Book Description
This selective bibliography of nearly 6,000 items concentrates on monographs published during the last fifty years, updating other major bibliographies on the Australasian and South Pacific region.

About the Author
John Thawley, an Australian librarian, has worked for years at Australian university libraries and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), a leading scientific research agency. He has published bibliographies and indexes on Australian history and the Australian Aborigine and a number of books and articles on issues relevant to the library industry.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The countries spread over the vast area of the Pacific Ocean range from small islands to the continent of Australia and differ in almost every way imaginable: with respect to population, history, politcal systems, culture, language, religion, and economics. This selective bibliography of nearly 6,000 items concentrates on monographs published during the last fifty years, updating other major bibliographies on the Australasian and South Pacific region. It is directed towards the student who needs specific information about Australasia and the South Pacific and to the researcher looking for new areas of investigation. Both will find numerous references to works about the region as a whole and to specific countries, which are divided into four major areas — Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Each section is further defined by key topics, including art, economic conditions, education, flora and fauna, history, politics, social life and customs, literature, and urban development. A special attempt has also been made to record major reference works and bibliographies for each geographical area and for individual countries.

Author Biography: John Thawley, an Australian librarian, has worked for years at Australian university libraries and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), a leading scientific research agency. He has published bibliographies and indexes on Australian history and the Australian Aborigine and a number of books and articles on issues relevant to the library industry.

FROM THE CRITICS

ARBA

This thorough work should be acquired by research collections covering the South Pacific. It will also be useful to large general collections....

AUSTRALIAN ACADEMIC & RESEARCH LIBRARIES

...a timely and up-to-date bibliographic guide to two dozen countries in the region...it offers a broad general bibliographic introduction and should be regarded as a first resort for anyone new to the area...any good public library should have a copy of Thawley, as should all larger school media centers and all tertiary libraries..

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