I was a public librarian. In addition to being a source of information about films, and biographies of those involved in films, it offers production services for those in the industry, professional organizations, the world market for films, and lists of award winners.

Rita