NYPL Blogs: Blog Posts by Subject: Encyclopedias /blog/subject/514 en On the Trivial Pursuit of Useless Information http://www.nypl.org/blog/2012/07/30/trivial-pursuit-useless-information Lauren Lampasone, Digital Experience <p><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1543483" title="The world almanac., Digital ID 1543483, New York Public Library"><img width="350" height="297" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=1543483&amp;t=w" alt="The world almanac., Digital ID 1543483, New York Public Library" title="The world almanac., Digital ID 1543483, New York Public Library" /></a><span class="caption caption caption">The world almanac., Digital ID 1543483, New York Public Library</span></span>I don't have a very good memory of the fiction books I read and enjoyed as a child. What I do remember is an obsession with <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=subject&amp;search_category=subject&amp;q=Encyclopedias" rel="nofollow">encyclopedias</a>, <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=subject&amp;search_category=subject&amp;q=Almanacs&amp;searchOpt=catalogue" rel="nofollow">almanacs</a>, <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=subject&amp;search_category=subject&amp;q=Atlases&amp;searchOpt=catalogue" rel="nofollow">atlases</a>, the <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=guinness%20records" rel="nofollow">Guinness book</a>, trivia, and <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=subject&amp;search_category=subject&amp;q=Miscellanea&amp;searchOpt=catalogue" rel="nofollow">general miscellanea</a>. Which probably doesn't make it too much of a surprise that I ended up here, a reference librarian at one of the most fact-filled libraries in the world.</p> <!--break--> <p>As a kid, I was also highly talented at games like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trivial_Pursuit" rel="nofollow">Trivial Pursuit</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Don%27t_Know_Jack_%28video_game_series%29" rel="nofollow">You Don't Know Jack</a>, usually beating any adult I played against. I assumed this was a credit to my lifelong love of reference books. After moving to New York City, I discovered the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pub_quiz" rel="nofollow">"pub quiz"</a> and found that, well... turns out I'm not exactly <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?q=%22Jennings%2C+Ken%22&amp;search_category=author&amp;t=author" rel="nofollow">Ken Jennings</a> and <a href="http://www.murphguide.com/pubquiz.htm" rel="nofollow">these people</a> are entirely out of my league.</p> <p>That's ok. I've moved on. It seems that nowadays, the Internet and its endless <a href="http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2012/05/todays_internet_rabbit_hole_a.php" rel="nofollow">rabbit holes</a> do enough to satisfy our desires to accumulate bits of information flotsam and jetsam. How many articles in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a> do you end up clicking through in a single sitting? I know I have had some marathons. Still, if you ever feel like physically flipping through some factoids (we also have ebooks and databases for you to read online), here are some suggestions.</p> <p><a href="http://archive.org/details/butterflycollect00jerm" rel="nofollow"><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/screen_shot_2012-07-27_at_4.53.24_pm.inline vertical.png" alt="The Butterfly Collector&#039;s Vade Mecum from archive.org" title="The Butterfly Collector&#039;s Vade Mecum from archive.org" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="300" height="261" /><span class="caption caption caption">The Butterfly Collector's Vade Mecum from archive.org</span></span></a><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?q=Handbooks%2C+Vade-mecums%2C+Etc&amp;t=subject" rel="nofollow">Vade mecum</a> is the subject term you'll see for a lot of these compendiums; it is a Latin term meaning "to go with me." According to the <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/oxford-english-dictionary-oed-2nd-edition">OED</a> it is "a book or manual suitable for carrying about with one for ready reference; a handbook or guidebook." Now, the reference tool you keep in your pocket is likely a shiny bit of glass and plastic, with Google a tap away. But handbooks in the library are still cataloged as such. How quaint!</p> <p>Access old-timey handbooks electronically:</p> <ul><li><a href="http://find.galegroup.com/ecco/infomark.do?sort=Author&amp;prodId=ECCO&amp;tabID=T001&amp;searchType=BasicSearchForm&amp;type=search&amp;currentPosition=1&amp;version=1.0&amp;searchResultsPerPage=10&amp;userGroupName=nypl&amp;queryId=Locale%28en%2C%2C%29%3AFQE%3D%28TI%2CNone%2C10%29vade+mecum%3AAnd%3ALQE%3D%28BA%2CNone%2C124%292NEF+Or+0LRH+Or+2NEK+Or+0LRL+Or+2NEI+Or+0LRI+Or+2NEJ+Or+0LRK+Or+2NEG+Or+0LRF+Or+2NEH+Or+0LRJ+Or+2NEM+Or+0LRN+Or+2NEL+Or+0LRM%24&amp;source=gale" rel="nofollow">Vade mecums in Eighteenth Century Collections Online</a> (access <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/eighteenth-century-collections-online-ecco">on site at the research libraries</a>)</li> <li><a href="http://archive.org/search.php?query=%28vade%20mecum%29%20AND%20language%3A%28eng%29" rel="nofollow">Vade mecums in Archive.org</a></li> <li><a href="http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Search/Home?type[]=subject&amp;lookfor[]=vade+mecum&amp;bool[]=AND&amp;type[]=author&amp;lookfor[]=&amp;bool[]=AND&amp;type[]=title&amp;lookfor[]=&amp;bool[]=AND&amp;type[]=subject&amp;lookfor[]=&amp;sethtftonly=true&amp;yop=after&amp;fqrange-start-publishDateTrie-1=&amp;fqrange-end-publishDateTrie-1=&amp;fqor-publishDateTrie[]=&amp;fqor-language[]=English&amp;submit=Find" rel="nofollow">Vade mecums in Hathi Trust</a></li> </ul><p><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=Schott&#039;s Original Miscellany" rel="nofollow"><em>Schott's Original Miscellany</em></a> (2003) and <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=Schott&#039;s Food Drink Miscellany" rel="nofollow"><em>Schott's Food &amp; Drink Miscellany</em></a> (2004) by Ben Schott are both small, elegantly typeset books of tables, diagrams, lists and definitions. Sections include "Birthstones," "Sushi," "Knights of the Round Table," "Colors of the Empire State Building," "Eponymous Foods," and "Cattle Branding."</p> <p><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=uncyclopedia%20haigh" rel="nofollow"><em><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/d5256f3f-4a50-4384-b9c4-3ae0d0e89ae9img100.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="199" height="265" /></span>The Uncyclopedia</em></a> is another British import, full of random collections of facts. It is also available as an ebook. It includes "Fortune-Telling Techniques," "Sails on a Standard Three-Masted Ship," "Newspaper Slogans," "Diseases Named for Their Discoverers," and "Noteworthy Cats and Their Owners."</p> <p>Noel Botham has produced a <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?custom_query=%28contributor%3A%28botham%29%20AND%20anywhere%3A%28useless%29%29%20%20&amp;suppress=true&amp;custom_edit=false&amp;sort[field]=PUBLISHED_DATE&amp;sort[type]=BIB_FIELDS&amp;sort[direction]=descending" rel="nofollow">series of books of amazingly useless information</a>; <em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=The Amazing Book of Useless Information" rel="nofollow">The Amazing Book of Useless Information</a></em> is available as an ebook in which you can learn about American advertising that has had unfortunate translations in other countries, such as Coca-Cola's "bite the wax tadpole," common superstitions, and where to find the largest scale model of the solar system.