Ready Reference Materials

1
Ready Reference Materials

• HANDBOOKS
• YEARBOOKS
• ALMANACS
• OTHER READY-REFERENCE MATERIAL

2
Ready Reference

• Basically, finding material in a single source to
  answer a question with little/no research
  involved
  
• Popular term used for many such sources is
  almanac, handbook, etc.
  

3
World Almanac

• Started in 1868 published by The New York World
  newspaper
  
• Primedia Reference Inc. also owners of Funk and
  Wagnalls and Facts on File News Services
  
• First must buy for today
• Reasonable cost little need to have to use
  online, though is available via Microsoft
  Bookshelf and also through FirstSearch

4
World Almanac

• Filled with a lot of information, though doesnt
  go into a lot of detail or background
  
• Not ideal for research, but provides starting
  point
  
• Sources of statistics are given--important when
  getting started on a question that evolves beyond
  ready reference

5
World Almanac

• Useful information includes
• Population figures
• Awards
• Weights measures
• Capsule histories
• Vital statistics for states, countries, and major
  U. S. cities.

6
World Almanac

• Also features some 75 pages of election returns
  after election years
  
• Statistics can lag a few years but this is not
  unusual for such sources
  
• Ideally--dont throw away!! Will often come in
  handy for date verification questions

7
Why Keep Old World Almanacs

• Actual question received I need a list of all
  the scores of the Army-Navy football games the
  past ten years
  
• Will contain various records of note (sports,
  political, etc.) that may indeed be listed in
  more specific works, but that your library may
  not have

8
NYPL Desk Reference

• As Katz notes, not really a product of staff of
  NYPL actually done by a book packager
  
• Book packagers develop ideas, hire the
  writers/editors, and sell the products to
  publishers--in this case Prentice-Hall
  
• NYPL Desk Reference a success story for Stonesong
  Press, the packager
  
• Editors interviewed librarians and hired several
  writers for each section

9
NYPL Desk Reference

• People tend to love or hate larger typeface
  makes it more appealing than World Almanac, but
  it is not updated enough
  
• Second edition published 1993
• Divided into 26 categories, including Household
  Tips, Math and Science Basics, etc.

10
Whitakers Almanac

• From England
• Everything you need to know about royal family,
  peerage, members of the House of Commons and
  House of Lords, etc.

11
Statistical Abstract

• Must buy for MS and HS library.
• Summary of government-generated statistics.
• Some privately-generated ones are included

12
Statistical Abstract

• Statistics are primarily national.
• Localized information given in two companion
  publications
  
• City and County Data Book
• State and Metropolitan Area Data Book

13
Statistical Abstracttables

• Careful reading those tables! Lookout for columns
  headed
  
• 1,000 or Percent
• Sources always listed at bottom of tables
  excellent for further research
  
• Appendix lists fuller references to important
  primary sources

14
Statistical Abstracttables
Table 252
15
Statistical Abstracttables
Table 255
16
Statistical Abstractindex

• Careful using Index refers to table number, not
  page number
  
• Time consuming to find right table many
  subjects list 10 or 20 different tables
  
• Another keeper. Most statistics go back five
  years or so, but this varies greatly. Dont throw
  out if you can help it.

17
Statistical Abstractindex
18
Statistical Abstractindex
19
Statistical Abstractindex
20
Statistical Abstractelectronic

• CD-ROM version of Statistical Abstract features a
  word find that allows one to find a word
  anywhere in the text
  
• Used with Adobe Acrobat
• Web version is FREE, but must also be used with
  Adobe Acrobat--which will be slow via a regular
  telephone line connection

21
Statesmans Yearbook

• You must have either Statesmans or Europa if you
  get any kind of questions about other
  countries--Web or no Web!
  
• Much information available at various places on
  Internet, but for ready reference nothing beats
  good ol books
  
• Statesmans is much, much cheaper at under 100,
  but print is much smaller and features fewer
  statistics.

22
Statesmans Yearbook

• Countries covered in alphabetical order, but
  there is an obvious emphasis on United Kingdom
  and U.S.
  
• Information includes general climate, area,
  population, a very brief history, finance, etc.
  
• Has slightly better defense statistics than
  Europa in that it counts actual military pieces.

23
Statesmans Yearbook

• Lists diplomatic representatives in that country
  for the United States and the United Kingdom, and
  also that countrys representatives in the United
  States and United Kingdom
• Europa only lists diplomatic representatives
  within the country--though for all countries

24
Statesmans Yearbook

• Lists diplomatic representatives in that country
  for the United States and the United Kingdom, and
  also that countrys representatives in the United
  States and United Kingdom
• Europa only lists diplomatic representatives
  within the country--though for all countries

25
Statesmans Yearbook

• DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES
• Of Paraguay in Great Britain (Braemar Lodge,
  Cornwall Gdns, London, SW7 4AQ) Ambassador
  Vacant
  
• Of Great Britain in Paraguay (Calle Presidente
  Franco, 706, Asuncion)
  
• Ambassador and Consul-General Graham Pirnie
• Of Paraguay in the USA (2400 Massachusetts Ave.,
  NW, Washington, D.C., 20008)
  
• Ambassador Jorge Prieto
• Of the USA in Paraguay (1776 Mariscal Lopez Ave.,
  Asuncion)
  
• Ambassador Robert E. Service
• Of Paraguay to the United Nations
• Ambassador Hugo Saguier Caballero

26
Statesmans Yearbook

• EMBASSIES IN PARAGUAY
• Argentina Avda Mariscal Lopez 2029, Asuncion
  tel. [phone] telex 127 Ambassador NESTOR
  AHUAD.
  
