Use the web sites listed below or search for content using a search engine, such as Google (http://www.google.com), or a directory, such as Yahoo (http://dir.yahoo.com).

• Arts by Country, Culture or Region - (http://www.zeroland.co.nz/asia_china_art.html)  Compilation of links relating to the art of a particular country or region.
• Background Notes - (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/) The US State Department's Background Notes provide detailed and up-to-date information about the entry requirements, climate, clothing, health facilities, transportation facilities, holidays, geography, population, history, government, politics, foreign policy, and economy of most countries.
• Country Information - (http://web.ita.doc.gov/ticwebsite/tic.nsf/All/Country%20Information?OpenDocument)  Using the databases of country information available from International Trade Administration of the US Dept. of Commerce, this site is a wealth of cultural information for the potential commercial venture outside of the US
• ***Country Studies: Area Handbook Series - (http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html) The country Studies Series focuses primarily on lesser known countries.  It presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions.
• Culture Crossing: a Community Built Guide to Cross-Cultural Etiquette & Understanding - (http://www.culturecrossing.net/index.php) Submitted by people who are either natives or residents of these countries, the website content reflects interpersonal practices for those in business, students or members of the general public.
• Foreign Embassies of Washington, DC - (http://www.embassy.org/embassies/) The Electronic Embassy provides information on each of the embassies in Washington DC, with links to Web-based resources where available.
• International Business Etiquette and Manners - (http://www.cyborlink.com) Includes behavior and communication information on 122 different countries.
• International Websites - (http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/departments/library/internet/
  webliographies/international.html) Compiled by the Phoenix College Library, includes  links to sites that focus on art, costume, cultures, geography, languages, and many others.
• Kwintessential Cross Cultural Solutions : Country Profiles - (http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/
  country-profiles.html) - Excellent source for communication concepts related to the business field for selected countries.  Also look at Country Etiquette Guides and Doing Business In ... Guides from this site.
• World Factbook - (http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html) World Factbook is prepared by the CIA for the use of Government Officials.  Each country profile tracks such demographics as population, ethnicity and literacy rates, as well as political, geographical, and economic data.
• WorldWise Schools - (http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/) Sponsored by the US Peace Corps, this site includes a Global Café and an area that collects the stories about countries from the volunteers who have served there.

Last updated October 20, 2008.

• Culturegrams: The Nations Around Us (Ref GT 150 .C85 2001) Also available as a reference database.  (On campus access only)
• Encyclopedia Britannica Online (Link from Databases and Reference Sources page of SMCC Library website)
• Encyclopedia of Food and Culture (Ref GT 2850 .E53 2003)
• Ethnic Dress (Ref GT 511 .K46 1995)
• Folklore of World Holidays (Ref GT 3930 .F65 1998)
• Garland Encyclopedia of World Music (Ref ML 100 .G16 1998)
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (Ref GN 333 .W67 1998)
• Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations (Ref G 63 .W67 1998)
• You Eat What You Are: People, Culture and Food Traditions (Ref GT 2850 .B37 1999)
• Browse for books on specific countries by checking the call numbers beginning with D for materials on countries in the Eastern Hemisphere; or call numbers, E and F, for materials on countries in the Western Hemisphere.
• Find specific electronic books about the culture and customs of selected countries in the Daily Life Online database.  (On campus access only)
• Additional resources useful to cultural and ethnic studies, such as African American Experience and Latino American Experience, are available under the Databases & References link. (On campus access only)
• Search for books on specific categories relating to countries in the Library Catalog

Find magazine, journal and newspaper articles on countries by searching databases listed below:

• Infotrac General OneFile (Thomson Gale)
• One Stop Gale (Thomson Gale) - search all databases from this vendor at the same time. 
• Academic Search Premier (EBSCO)
• Business Source Premier (EBSCO) -
• Ethnic Newswatch (ProQuest)

To connect to all of these databases from off-campus, click here.