Philosophical Exploration

From Italian existentialist Nicola Abbagnano to Spanish Christian ontologist Xavier Zubiri, the entries in the second edition of the Encyclopedia of Philosophy, edited by Donald M. Borchert, discuss the thought systems of important individual philosophers from around the world, as well as important topics, ranging from aesthetic experience to Zoroastrianism. In print, this publication is 10 volumes and totals to nearly 8,000 pages. However, it is available anytime, any day to the St. Mary's University community through the Gale Virtual Reference Library.

This resource was recognized as an Outstanding Academic Title in 2006 by Choice, the American Library Association's chief academic book and electronic resource review publication.

The clear and accessible presentation of wide-ranging philosophical subjects makes this a first-stop resource for general readers, students and educators. The entries tend to be longer and more comprehensive than in similar works and include guides to related entries. This resource includes an appendix of additional articles; a thematic outline of the contents based organized by historical periods and subfields of philosophy; a number of articles on philosophy bibliographies, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and journals; and an index for the entire set.

Environmental Resources

• The library subscribes to several resources that will help you find information about current and developing environmental issues and technologies. Through the Gale Virtual Reference Library, which is available to the St. Mary’s University community online at any time, everyday, you can access Environmental Issues: Essential Primary Sources. This 2006 publication contains approximately 175 full or excerpted documents---speeches, legislation, magazine and newspaper articles, essays, memoirs, letters, interviews, novels, songs, and works of art---as well as overview information that places each document in context. Coverage includes environmental thought and writing; earth processes and history; energy; environmental disasters, legislation, conservation, and activism; and human impacts on nature as it illustrates the diversity of environmental issues facing present and future generations.

• Another resource that is helpful for current issues, such as rising oil prices, climate change, alternative fuels, recycling or waste reduction, and more, is CQ Researcher. This resource provides an overview, background, chronology, current situation, statements from opposing positions, and a bibliography for each timely topic covered.

• Academic Search Complete and Business Source Complete are two databases providing access to journal articles. They can be searched simultaneously, and a search can be limited to items including “Full Text” and to “Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals.”

• Our library online catalog provides access to print and online books, as well as government information about environmental issues.

• There are a number of environment-related resources bookmarked at http://del.icio.us/blumelibrary. These can be browsed or searched by tags such as water, sustainability, renewable, energy, and more.