Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Worldmark Encyclopedia of the States. 7th ed. Edited by Timothy L. Gall. Detroit, Mich.: Thomson Gale, 2007. 1050 p. $235.00. ISBN 10: 1-414-41058-1; 13: 978-1-313-41059-6.

Students who are researching colleges or thinking about taking a job in another area or state of the U.S. (including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) can use this handy reference to find the location and size, topography, climate, flora and fauna, environmental protection, population, ethnic groups, languages, religions, transportation, history, state government, political parties (with an inset box showing the presidential vote from 1948-2004), local government, state services, the judicial system, armed forces, migration, intergovernmental cooperation, economy, income, labor, agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, forestry, mining, energy and power, commerce, consumer protection, financial information, taxation, economic policy, health, social welfare, housing, education, arts, libraries and museums, communications, press, organizations, tourism, sports and famous people from each state. A bibliography completes each entry. In the study of economics and using the State Government Finances inset box, students can compare the per person expenditure for state services such as public welfare, hospitals, health, correction and education that can give a picture of where the legislators of that state place their resources. These also will be most useful in checking information from any Web site that provides similar information. Endpapers at the front have a map of the U.S. and each state's map in color can be found at the end of the books.