• Bolivia Eligio Ayala 2002, esq. General Brugeuz,
  Asuncion tel. [phone] Ambassador DR. RAUL
  BOTELHO GONZALVEZ.
  
• Brazil Col Irrazabal esq. Eligio Ayala,
  Asuncion tel. [phone] telex 22074 fax
  (21) 21-2693 Ambassador BERNARDO PERICAS.
  
• Chile Guido Spano, 1687, Calle Juan B. Motta,
  Asuncion tel. [phone] telex 163
  Ambassador JORGE F. ORYAN BALBONTIN.
  
• China (Taiwan) Avda Mariscal Lopez 1043, Casilla
  503, Asuncion tel. [phone] telex 702
  Ambassador Gen. WANG SHENG.

27
Europe World Yearbook

• Expensive--around 500
• Two-volume format makes it less convenient to use
  than Statesmans
  
• First volume devoted to coverage of international
  organizations such as UN, OPEC, etc.
  
• A-Z by country name

28
Europe World Yearbook

• Same information as in Statesmans, but
• Easier on the eyes!
• Many more tables/charts covering topics like
  forestry, mining, trade
  
• Better coverage of international organizations
• Section on recent history extremely detailed

29
Europe World Yearbook

• Other selling points
• Fairly extensive coverage of newspapers and media
  in that country. Need address of a Madrid
  newspaper? Check Europa
  
• Will sometimes include sizable portion of the
  countrys constitution
  
• Lists all diplomatic representatives in that
  country--not just U.S. and U.K.

30
Europe World Yearbook

• Entry on Paraguay is 5 pages in Statesmans 15
  in Europa--first 5 1/2 pages narrative of recent
  history, economic affairs, etc.

31
Statesmans Vs. Europa

• Statesmans more concise.
• Europa favors tables.

32
Statesmans Vs. Europa

• Defense Europa
• Defence
• The armed forces totalled 20,200 men (including
  12,900 conscripts) in August 1997. There was an
  army of 14,900 men and an air force of 1,700. The
  navy, which operates on the rivers, had 3,600
  men, including 900 marines. There were 14,800 men
  in the paramilitary police force. Military
  service, which is compulsory, lasts for 12 months
  in the army and for two years in the navy. The
  defence budget for 1997 totalled 260,000m.
  guaraníes.

33
Statesmans Vs. Europa

• Defense Statesmans
• DEFENCE. The army, navy and air forces are
  separate services under a single command. The
  President of the Republic is the active C.-in-C.
  Conscription is for 12 months (2 years in the
  navy).
• Army. The Army is organized into 3 corps and 9
  divisional headquarters and consists of 1
  armoured, 2 mechanized and 4 horsed cavalry
  regiments, 7 infantry regiments (of battalion
  strength), 6 artillery groups (of battalion
  strength), 1 air defence and 4 engineer
  battalions and 20 frontier detachments. Equipment
  includes 5 M-4A3 main battle tanks. Strength
  (1997) 14,900 (10,400 conscripts).
• Navy. The flotilla comprises 7 armed river
  defence gunboats (the average age of which
  exceeds 50 years), 7 river patrol boats, and
  about 12 service craft. Personnel in 1996
  totalled 3,600 including 900 marines.

34
Government Information

• CIA World Factbook on Internet features fairly
  detailed information on country for quick fact
  checks, including
  
• Maritime claims/international disputes
• Land Use
• Diplomatic representation

35
Government Information

• U. S. Department of State Background Notes
  available via subscription or on Internet at
  
• http//www.state.gov/www/background_notes/index.ht
  ml
  
• Contains similar information as Factbook, but
  more descriptive
  
• Includes section on U. S. - name of country
  relations

36
Facts on File

• Covers all aspects of world affairs, though with
  definite North American bias
  
• Excellent for verifying facts/checking
  dates--particularly between editions of the World
  Almanac
  
• Good for prizes, appointments, elections, etc.
• Cost some 550/year. OUCH!!

37
Guinness Book of World Records

• Theyve cooled it on previously gratuitously
  hazardous categories like Volkswagon stuffing,
  etc. also eliminated any tobacco-related records
  
• Cheap enough to buy every year if not, wait
  until after Olympics

38
Book of the States

• Published by the Council of State Governments
  biennial
  
• Contains overview essays summarizing major
  developments past two years in state governance
  in such areas as State Finances, State
  Judicial Branch, etc.
• Several tables/statistics
• Tables include things like salaries of state
  officials, tax rates, etc.