</p> <p><em><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/1dbbe0f1-c1ae-4601-bd7c-dd5afbce608bimg100.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="199" height="265" /></span>Mental Floss</em> is a <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b15113388~S1">periodical</a> I find uniquely suited to long car trips. They have also published <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=%22mental%20floss%22&amp;commit=Search&amp;searchOpt=catalogue&amp;formats=EBOOK|BK&amp;sort[field]=PUBLISHED_DATE&amp;sort[type]=BIB_FIELDS&amp;sort[direction]=descending" rel="nofollow">several books</a>, here are the ones available in ebook form:</p> <ul><li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=Mental Floss The Book listory" rel="nofollow"><em>Mental Floss The Book: Only the Greatest Lists in the History of Listory</em></a> (2011)</li> <li><em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=The Mental Floss History of the World" rel="nofollow">The Mental Floss History of the World</a> </em>(2008)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=instant knowledge mental floss" rel="nofollow"><em>Mental Floss Presents: Instant Knowledge</em></a> (2005)</li> <li><em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=forbidden knowledge mental floss" rel="nofollow">Mental Floss Presents: Forbidden Knowledge</a> </em>(2005)</li> <li><em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=Mental floss Condensed%20Knowledge" rel="nofollow">Mental Floss Presents: Condensed Knowledge</a></em> (2004)</li> </ul><p>Studies have shown that toast usually does fall butter side down and that cats react negatively to men with beards; did you know <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=William Faulkner" rel="nofollow">William Faulkner</a> was briefly a postal worker? "Knowledge junkies" can also get their fix on <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/" rel="nofollow">mentalfloss.com</a> or their <a href="https://twitter.com/mental_floss" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a>.</p> <p>Kenneth C. Davis's <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=%22Davis%2C%20Kenneth%20C.%22%20don%27t%20know&amp;commit=Search&amp;searchOpt=catalogue&amp;sort[field]=TITLE&amp;sort[type]=BIB_FIELDS&amp;sort[direction]=ascending" rel="nofollow"><em>Don't Know Much About...</em></a> series started with history and now covers an array of topics for adults as well as younger readers to fill in missing gaps in their knowledge.</p> <p>David Feldman's <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=feldman+imponderables" rel="nofollow"><em>Imponderables</em> series</a> includes a few I remember reading as a kid. He asks the kinds of questions that may keep you up late at night, but provides answers you can then use to impress your friends. Here are the ones available in ebook form:</p> <ul><li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=Are Lobsters Ambidextrous?" rel="nofollow"><em>Are Lobsters Ambidextrous?</em></a> (reprint of <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=when did wild poodles roam" rel="nofollow"><em>When Did Wild Poodles Roam the Earth?</em></a>, 2006)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=Imponderables solution to mysteries of everyday" rel="nofollow"><em>Imponderables: The Solution to the Mysteries of Everyday Life</em></a><em> </em>(2004)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=aspirin Imponderables" rel="nofollow"><em>How Does Aspirin Find a Headache? An Imponderables Book</em></a> (1993)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=fish sleep imponderables" rel="nofollow"><em>When Do Fish Sleep? and Other Imponderables of Everyday Life</em></a><em> </em>(1989)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=clocks imponderables" rel="nofollow"><em>Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? and Other Imponderables</em></a> (1987)<em><br /></em></li> </ul><p><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=peoples almanac wallechinsky" rel="nofollow"><em>The People's Almanac</em></a> and <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=book lists wallechinsky" rel="nofollow"><em>The Book of Lists</em></a> are an ongoing series, first published in the 1970s, by David Wallechinsky and his father Irving Wallace and sister Amy Wallace. <a href="http://www.trivia-library.com/" rel="nofollow">Some selections from the <em>Almanac</em></a> have been republished online with permission. A few examples from the 2005 <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/17427831052_the_new_book_of_lists" rel="nofollow"><em>New Book of Lists</em></a> are "11 Famous People Who Were Dentists," "27 Things That Fell from the Sky," and "15 Notable Events That Happened Under the Influence of Alcohol."</p> <p><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/19557702052_listomania" rel="nofollow"><em>Listomania: A World of Fascinating Facts in Graphic Detail</em></a> puts a visual spin on some informative lists, such as "13 Colors Crayola Has Retired" and "21 Micronations."</p> <p>Of course as almanacs go, there is always <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=title&amp;search_category=title&amp;q=world+almanac+book+facts&amp;commit=Search&amp;searchOpt=catalogue" rel="nofollow"><em>The World Almanac and Book of Facts</em></a> and the <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=title&amp;search_category=title&amp;q=old+farmer%27s+almanac&amp;commit=Search&amp;searchOpt=catalogue" rel="nofollow"><em>Old Farmer's Almanac</em></a> (now also available as an <a href="http://ebooks.nypl.org/928E56C6-E5F1-4074-868C-060598C0DE3A/10/257/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=5E794DF3-F050-48CE-AB92-36F75431A872">ebook</a>). Or if you are training for <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?q=Jeopardy+%28Television+Program%29&amp;t=subject" rel="nofollow"><em>JEOPARDY!</em></a>, <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/17835299052_ken_jenningss_trivia_almanac" rel="nofollow">take a few lessons from the master himself</a>.</p> <p>Time keeps on slippin' slippin'... so find out about some of the most important <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/19430669052_robertsons_book_of_firsts" rel="nofollow">Firsts</a> and <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/17096834052_notable_last_facts" rel="nofollow">Lasts</a>.</p> <p>John Hodgman's <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/17393742052_the_areas_of_my_expertise" rel="nofollow"><em>The Areas of My Expertise: An Almanac of Complete World Knowledge Compiled with Instructive Annotation and Arranged in Useful Order by Me</em></a> looks a lot like an information source along these lines except that it is all completely absurd and made up. It is also pretty funny, if you have a sense of humor when it comes to your love of trivia.