NRPI Planning Research Guide
Planning information includes primary and secondary information about natural and human systems, laws and regulations affecting the planning process, planning practices, and the results of planning activities. This research guide lists 1) major literature sources that focus on natural resource planning and 2) key reference sources for identifying research, professional and practical information in planning.
Planning Literature
The following section lists some of the major planning research journals and popular magazines. It also includes information on how to find urban, regional and other plans. For information on scientific literature see in general see Literature of Science.
- Journals
Planner's Guide to the Digital Bibliographic Revolution (Striftel and Mogg) Journal of the American Planning Association 73(1): 68-85, 2007 (HSU users only) lists 97 planning journal. Below are journals available through the HSU Library. Check the Journal and Newspaper Finder for exact holdings and location. See Articles and Databases: NRPI for databases that index individual articles in these journals and other related journals.
- Applied Geography
- Cities
- Environment and Behavior
- Environmental Conservation
- Environmental Impact Assessment Review
- Environmental Management
- Habitat International
- Int. Journal of Urban & Regional Research
- Journal of Applied Ecology
- Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy & Mgt.
- Journal of Environmental Planning & Mgt.
- Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning
- Journal of Planning Education and Research
- Journal of Planning History
- Journal of Planning Literature
- Journal of Regional Sciences
- Journal of Rural Studies
- Journal of the American Planning Association
- Journal of Urban Planning and Development
- Land Economics
- Cities
- Land Use Policy
- Landscape
- Landscape & Urban Planning
- Landscape Ecology
- Natural Areas Journal
- Ocean & Coastal Management
- Planning & Environmental Law
- Planning Practice and Research
- Planning Theory
- Park Science
- Planning Commissioner's Journal
- Planning Practice and Research
- Policy Studies Journal
- Policy Studies Review
- Progress in Planning
- Regional Studies
- Renewable Resources Journal
- Urban Ecology
- Urban Studies
- URISA Journal
- Landscape & Urban Planning
- Applied Geography
- Magazines & Newsletters
- California
Coast and Ocean (California Coastal Conservancy)
- High Country News
- Planning (American Planning Association)
- High Country News
- California
Coast and Ocean (California Coastal Conservancy)
- Plans
- To locate city and county general plans in the HSU Library search the
HSU Library Catalog
- By subject:
- city planning-California-[city or county name]
- regional planning-California-[city or county name]
- city planning-California-[city or county name]
- By title:
- Search "general plan" using the Keyword search option
- By subject:
- Plans (LUPIN) Contains links to over 400 fulltext city and county general plans, regional plans, coastal plans, and other types of plans.
- California Local Planning Documents Database (UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies Library) Searchable database of city and county planning documents available in the Institute of Governmental Studies Library. Searchable by jurisdiction, element (e.g. housing, open space) and year adopted. One can also limit to plans available on the web.
- For local plans available in online fulltext format see Humboldt Room Links: Government and Community Services.
- To locate city and county general plans in the HSU Library search the
HSU Library Catalog
Reference Materials
- Guides
- CERES (California Environmental Resources Evaluation System) (California Resources Agency) Information system providing access to natural and cultural resource data from multiple contributors which describes "California's rich and diverse environments." Subsystems include Cal Ocean, Land Use Planning Information Network, Watershed Information Technical System, and Wetlands Information System.
- Guides to City and Regional Planning Research (UC Berkeley, Environmental Design Library) Lists planning resources available at UC Berkeley and on the Internet. The HSU Library has some of the print resources.
- LUPIN (California Land Use Planning Information Network) Information service supporting land use and planning in California. Searchable by geographic area, organization, theme or data type.
- Planner's Guide to the Digital Bibliographic Revolution (Striftel and Mogg) Journal of the American Planning Association 73(1): 68-85, 2007 (HSU users only)
- Directories
- California Counties' Websites (California State Association of Counties)
- California Planners' Book of Lists (Annual) (California. Office of Planning and Research) Directory of city and other planning agencies as well as other planning related information.
- California Roster (California Secretary of State) Annual (print copy available in ref JK 8730 R67) Directory of state, county, and city agencies and officials.
