Selected Reference Books 

Bowker, John, ed.  Oxford Dictionary of World Religions.  Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 1997.  Ref. BL 31 .O84 1997

A compendium of short articles on religions around the world.

Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Middle East and North Africa.  Ref. DS 44 .C37

Comprehensive articles on the people, culture, and history of the area.

Facts on File.  New York:  Facts on File News Services.   Ref. D 410 .F3

Day by day accounting of major events around the world.

The New Encyclopedia Britannica.  Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1997.  Ref. AE 5 .E363 

Perhaps the most respected general encyclopedia of all.  Good for background information about countries, people, political philosophies, etc.

Political Handbook  New York:  McGraw-Hill..  Ref. Desk JF 37 .P6

Substantial articles about every country in the world.