</p> <h2>For Kids and Teens</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=subject&amp;search_category=subject&amp;q=Miscellanea&amp;commit=Search&amp;searchOpt=catalogue&amp;audience=juvenile|teen" rel="nofollow">Miscellanea</a></li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?q=Curiosities+and+Wonders&amp;t=subject&amp;audience=juvenile|teen" rel="nofollow">Curiosities and Wonders</a></li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=subject&amp;search_category=subject&amp;q=Questions+and+Answers&amp;searchOpt=catalogue&amp;audience=juvenile|teen" rel="nofollow">Questions and Answers</a></li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=subject&amp;search_category=subject&amp;q=Handbooks,+Vade-mecums,+Etc&amp;searchOpt=catalogue&amp;audience=juvenile|teen" rel="nofollow">Handbooks, Vade-mecums, etc</a></li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=series&amp;search_category=series&amp;q=I%20wonder%20why&amp;commit=Search&amp;searchOpt=catalogue&amp;sort[field]=PUBLISHED_DATE&amp;sort[type]=BIB_FIELDS&amp;sort[direction]=descending" rel="nofollow"><em>I Wonder Why...</em></a> series</li> </ul><h2>New York City Factoids</h2> <ul><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/jacket_10.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="199" height="279" /></span> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=all around town amazing manhattan facts" rel="nofollow"><em>All Around the Town: Amazing Manhattan Facts and Curiosities</em></a> (2011)</li> <li><em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=when statue liberty turn green" rel="nofollow">When Did the Statue of Liberty Turn Green? And 101 Other Questions about New York City</a></em> (2010)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=ultimate book new york lists everything" rel="nofollow"><em>The Ultimate Book of New York Lists: Everything You Need to Know about the Greatest City on Earth</em></a> (2009)</li> <li><em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=The Almanac of New York City jackson" rel="nofollow">The Almanac of New York City</a></em> (2008)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/17759641052_strange_but_true_new_york_city" rel="nofollow"><em>Strange but True New York City</em></a> (2005)</li> <li><em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=only in new york remarkable answers" rel="nofollow">Only in New York: 400 Remarkable Answers to Intriguing, Provocative Questions about New York City</a></em> (2004)</li> <li><em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=little big book new york excerpts" rel="nofollow">The Little Big Book of New York: Literary Excerpts, Essays, Recipes, Poetry, Songs, History, and Facts</a></em> (2004)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=new york year chronology" rel="nofollow"><em>New York Year by Year: A Chronology of the Great Metropolis</em></a> (2002)</li> <li><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=curious new yorker fascinating questions" rel="nofollow"><em>The Curious New Yorker: 329 Fascinating Questions and Surprising Answers about New York City</em></a> (1999)</li> <li><em><a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=WPA guide new york city federal writers project" rel="nofollow">The WPA Guide to New York City: The Federal Writers' Project Guide to 1930s New York</a></em></li> </ul><p><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/0671761927.1.zoom_.inline vertical.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="185" height="300" /></span>I would be remiss not to include <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&amp;search_category=keyword&amp;q=library+book+of+answers+telephone+reference+berliner&amp;commit=Search&amp;searchOpt=catalogue" rel="nofollow"><em>The Book of Answers: The New York Public Library Telephone Reference Service's Most Unusual and Entertaining Questions</em></a> from the team now better known as <a href="/ask-nypl" rel="nofollow">Ask NYPL</a>! You can still call them (or email) and ask them anything.</p> <h2>Databases</h2> <p>Sign into <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/credo-reference">Credo Reference</a> with your library card to <a href="http://www.credoreference.com/shelf.do?tab=genre" rel="nofollow">browse a virtual shelf</a> of books including atlases, chronologies, encyclopedias, factbooks, handbooks, quotations and statistics.</p> <p>Sign in with your library card, and then sign up for the fact of the day from <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/oxford-reference-online">Oxford Reference Online</a> or the word of the day from <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/oxford-english-dictionary-oed-2nd-edition">Oxford English Dictionary</a>.</p> <p>Find books from this post (and more) in <a href="http://nypl.bibliocommons.com/list/show/88492042_laurenlampasone/122018911_trivial_pursuits" rel="nofollow">this list in BiblioCommons</a>. </p> <p>Finally, that little piece of plastic at the end of your shoelace? It's called an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglet" rel="nofollow">aglet</a>. Don't ask me why I know that.</p> Dictionaries http://www.nypl.org/blog/2012/07/30/trivial-pursuit-useless-information#comments Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:47:43 -0400 A Helluva Town: The Origins of New York’s Hellish Place Names http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/04/22/helluva-town-origins-new-york-hellish-place-names Carmen Nigro, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy <p><span class="inline inline inline-center inline-center"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?ps_the_2045" title="Ensemble in On the Town., Digital ID ps_the_2045, New York Public Library"><img width="500" height="392" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=ps_the_2045&amp;t=w" title="Ensemble in On the Town., Digital ID ps_the_2045, New York Public Library" alt="Ensemble in On the Town., Digital ID ps_the_2045, New York Public Library" /></a></span></p> <p>"New York, New York, a helluva town. The Bronx is up but the Battery's down." —<em><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18171319~S1">On the Town </a></em></p> <p>With at least three "Hell" based place names within its boundaries—Hell Gate, Hell's Kitchen, and Hell's Hundred Acres—New York City is indeed a helluva town. But in spite of name and reputation, these places are now far from infernal.</p> <!--break--> <div><span class="inline inline"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?836107" title="Hell Gate Bridge, New York City, Digital ID 836107, New York Public Library"><img width="300" height="197" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=836107&amp;t=w" title="Hell Gate Bridge, New York City, Digital ID 836107, New York Public Library" alt="Hell Gate Bridge, New York City, Digital ID 836107, New York Public Library" /></a></span></div> <div><strong><span>Hell Gate</span></strong><span> </span><br /><br /><span>Hell Gate is the oldest place name of these three.  Dating back to New Amsterdam's Dutch colonial period, Hell Gate is a corruption of the Dutch name "Hellegat" which meant "hell channel." It refers to the narrow and treacherous strait of water separating <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1527281">Astoria, Queens</a>, from <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?732184F">Ward's Island</a>, and connecting the <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b15953090~S1">Long Island Sound</a> to the <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b16133887~S38">East River</a>.  </span><br /><br /><span><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18696861~S1">The Encyclopedia of New York City</a> tells us that Hell Gate earned its name from sailors navigating the shallow channel's strong currents and rocky reef. Hundreds of ships have sunk into Hell Gate, including the British ship </span><em><span>Hussar</span></em><span>, which in 1780 shipwrecked whilst carrying a significant amount of silver and gold. Its treasure is <a href="http://njscuba.net/sites/site_treasure.html#Hussar" rel="nofollow">still sought by divers</a>.  </span><br /><br /><span>The Army Corps of Engineers widened and deepened the channel in the nineteenth century using "<a href="http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/whoweare/hellgate.pdf" rel="nofollow">the greatest quantity of explosives ever attempted in a single operation</a>." The feat drew over fifty thousand spectators to the shores of the East River to watch the <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?732767F">geyser-like spectacle caused by the detonation</a>. </span><br /><br /><span>Spanning the waterway is the Hell Gate Bridge, a picturesque railroad bridge which links New York City to New England.  Although some places in the city take their name from Hell Gate, such as the <a href="http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/hellgate-station-153-e-110th-st-new-york-ny-1366673" rel="nofollow">Hell Gate Station Post Office</a>, Hell Gate officially refers to the waterway and its bridge, not to a neighborhood or other piece of land.  </span></div> <div> </div> <div><br /><div><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?482645" title="West Side Highway and Piers 95-96-97-98, looking west from roof of 619 West 54th Street, Manhattan., Digital ID 482645, New York Public Library"><img width="300" height="208" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=482645&amp;t=w" title="West Side Highway and Piers 95-96-97-98, looking west from roof of 619 West 54th Street, Manhattan., Digital ID 482645, New York Public Library" alt="West Side Highway and Piers 95-96-97-98, looking west from roof of 619 West 54th Street, Manhattan., Digital ID 482645, New York Public Library" /></a></span></div> <strong><span>Hell's Kitchen</span></strong><br /><br /><span>Bounded by Eighth Avenue to the east, the Hudson River to the west, 59th Street to the north, and 30th Street to the south is a neighborhood that some might say is "<a href="http://www.ny.com/sights/neighborhoods/midtownwest.html" rel="nofollow">Midtown West</a>." A taxi map will tell you that it is called "<a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/passenger_info_map.pdf" rel="nofollow">Clinton</a>," but almost any New Yorker will still refer to this place as Hell's Kitchen. </span><br /><br /><em><span>The Encyclopedia of New York City</span></em><span> opens its entry for Hell's Kitchen by referring to it as an "obsolete term," though we certainly still hear it in pop culture.  The area acquired this name sometime in the mid-nineteenth century, either from a neighborhood gang or the local police. By the time of the American Civil War, Hell's Kitchen was known as violent, impoverished slum. It has been home to several different ethnic groups over the years: Irish, Scots, Germans, African Americans, Greeks, Eastern Europeans, Puerto Ricans, and others. Gangs such as the Gophers and the Westies have domineered there. In fact, it was a gang-related murder in 1959 that prompted local officials to begin calling the neighborhood "Clinton" in efforts to improve its image. The name was derived from <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/downloads/pdf/passenger_info_map.pdf" rel="nofollow">De Witt Clinton Park</a>, located at Eleventh Avenue between 52nd and 54th Streets. </span><br /><br /><span>Nonetheless, the Hell's Kitchen moniker persists in common parlance.  Its mean past is remembered in films such as </span><em><span><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ywest%20side%20story%20motion%20picture">West Side Story</a></span></em><span>, countless <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Yhells%20kitchen%20mystery">murder-mystery books</a>, and invoked in chef <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Yhells%20kitchen%20ramsay">Gordon Ramsay's books and television programs</a>.  Currently the neighborhood is home to a diverse and rich restaurant scene along Ninth Avenue, Comedy Central's <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/tickets" rel="nofollow">Daily Show Studios</a>, CBS Broadcast Center, the <a href="http://www.hearst.com/real-estate/hearst-tower.php" rel="nofollow">Hearst Tower</a>, and the <a href="http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/" rel="nofollow">Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum</a>.  This abundant array of cultural and commercial establishments affirms that tourists are definitely not afraid to wander there. Whether or not they call it "Clinton," "Midtown West," or "Hell's Kitchen," only taxi drivers know for sure. </span></div> <div> </div> <div><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?482846" title="Broadway near Broome Street, Manhattan., Digital ID 482846, New York Public Library"><img width="300" height="245" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=482846&amp;t=w" title="Broadway near Broome Street, Manhattan., Digital ID 482846, New York Public Library" alt="Broadway near Broome Street, Manhattan., Digital ID 482846, New York Public Library" /></a></span><strong><span>Hell's Hundred Acres</span></strong><br /><br /><span>Unlike the previous two areas, the nickname Hell's Hundred Acres was actually born of fire. Following a series of terrible fires in the environs, some of which cost the lives of several firefighters, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/19/obituaries/edward-cavanagh-jr-dies-former-fire-commissioner.html" rel="nofollow">Fire Commissioner Edward Cavanagh</a> coined the name to express his feelings about the major fire hazards and deteriorated conditions he considered perilous.</span><br />  </div> <p>Today the neighborhood is remembered for its stylish dwellings and innovative art scene—and it is called SoHo. You can follow the neighborhood's transition in the <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/proquest-historical-newspapers-new-york-times-1851-2006-w-index-1851-"><em>New York Times</em> Historical database</a> by searching the term "Hell's Hundred Acres."  If you read the resulting articles in chronological order, you'll see the stories shift from reports of fire violations, warnings from Cavanagh, and descriptions of hazards, to stories of artists organizing, urban renewal, and eventually creation of the term "SoHo."  In late 1962, the City Planning Commission called for a "South Houston Street survey," a study that surprisingly showed the neighborhood to be economically thriving despite its run-down reputation. Subsequent articles use the term "South Houston Industrial Area," and by 1970, "SoHo."  Unlike "Hell's Kitchen", the moniker "Hell's Hundred Acres" practically disappears.</p> Reference http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/04/22/helluva-town-origins-new-york-hellish-place-names#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:22:29 -0400 Love is All You Need: A Book and Movie List for the Romantic in You http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/02/14/love-all-you-need Joanne Conte <p><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1588500" title="To my only love., Digital ID 1588500, New York Public Library"><img width="300" height="465" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=1588500&amp;t=w" alt="To my only love., Digital ID 1588500, New York Public Library" title="To my only love., Digital ID 1588500, New York Public Library" /></a>Are you ready for Valentine's Day?  