- Cities Online (League of California Cities)
- Guide to Undergraduate and Graduate Education in Urban and Regional Planning (Association of Collegiate Schools in Planning) 2000 (print copy available in ref HT 165.52 G85 2000)
- Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
- California General Plan Glossary (California Planning Roundtable)
- Dictionary of Natural Resources Management (Dunster) 1996 (ref HC 15 D86 1996)
- Encyclopedia of Community Planning and Environmental Management (Schultz) 1984 (ref HD 108.6 S38 1984)
- Environmental Planning: a condensed encyclopedia (Gilpin) 1986 (ref HC 79 E5 G52 1986)
- Land-Use Lingo: A Glossary of Land-Use Terms (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)
- Natural Resource Inventory Glossary (H. Gyde Lund & About.com Guide to Forestry)
- Planner's Dictionary (Moskowitz and Lindbloom) 2004 (HSU users only)
- Wildland Planning Glossary (Schwarz, Thor, & Elsner) 1976 (U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report PSW-13) (print copy available in Docs A 13.88:PNW-13)
- Bibliographies
- Bibliography of Landscape Architecture, Environmental Design and Planning (Powell) 1987 (SB 472 P68)
- HUD User Database (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research) Bibliographic database covering housing and community development issues. It contains more than 10,000 references to research reports, articles, books, monographs, and data sources in housing policy, building technology, economic development, urban planning, and other related fields.
- Journal of Planning Literature (HSU users only) Each issue includes several review articles on specific topics and a bibliography of recent planning literature gleaned from 49 journals. Each bibliography is arranged by broad planning topics with more specific author and subject indexes.
- "Planning Literature Information Service" IN Planning Practice & Research (HSU users only) Lists articles from 30 planning journals under 10 subject categories: Planning Theory and History; Methodology; Modelling and Information Systems; Economic and Property Development; The Built Environment; Enviornment, Energy and Nature; Transport; Housing and Community Development; Urban and Regional Planning; Rural Planning; Public Administration, Public Policy and Professional Concerns.
- SOURCES: An Annotated Bibliography for California Planners (Governor's Office of Planning and Research) Lists paper and Internet resources on land use planning.
- Handbooks & Manuals
- California Planning Guide: An Introduction to Planning in California (California Office of Planning and Research) 2005 Introduction to land use planning in California. Explains, in general terms, how communities regulate land use and contains definitions of commonly used planning terms.
- City & Environmental Planning Professional Practice (UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library) Lists handbooks, planning regulations and other materials which support the professional practice of city and regional planning. The HSU Library has some of the sources listed.
- Community Planning Website (Royal Town Planning Institute) Contains how-to-do-it best practice information.
- The Conservation Easement Handbook: Managing Land Conservation and Historic Preservation Easement Programs (Diehl & Barrett) 1988 (Kf 736.L3 D54 1988)
- Guide to California Planning (Fulton and Shigley) 1999 (HD 393 C3 F85 2005)
- International Handbook on Land Use Planning (Patricios) 1988 (HD 108.6 I58 1986)
- Land Use Planning Handbook (US Bureau of Land Management) 2005
- Landscape Restoration Handbook (Harten) 1993 (SB 439 L35 1993)
- Planner's guide to Specific Plans (California Governor's Office of Planning and Research)
- Planning Advisory Service Reports (American Planning Association) (HSU users only) Ongoing series of reports offering guidance on current issues and innovative practices. APA maintains a list of available reports.
- Small Town Planning Handbook (Daniels) 1995 (HT 167 D36 1995)
- Subdivision Map Act Manual: a Desk Reference Covering California's Subdivision Laws and Processes (Curtin) 2002 (ref KFC 811 C875 2002)
- Legal Resources
- General
- American Land Planning Law: Cases and Materials (Williams) 1978 (KF 5692 A4 A47)
- Cases and Materials on Land Use (Wright & Gitelman) 1997 (KF 5698 A4 W73 1997)
- Environmental Regulation of Land Use (Malone) 1990 (KF 5698 M264 1990)
- Federal & California Primary Legal Sources Contains links to federal and California statutory, case and administrative law available in paper or electronic format in the HSU Library.
