LIBRARY NOTES
Reference Desk
Exploring Encyclopedias
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
In this age of Google and Wikipedia, many people don't consider print reference sources, but the Library has a robust reference collection and continues to acquire and update some terrific resources.
Here is a small sampling of new and updated titles the Library has recently acquired, plus a few noteworthy stalwarts.
2009 marks the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's exploration of the region, and those seeking a refresher should thumb through the
Encyclopedia of Exploration. This four-volume set includes insightful articles about adventurers and their incredible voyages of discovery.
Travelers beginning their own explorations may turn to
The Statesman's Year-Book 2010, which includes maps and up-to-date summaries of the social, economic, and political situation in countries around the world. And for armchair travelers, there's
The Traveler's Reading Guide, which includes recommended lists of fiction and nonfiction organized by location.
Speaking of reading, any reader hoping to refresh their memory about a character's name or a particular plot will find the five-volume
Cyclopedia of Literary Characters and
Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia wonderful guides. The new three-volume
Americans on Fiction, 1776-1900 is an exceptional collection of critical reviews and essays of and about American and European fiction that chronicles the evolution of literature in America.
For the science-minded, the mysteries of the scientific world are explained clearly and concisely in
Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, a three-volume work that offers illustrations, maps, and lists of reading and websites for additional information.
To find out about new reference materials in the collection, look for the
monthly New Books list, or just ask the reference desk librarian.
Books Mentioned in This Article
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