I am.  My house is decorated with every kind of heart imaginable to mankind, I have my valentine baking pan ready and my chocolate lollipop molds ready to be filled, but my favorite part of Valentine's day is reading about the holiday and losing myself in a romantic poem, novel or movie.  Recommendations will follow; first <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/world-book-online-reference-center">a little history from the Worldbook online</a>.</p> <!--break--> <p>Some trace the beginning of Valentine's Day observance to the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia on February 15.  Others connect the feast with at least two saints named Valentine.  The most interesting theory that I found was an old English belief that birds choose their mates on February 14. </p> <p>Whether you believe any of these theories or not, I'm sure that a romantic dinner, a card, stuffed teddy or a huge box of candy may be just what the doctor ordered on Monday.  In the meantime here are a few suggestions from my Teen Advisory Group and I in the book and movie department, which in our opionion are the most romantic books and movies we have ever read or seen. </p> <ul><li>Any book or film based on the novels by <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ynicholas sparks">Nicholas Sparks</a>, especially <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ynicholas sparks walk remember"><em>A Walk to Remember</em></a>, <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ynicholas sparks dear john"><em>Dear John</em></a> and of course <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ynicholas sparks notebook"><em>The Notebook</em></a>.</li> <li>All the books and movies in the <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ytwilight Stephenie myer"><em>Twilight</em></a> series by Stephenie Meyer</li> <li><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ylike water chocolate esquivel"><em>Like Water for Chocolate</em></a> by Laura Esquivel in book and dvd format</li> <li><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ychocolat joanne harris"><em>Chocolat</em></a> by Joanne Harris in book and dvd format</li> <li><a href="http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/products?ed=all&amp;gr=Welcome+The+New+York+Public+Library" rel="nofollow">That Summer</a> by Sarah Dessen</li> <li><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ylove story segal"><em>Love Story</em></a> by Erich Segal in book and dvd format</li> <li><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ykathy little bird freedman"><em>Mrs. Mike and Kathy Little Bird</em></a> by Nancy and Benedict Freedman</li> <li><em><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Yromeo%20juliet%20shakespeare">Romeo and Juliet</a> </em>and the <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ylove%20sonnets%20shakespeare">Love Sonnets</a> of William Shakespeare</li> <li><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ybrownings letters poetry"><em>The Brownings: Letters and Poetry</em></a> by Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning</li> <li><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Yil postino miramax"><em>Il Postino</em></a> This Italian language film is one of the sweetest stories.  It takes place in the 1950s when the poet <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ypablo neruda">Pablo Neruda</a> was exiled from his native Chile to an Italian island.</li> </ul><p>In closing please consider attending our Meet the Author program for adults on Saturday February 19, 2011 at 2:00 pm at The <a href="/locations/morris-park" rel="nofollow">Morris Park</a> Branch in the Bronx featuring <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search~S1?/aJames%2C+Eloisa./ajames+eloisa/-3%2C-1%2C0%2CB/exact&amp;FF=ajames+eloisa&amp;1%2C65%2C">Eloisa James</a>, professor and author who will be talking about her new romance novel <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/Ywhen beauty tamed beast james"><em>When Beauty Tamed the Beast</em></a>.  In addition, if you are enamored with love poetry, consider visiting <a href="http://www.poetshouse.org/" rel="nofollow">Poets House</a> where you are invited to join the living world of poetry.</p> <p>Happy Valentine's Day!</p> Poetry http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/02/14/love-all-you-need#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2011 12:43:16 -0500 Electronic Resources for our Young Researchers http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/01/03/electronic-resources-young-researchers Shauntee Burns <p><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><a title=" older girl with books on one side of table in playground, other children on the other side. , Digital ID 434224, New York Public Library" href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?434224"><img title=" older girl with books on one side of table in playground, other children on the other side. , Digital ID 434224, New York Public Library" alt=" older girl with books on one side of table in playground, other children on the other side. , Digital ID 434224, New York Public Library" width="250" height="232" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=434224&amp;t=w" /></a></span>The New York Public Library has loads of resources available just for kids. From storytelling to searching, nothing is left to the imagination when using our resources. </p> <!--break--> <ul><li><strong><a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/bookflix">BookFlix</a></strong>- plays the narration while highlighting the words of the story across the screen (PreK-3)</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/kids-search">Kids Search</a> </strong>- an easy-to-use database for students; search by keyword or by topic to find the most useful information (K-8)</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/learning-express-library">Learning Express Library</a> </strong>- provides practice tests in Math and Reading, starting with grades 4-College</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/searchasaurus-grades-1-3">Searchasaurus</a> </strong>- includes a dictionary and encyclopedia geared for young researchers, full-text articles from over 80 magazines and pamphlets appropriate for children in grades 1-3</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/tumblebooks">TumbleBooks</a> </strong>- includes animated-talking picture books, story books, and books in other languages, puzzles and games; each story provides the appropriate grade level</li> <li><strong><a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/world-book-online-reference-center">World Book Online</a> - </strong>go to 'World Book Online for Kids' link and there you will find games, science projects, maps, and more</li> </ul><p><strong>Parents: if you are looking for additional library resources or homework help please go to </strong><a href="http://homeworknyc.org" rel="nofollow"><strong>homeworknyc.org</strong></a><strong>. </strong><strong>This website gives additional information.</strong></p> <p><strong>Junior-High and High-school students check-out our “<a href="http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/02/22/hey-got-homework">Hey! Got Homework?</a>” handout available on </strong><a href="http://homeworknyc.org" rel="nofollow"><strong>homeworknyc.org</strong></a></p> <p>Here’s how to access NYPL’s databases:</p> <ol><li>Go to <a href="http://www.nypl.org">www.nypl.org</a></li> <li>Click on ‘Find Books, DVDs, &amp; More’</li> <li>Click on ‘Articles and Databases’ in left sidebar</li> <li>Databases are listed in alphabetical order. If you are not accessing the database from the library, enter the number found on the back of your library card.