- Internet Law Library: Land Use, Zoning, Real Property, and Historical Preservation Law (LawGuru.com)
- Land Use in a Nutshell (Wright) 1994 (KF 5698 Z9 W74 1994)
- Land Use Law (Mandelker) 1993 (KF 5698 M29 1993)
- Land Use Law: an overview (Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute) Provides brief summary along with links to key primary source material.
- Land Use Planning and Control Law (Juergensmeyer & Roberts) 1998 (KF 5692 J84 1998)
- Land Use Regulation: Planning, Zoning, Subdivision Regulation, and Environmental Control (Salsich) 1991 (KF 5698 S24 1991)
- Law of Regulatory Takings (LUPIN) Includes fulltext of leading court cases.
- Managing National Park System Resources: A Handbook on Legal Duties, Opportunities and Tools (Mantell) 1990 (KF 5635 M36 1990)
- Municipal Codes Online (Seattle Public Library) Contains links to city and county codes available on the web. Subdivided by state.
- Summary of State Land Use Planning Laws (Institute for Business and Home Safety) 1998
- "Zoning and Land Planning" in Corpus Juris Secundum Vol. 101A (KF 154 C6)
- Zoning & Planning Law Handbook (Clark Boardman Company) annual (KF 5697 A152 Z66)
- California
- California Land-Use and Planning Law (Curtin) 2006 (ref KFC 811 C87)
- City Zoning Ordinances (LUPIN)
- County Zoning Ordinances (LUPIN)
- General Plan Guidelines (California Governor's Office of Planning and Research) 2003. Officially interprets and explains the requirements of California planning law.
- Longtin’s California land use : planning, zoning, building subdivision, environmental law. (Longtin) 1987 (KFC 811 L65)
- Planning, Zoning and Development Laws 2008 (California Governor's Office of Planning and Research)
- State Law and Regulation (LUPIN) Contains the fulltext of relevant statutes.
- General
- Geospatial Resources (Atlases, Maps, GIS, Imagery)
- See Geospatial Resources for print and digital geospatial resources available in the HSU Library or on the Internet.
Internet Subject Guides/Portals/Gateways
- California Local Government Information Website (UC Berkeley Institue of Governmental Studies Library) Collection of of links to online directories of California local government web sites, financial data, and local government publications.
- California Planning Online (UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library) Includes approximately 100 web links to California city & regional planning information
- Cyburbia Planning Resource Directory The major subject directory to planning resources on the Internet. Resources groups under 11 categories with further subdivisions.
- City Planning Online (UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library) Includes sections on California Planning, Community and Economic Planning, Directories, Environmental Planning, Housing, International Planning, Urban History and Design, Research Guides.
- Intute: Planning and Land Use
- Planetizen: the Planning and Development Network
- Useful Links (American Planning Association. California Chapter)
- Urban and Regional Planning (dmoz Open Directory Project)
Statistical & Environmental Data
Listed below are some of the important guides to statistical and environmental data compilations that are an essential part of planning research.
- General
- Finding Statistics Online (Berinstein) 1998 (ref HA 33.5 B47 1998)
- Global Data Locator (Kurian) 1997 (ref HA36 K87 1997) Detailed guide to statistics found in 240 statistical publications issued by governmental and commercial organizations.
- EarthTrends: the
Environmental Information Portal (World Resources
Institute) Contains information on the environmental, social, and economic
trends that shape the world. Organized into themes with each theme including
data, country profiles, maps and feature article sections. The country
profiles section includes charts, graphs and vital statistics for each
country. Themes include coastal and marine ecosystems; water resources
and freshwater ecosystems; climate and atmosphere; population, health
and human well-being; economics, business and the environment; energy
and resources; biodiversity and protected areas; agriculture and food;
forests, grasslands and drylands; environmental government and institutions;
and poverty resources.
- Statistical Resources on the Web (University of Michigan Documents Center) Contains links to statistical sources under 24 broad subject categories. Emphasis is on the United States, but also include links to national and international statistical sources.
- Statistical Sites on the World Wide Web (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Lists sources of federal and international statistics
- Digital Spatial Data:
Internet Data (HSU Library) Lists guides to GIS data available on
the Internet. Listed under the following categories--general, United States,
California, California (northwestern).