39
Book of the States

• MOTOR VEHICLE LAWS (As of 1998)
• State or other Minimum age for drivers license
  (a)
  
• jurisdiction Regular Learners Restrictive
• Alabama ................ 16 15 (f) 14 (g)
• Alaska .................... 16 14 (i) 14 (i)
• Arizona .................. 16 15 7 mo. (i) 16
  (i)
  
• Arkansas ................ 16 14-16 (f) 14 (i,k)
• California ............... 18 15 (k,n,o) 16 (n)
• Colorado ................ 21 15 6 mo. (i,k,o)
  15 (i,k,m)
  
• Connecticut ........... 16 (n,f,s) 16 (l,f,s) . .
  .
  
• Delaware ................ 18 15 10 mo. (i) 16
  (i,n)
  
• Florida ................... 16 15 (d,f,j,k,t,s) .
  . .
  
• Georgia .................. 16 15 (s,k) 16 (i,t,s)

40
Guinness Book of World Records

• 3 paperbound supplements
• State Elective Officials
• State Administrative Officials
• State Legislative Leadership, Committees, and
  Staff
  
• All basically listing whos in charge where

41
Reference Nightmare 1

• Quotation questions!!!
• Very common question, probably most feared other
  than obscure line of poetry question or find it
  on the Net question
  
• Among the most common type of query found in any
  type of Stumpers column, including The
  Exchange in Reference and User Services
  Quarterly
• Many, many quotation books on the market

42
Familiar Quotations

• Bartletts first printed in 1855, compiled by
  bookseller John Bartlett
  
• First volume 258 pages quoting 169 authors, with
  about one-third devoted to Shakespeare and the
  Bible
  
• Today some 22,500 quotations from about 2500
  people over 1,400 pages with index taking up a
  good chunk
  
• Still some 2,000 quotes from Shakespeare and
  1,500 from Bible

43
Familiar Quotations

• First ten editions just added quotations first
  break--11th edition, when editor Christopher
  Morley actually deleted some
  
• Morley saw work as social history, trend
  somewhat continues to this day many modern
  quotations, including rock song lyrics
  
• MORAL Never throw old editions away!!!!

44
Familiar Quotationsrevision

• Next major revision--16th edition, edited by
  Justin Kaplan, himself well regarded
  
• Winner of National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize
  for his Mr. Clemens and Mark Twain (1966)
  
• Winner of American Book Award for Walt Whitman A
  Life (1980)

45
Familiar Quotations Revisions

• Cut a fair amount of Victorian poetry on
  record as not caring for withered flowers of
  poesy . . . and anything that sounds as though
  it might have come from the insides of a fortune
  cookie
• Cut out some 300 authors added another
  300--including Russell Baker, Nelson Algren,
  Philip Roth, and Erica Jong

46
Using Bartletts

• Arranged in chronological order by author--unique
  
  
• Excellent index--arranged by keyword with
  separate author index
  
• Quotations extremely well-cited with as much
  information as possible regarding where it first
  appeared

47
Using Bartletts
Libraries, have well-furnished l., 2342
I bless God in l., 32514 meek young men grow up
in l., 4316 not made they grow, 55912 Libra
ry, furnished me from mine own l., 22326
public l. affords conviction, 31326
turn over half a l., 31624 was dukedom large en
ough, 22324 whereon I look, 24122 Libre, lh
omme est né l., 319n3
48
Bartletts Entry

• Henry King
• 1592-1669
• 22 Thou are the book,
• The library whereon I look.
• The Exequy 1657

49
Benets Readers Encyclopedia

• Readers Encyclopedia first published in 1948
• Provides brief backgrounds on authors, literary
  allusions, myths, plot synopses, characters, etc.
  
  
• Greater coverage of eastern literature in latest
  (4th - 1996) edition

50
Famous First Facts

• Exactly what title implies a listing of firsts
  throughout history
  
• Over 9,000 firsts in main section, arranged
  alphabetically by topic. Hunt around for topic!
  
• Date and year indexes help somewhat

51
Famous First Facts
SENATOR (U.S) American-Indian senator was Charle
s Curtis of Kansas, who served from January 23
1907, to March 3, 1913, and from March 4, 1915,
to March 3, 1929, when he resigned to assume the
vice presidency under President Herbert Clark
Hoover. Black senator was Hiram Rhodes Revels of
Mississippi, who was elected January 20, 1870,
by the legislature of Mississippi to the United
States Senate for the unexpired term beginning
March 4, 1865, and ending March 3, 1971. He was
sworn in February 25, 1870.
52
Famous First Facts
SENATOR (U.S) American-Indian senator was Charle
s Curtis of Kansas, who served from January 23
1907, to March 3, 1913, and from March 4, 1915,
to March 3, 1929, when he resigned to assume the
vice presidency under President Herbert Clark
Hoover. Black senator was Hiram Rhodes Revels of
Mississippi, who was elected January 20, 1870,
by the legislature of Mississippi to the United
States Senate for the unexpired term beginning
March 4, 1865, and ending March 3, 1971. He was
sworn in February 25, 1870.