</li> </ol> Education http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/01/03/electronic-resources-young-researchers#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 12:23:06 -0500 Ask NYPL: How Was X-Ray Invented? http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/08/11/ask-nypl-how-was-x-ray-invented Samantha Thompson <p>Did you know you can <a href="http://www.nypl.org/ask-nypl">ask</a> NYPL librarians questions via text message? You can ask anything, from the mundane and everyday ("what are your hours?") to the perplexing riddle keeping you up at night! The Virtual Reference Team (aka Ask NYPL) offers <a href="http://www.nypl.org/text-librarian">text reference</a>, which is a great way to receive an almost immediate answer without missing a beat. Text questions are answered quickly unless the question mystifies the expert reference librarians of Ask NYPL, but a response will always be given.</p> <p><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><a title="X-ray apparatus., Digital ID 1555225, New York Public Library" href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1555225"><img width="300" height="167" title="X-ray apparatus., Digital ID 1555225, New York Public Library" alt="X-ray apparatus., Digital ID 1555225, New York Public Library" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=1555225&amp;t=w" /></a></span></p> <!--break--> <p>Recently, Ask NYPL received a text asking “How was the x-ray invented?” Here’s how we found the answer!</p> <p>First, we gravitated towards books about invention. Our fingers did the walking to one of our favorites, <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/search/tworld%20of%20invention"><em>The World of Invention</em></a>, edited by Kimberley A. McGrath. We keep several books of inventions at Ask NYPL, so if one book does not have the answer, we can always try another. In this case, <em>The World of Invention</em> did have the answer, but this is a text and providing the answer from the book is difficult since most texting services allow for only 140 characters.</p> <p><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><a title="Rontgen., Digital ID 407683, New York Public Library" href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?407683"><img width="225" height="300" title="Rontgen., Digital ID 407683, New York Public Library" alt="Rontgen., Digital ID 407683, New York Public Library" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=407683&amp;t=w" /></a><span class="caption caption caption">Konrad Wilhelm Röntgen, professor of physics</span></span>Our next step was checking one of our favorite websites, <a href="http://about.com" rel="nofollow">about.com</a>, which is a useful reference tool for locating quick facts. We searched by typing in the keywords, “<a href="http://search.about.com/fullsearch.htm?terms=history%20x-rays" rel="nofollow">history + x-rays</a>,” and a list of articles on x-rays was presented. Upon reviewing an article and verifying the information, the answer provided in <em>The World of Invention </em>was corroborated. We were able to text the answer, along with a link to the article.</p> <p>Final Answer? <strong>On 8 Nov, 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (accidentally) discovered an image cast from his cathode ray generator, projected far beyond the possible range of the cathode rays (now known as an electron beam).</strong> To learn more, see the <a href="http://inventors.about.com/od/xyzstartinventions/a/x-ray.htm" rel="nofollow">about.com article</a>!</p> <p> </p> Technology http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/08/11/ask-nypl-how-was-x-ray-invented#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:19:32 -0400 The Joy of Reference http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/06/04/joy-reference Jenny Engstrom <p>A few weeks ago I was invited to a bridal shower, and by the time I got around to looking up the registry almost everything had already been fulfilled. I don't love registries anyway, and because I'm a librarian I figured I can always get away with giving people books for any and every occasion. Right? I thought a nice cookbook would be the perfect gift, and then remembered I had already done this a few years ago, giving another friend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/New-InterCourses-Aphrodisiac-Cookbook/dp/0965327523/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1275598011&amp;sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">an aphrodisiac cookbook</a> for her bridal shower. I was so proud of myself, because usually showers beget either sexy gifts like lingerie, or practical gifts like food processors. I had thought of a gift that was both sexy and practical! Well, perhaps aphrodisiac cookbooks are not the most practical. But in general, a cookbook can be very useful indeed.</p> <!--break--> <p><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/joy.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="180" height="180" /></span>Wandering around the bookstore, I saw plenty of cutesy <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17519200~S1">cookbooks for newlyweds</a>, but considering the couple, none of them were quite right. I kept coming back to <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17132023~S1"><em>The Joy of Cooking</em></a>, which my mother has convinced me is the only cookbook anyone actually needs, despite my own entire aversion to cooking. Inspiration struck, and I decided to pair it with <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18139781~S1"><em>The Joy of Sex</em></a>. Absurd gender stereotypes about wifely duties aside, I have to say I thought it was a fab shower gift -- original and funny and useful. I had a feeling the bride-to-be, an English teacher, wouldn't mind me ignoring her registry to help her begin to build an at home reference collection. In fact, after a terrible incident with one of her other shower gifts (a slicer) resulting in a trip to the ER and 16 stitches, I'm glad to know I gave her a gift that probably won't injure her (although The Joy of Cooking is huge and heavy and is probably best kept on a low shelf for safety's sake.)</p> <p><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/stmartin_.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="170" height="170" /></span>After all this, I got to thinking about at-home reference collections. At some point during my bazillion years of higher education (still ongoing), I got rid of the paperback dictionary and thesaurus I had when I first went off to college. It just became easier to <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/" rel="nofollow">look it up online</a>, and I never used them. In spite of the fantastic reference powers of the Internet, there are some books I keep and use the old-fashioned way. Without really meaning to, I've created a small collection which constitutes my own personal <a href="http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/05/13/best-reference-2010-thrifty-reference">Best of Reference</a>. Next to me on a shelf as I write this is <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b16434845~S1"><em>The St. Martin's Handbook</em></a>, which I keep around to make me feel better about my writing, mostly. (If you are reading this post, you probably can guess how often I actually consult it.) As previously mentioned, I don't cook <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b16834829~S1"><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/baking.