- United States (may also include
California statistics)
- Census Information (HSU Library) Guide to both print resources in the HSU Library and to census information on the Internet.
- Community Researcher's Guide to Rural Data (Salant) 1990 (Docs Abstract HB 2385 S25 1990) Guide to data sources that can be used in rural community development.
- DataPlace (Fannie Mae Foundation) Presents demographic, economic, social, and housing data from multiple government agencies in a user-friendly interface. Users can display the data at different geographic levels and create thematic maps and scatterplots to graphically represent the data.
- Econdata.Net (Andrew Reamer & Associates and Impresa) Guide to regional socioeconomic data sources on the web, arranged by subject and provider.
- FEDSTATS Contains a detailed subject directory and search engine to statistics available on the Internet from over 100 federal agencies.
- Guide to U.S. Government Statistics (Andriot) 1987 (Docs Abstract Z 7554 U5 G8 1987) Annotated guide to 12,500 government statistical publications.
- LexisNexis Statistical (HSU Users Only) Two features are available through the HSU Library. The PowerTables Base Edition includes an index and accompanying online fulltext for 30,000 statistical tables from federal, state and intergovernmental organizations. Search by subject and limit by geographic level, e.g., county; demographic qualifier, e.g., age; economic qualifier, e.g., occupation; or frequency of publication. The second feature is the American Statistics Index (print copy of the annual American Statistics Index is available in Docs Abstr HA 195 A46) which indexes statistics appearing in federal publications from 1973 to the present. Approximately 15% of the indexed statistical tables link to online fulltext. Search features are the same as for the PowerTables Base Edition.
- Links to Sources of Environmental Statistics (US Council on Environmental Quality) Links to online statistical sources which have been used in preparation of the statistics section of Environmental Quality, the annual report of the US Council on Environmental Quality.
- Some Statistical/Data Sources on the Environment, Energy and Health (HSU Library) - Contains both print and electronic resources available in the HSU Library.
- Statistics and Data (Rural Assistance Center) Alphabetical annotated directory of rural data sources on the web.
- Statistics and Data for City Planning (UC Berkeley Environmental Design Library)
- US Census Bureau Subjects Index (U.S. Census Bureau) A to Z index that includes subjects and titles of census reports.
- California
- "California: the Golden State" IN Profiles of America: Facts, Figures and Statistics for Every Populated Place in the United States (Grey House) 2003 (ref HT 123 P7624 2003) Contains facts and statistics on the geography, weather, history, heath, population, religion, crime, economics, education, housing, and transportation for each California county. Also includes similar profiles for each incorporated municipality and many other census designated places and unincorporated places. Includes an alphabetical place name index.
- California Environmental Information Catalog (CERES) Contains descriptions (metadata) of California environmental data available from many contributors including cities, counties, utilities, state and federal agencies, private businesses, and academic institutions. The basic catalog is searchable by resource title, contributing organization, resource type, subject keyword, or geographic region.
- California Facts: A Comprehensive Look at California Today, County by County (Clements) 1989 (ref F 856 F69 1989) A fact-filled narrative characterizing each county in California.
- California Environment Information Sources (HSU Library)
- California Statistics (Librarians' Index to the Internet)
- California Statistics on the Web (Chico State University Library)
- Community Information by Zip Code (California State University, Northridge Library)
- Rand California Statistics Categories (HSU users only) (Rand) Includes an extensive collection of statewide, regional, county and city-level statistics.
- Reports (California Department of Health Services. Center for Health Statistics) Annual (Print copy available in Cal Docs H1150 C3) Lists reports on the health and well-being of people in California and links to reports available on the web
- Subject Guide for California Statistics (San Diego State University Library)
- Northwestern California
- Northwestern California/Klamath Bioregion Environment Information Sources (HSU Library)
- Northwestern California/Klamath Bioregion Demographic, Social and Economic Statistics (HSU Library)
- Links: Humboldt Economic Index (Erick Eschker--Humboldt State University) Includes links to local, state and national demographic and economic statistical sources.
- Searching for "Place" in the Humboldt Room, HSU Library (Joan Berman--HSU Library) The focus of this guide is not statistical data but sources for researching the history of a "place" in Humboldt County.