This research guide relays some basic information on library and information resources pertaining to the concerns of this department, as provided by University Libraries and/or sites on the World Wide Web.

Middle East and African Studies covers all disciplines in the study of human societies, past and present, in the following countries: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, and Egypt, the occupied territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Turkey, Azerbayjan, Armenia, Iran, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Also included in this Guide are Ancient Near East and Egypt, Egyptology, and Jewish Studies.

1. To Shelf-Browse for Books (using main Library of Congress Subject Divisions)

Books on subjects associated with this field are shelved under the call number ranges listed below. Use TOPCAT to search for specific items in the collection, or more narrowly-defined subjects.

2. To Find Journal and Magazine Articles (using indexing/abstracting/full-text services)

The following services are recommended for courses for first-year students and nonmajors:

• Academic Search Premier and MasterFILE Premier: These two all-subject WWW-based services (they are part of the EBSCOhost system) feature indexing and abstracting of many journals and magazines WKU Libraries receives in hardcopy, plus a large selection of articles in full-text.
• Google Scholar: A free Web-based Google service that restricts searches to the scholarly literature. Now features linking to full-text of articles held by WKU.

The following services are recommended for use by advanced students and researchers:

Special resource:  TDNet Electronic Journal Finder [use to access Libraries' electronic journals, magazines, and newspapers, as well as some indexes and databases containing full-text articles; includes a comprehensive A-Z listing of titles]
Special resource:  KenCat [A searchable catalog of the collections at the Kentucky Library & Museum. KenCat includes manuscripts, letters, sheet music, photographs, museum exhibits, images, journals, and books.]

3. Monographic Reference Works in Helm Library

• Index Islamicus
• Major index to articles on the history, languages, literatures, and ethnography of the entire Islamic world.
  Location: Ref. BP161.2 .I5x
• Atlas of Palestine (The West Bank and Gaza) 2002
• Maps and satellite photos illustrate history and politics; socioeconomic conditions; physical characteristics; water resources; land use; and main Palestinian cities (past and present).
  Location: Ref. G2242.W4 A8 2002
• Atlas of the Middle East
• A handy collection of country and city maps which also includes thematic and historical maps.
  Location: Ref. G2205 .N34 2008
• Encyclopaedia of Islam (EI)
• The major scholarly encyclopedia in Islamic & Middle Eastern studies, it is a multi-volume work containing signed articles on all aspects of the Islamic world: religious, biographical, historical, and social. Short bibliographies of classical works accompany signed articles.
  Location: Ref. DS37 .E523

4. Faculty

Middle East and African Studies Faculty Profiles

5. Related Professional Societies (for professional news, careers/jobs, memberships, etc.)

6. Recommended Web Sites

• MEED: Middle East Economic Digest
• The Middle East's business weekly. Covers current business and economic events in the Middle East.
• Gulf in the Media
• Bilingual (English/Arabic) resource providing news and analysis relevant to the Arabian/Persian Gulf region. Includes news provided by global news providers and sources in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Oman.
• Mideastwire
• A daily email newsletter of concise, translated briefs covering some of the key political, cultural, economic and opinion pieces appearing in the media of the 22 Arab countries, Iran and the Arab Diaspora.

• Primary Source Collections
  • Middle East, 1916-2001: A Documentary Record
    • Full text of key documents, arranged chronologically, but also searchable.

University Libraries Liaison: Rob Harbison (x6122 / rob.harbison@wku.edu) last updated 10/01/09