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="196" height="196" /></span></a>much. Even so, I have quite a few cookbooks at home, and regularly consult the <a href="http://www.cooksillustrated.com/" rel="nofollow">Cooks Illustrated</a> genius masterpiece <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b16834829~S1"><em>Baking Illustrated</em></a>, as well as this great little book called <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17647072~S1"><em>What's A Cook To Do</em></a> that explains how to do pretty much everything you could ever need or want to do in the kitchen. On my last trip home, my mom decided I should have her vintage (1976!) <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17667329~S1"><em>Mr. Boston Deluxe Official Bartender's Guide</em></a>, which has not yet been used but looks very cute on the shelf next to the oft-used <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18137030~S1"><em>Not For Tourists Guide to NYC</em></a>.</p> <p>I've moved 11 times in the past 10 years, and it's amazing that I have any reference books at home at all, given the constant weeding of my home library every time I pack up for a new place! Some of my favorite "reference" books have been given to me as gifts, and so they've been moved a few times even though I don't consult them all that often... <span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/goodspell.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="139" height="203" /></span>reference with sentimental value or something like that. Among these, a huge but fascinating encyclopedia called <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17381421~S1"><em>The Secret Universe of Names</em></a>, Jon Stewart's <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17617600~S1"><em>America: The Book</em></a>, a practical guide to sorcery (also not yet used but you never know!) called <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b15045040~S1"><em>The Good Spell Book</em></a>, and Suze Orman's exceedingly helpful and simultaneously quite depressing <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17676135~S1"><em>Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke</em></a>. The most recent addition to my at-home reference collection is a tag-sale copy of <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17792176~S1"><em>Living it Up</em></a>, a guide to named apartment houses in New York, and my most treasured reference book gift is a copy of <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b12902345~S1"><em>How to Use the Library</em></a> from 1955.</p> <p>I still have a few weeks to figure out what to give the happy couple for an official wedding gift, and most likely will resist the urge to buy more books. But just in case, I did an informal survey of my social networks to see what reference books they hold on to and continue to regularly use instead of searching the Internet. A few of the responses:</p> <p><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17672418~S1"><em>The Official Scrabble Player's Dictionary</em></a> (the most votes by far!)</p> <p><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17519495~S1"><em>The Dictionary of Classical Mythology</em></a></p> <p>Old <em>Encyclopædia Brittanica</em></p> <p>the local phone book</p> <p><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18205362~S1"><em>The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet</em></a></p> <p>Scott Kelby's <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17675615~S1"><em>Digital Photographer</em></a> series</p> <p><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17842093~S1"><em>The Elements of Style</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18139936~S1"><em>The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17337681~S1"><em>Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17810456~S1"><em>Panati's Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things</em></a></p> <p><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17670221~S1">Emily Post's <em>Etiquette</em></a></p> <p>And of course, <em>The Joy of Cooking</em> also received quite a few votes. One of my colleagues told me his most used reference book at home is <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b11080320">an old family cookbook</a> that opens automatically to certain recipes his family makes over and over. I most sincerely hope some of the cookbooks and other books I've given as gifts are used and loved like that in years to come. What are your most used (or sentimentally valued!) reference books at home? </p> Books and Libraries http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/06/04/joy-reference#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:04:01 -0400 A Quick Guide to Culinary Research http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/05/25/quick-guide-culinary-research Rebecca Federman, Collection Development <p><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><a title="[Daidokoro] = [Kitchen scene], Digital ID 416425, New York Public Library" href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?416425"><img width="250" height="198" title="[Daidokoro] = [Kitchen scene], Digital ID 416425, New York Public Library" alt="[Daidokoro] = [Kitchen scene], Digital ID 416425, New York Public Library" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=416425&amp;t=w" /></a></span>While I've taught a number of classes about how one would begin culinary research at the New York Public Library, I understand that people can't always make it to midtown in the middle of the day, nor does everyone live in New York. For those reasons and more, I've put together a brief tutorial on how to begin culinary research at a library and I will attempt to make this as universally applicable to other libraries as possible. </p> <!--break--> <p><strong>Cookery is the Word</strong></p> <p>Perhaps the most important trick when looking up cookbooks in a library catalog is to use the term "cookery" as a keyword (this is not the case for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/" rel="nofollow">Amazon</a>, <a href="http://www.abebooks.com/" rel="nofollow">Abe</a>, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/" rel="nofollow">Barnes &amp; Noble</a> or any cookbook store). Cookery is the official <a href="http://authorities.loc.gov/" rel="nofollow">Library of Congress</a> subject heading for cookbooks, and while it seems antiquated (the LOC has proposed changing the heading to either cooking or cookbooks), cookery is still the most effective way to find relevant sources.<br /><br /><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1536557" title="[Kitchen scene. Young woman in the foreground.], Digital ID 1536557, New York Public Library"><img width="200" height="145" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=1536557&amp;t=w" alt="[Kitchen scene. Young woman in the foreground.], Digital ID 1536557, New York Public Library" title="[Kitchen scene. Young woman in the foreground.], Digital ID 1536557, New York Public Library" /></a></span>For example, if I want to search for vegetarian cookbooks at the <a href="/locations/schwarzman" rel="nofollow">42nd Street Schwarzman Library</a>, I could type "vegetarian cookbooks" as a keyword in the Library's <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/">catalog</a> and 25 results would come up in the catalog. But if I type "vegetarian <em>cookery</em>" into the keyword field, and select "Stephen A. Schwarzman Building" from the drop-down menu below, 468 titles come up in the results. That's a big difference. You may prefer a smaller pool of titles to work with, but I would argue that you're better off modifying the 468 results (by language, publication date, words in title, etc.) until you get the kind of results you're looking for.<br /><br /> Another tip when searching catalogs: always use a keyword search when starting research unless you're looking for a particular title or author.</p> <p><strong>More of the same</strong></p> <p>Let's say you've found a title that looks exactly like what you need for your research (or pleasure). But how do you find more books with that same subject? The easiest and most reliable way is to go directly to the catalog record of the book you've already found. Just find the subject heading, and then click on that heading link to lead you to more titles with that same subject.<br /><br /> For example, say you're interested in insect cookbooks. You find a book in the catalog called <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b12521777%7ES38"><em>Entertaining with Insects : or, The Original Guide to Insect Cookery.</em></a>  Great!  But one or two more titles would be perfect. If you click on the link above, you'll see that the subject heading for <em>Entertaining with Insects</em> is "Cookery (Insects)". If you click on that link, it takes you to a listing of three titles — the <em>Entertaining </em>title, and two others:<a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b14750302%7ES38"><em> Creepy, Crawly Cuisine</em></a> and <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b14929166%7ES38"><em>L</em><em>a Cuisine des Insects</em></a>. One is in French, but the other one looks good. Closer inspection of <em>Creepy, Crawly Cuisine</em> shows that it has yet another subject heading attributed to it: "Edible Insects". If you click on that subject heading link, you'll get six more titles, and so on, and so on.<br /><br /><span class="inline inline inline-center inline-center"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1260005" title="[Two African American women, Ada Turner and Evelyn M. Driver (Home Management and Home Economics Supervisor), canning English peas with pressure cooker in Mrs. Missouri Thomas&#039; kitchen, Flint River Farms, Georgia, May 1939.],Ada Turner and Evelyn M. Driver Home Management and Home Economics Supervisor, canning English peas with pressure cooker in Mrs. Missouri Thomas&#039; kitchen, Flint River Farms, Georgia, May 1939., Digital ID 1260005, New York Public Library"><img width="300" height="222" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=1260005&amp;t=w" alt="[Two African American women, Ada Turner and Evelyn M. Driver (Home Management and Home Economics Supervisor), canning English peas with pressure cooker in Mrs. Missouri Thomas&#039; kitchen, Flint River Farms, Georgia, May 1939.],Ada Turner and Evelyn M. Driver Home Management and Home Economics Supervisor, canning English peas with pressure cooker in Mrs. Missouri Thomas&#039; kitchen, Flint River Farms, Georgia, May 1939., Digital ID 1260005, New York Public Library" title="[Two African American women, Ada Turner and Evelyn M. Driver (Home Management and Home Economics Supervisor), canning English peas with pressure cooker in Mrs. Missouri Thomas&#039; kitchen, Flint River Farms, Georgia, May 1939.],Ada Turner and Evelyn M. Driver Home Management and Home Economics Supervisor, canning English peas with pressure cooker in Mrs. Missouri Thomas&#039; kitchen, Flint River Farms, Georgia, May 1939., Digital ID 1260005, New York Public Library" /></a></span><strong>Resources (other than free websites) for great information</strong></p> <p>Not everything is online. And not everything that is online is free. That's where libraries can help, (especially public libraries if you're not affiliated with a college or university). The following are subscription databases available at NYPL that I find extremely useful when conducting culinary research. Unfortunately, most of these resources are not available from home. You have to physically come to the library to access them, but once you're here you can download or email or print the articles that look good. Also, not every public library has subscriptions to these resources, but ask your librarian -- he/she may be able to give you access to a college or university for a day.<br /><span class="inline inline inline-center inline-center"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?110212" title="Final inspection of cattle, Digital ID 110212, New York Public Library"><img width="300" height="228" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=110212&amp;t=w" alt="Final inspection of cattle, Digital ID 110212, New York Public Library" title="Final inspection of cattle, Digital ID 110212, New York Public Library" /></a></span><strong>Historical Newspapers</strong></p> <p>NYPL subscribes to the historical <em>New York Times, Chicago Tribune, New York Tribune, New York Amsterdam News, LA Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Hartford Courant, Harper's Weekly</em>, and more -- all online. These <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/proquest-historical-database">historical newspapers</a> are excellent sources for a wide variety of information, from radio broadcast schedules and refrigerator advertisements to restaurant reviews and recipe columns.</p> <p><strong>Oxford English Dictionary</strong></p> <p>The <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/oxford-english-dictionary-oed-2nd-edition">Oxford English Dictionary</a> (OED) is another invaluable source, as it provides the etymology and approximate usage of words into the English language. For example, "tikka masala" entered the OED in 1975, just two years after Madhur Jaffrey's <em>An Invitation to Indian Cooking</em> was published and the same year that John Canaday reviewed the restaurant Tandoor in the <em>New York Times</em> and gave it two stars -- highlighting the chicken tikka masala ($4.50).<br /><br /><strong>ProQuest Research Library</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/proquest-research-library">ProQuest Research Library</a> is an aggregated database, meaning that it includes the full-text of a number of different periodical titles in a variety of different subjects -- both popular and scholarly. Here you can find an archive of the full-text of <em>Gastronomica </em>(with a six month embargo), <em>O: Oprah Magazine</em>, <em>Nation's Restaurant News</em>, <em>Nutrition Action Newsletter</em>, and  more.<br /><br /><strong>Business Source Premier</strong></p> <p>For those more interested in the "industry" side of food culture, <a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/business-source-premier-ebsco&quot;">Business Source Premier</a> (from the vendor EBSCO) is filled with titles from business periodicals, from the <em>Chilled Food Industry Profile</em> to <em>Food and Drinks Forecast</em>.<br /><br /><strong>New York Public Library Digital Gallery</strong></p> <p>Last, but far from least, is the Library's own <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm">Digital Gallery </a>of images from materials in our collections. Here one can find maps, <a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm?topic=printing&amp;amp;col_id=159">menus</a>, cigarette cards (see below), photographs of farms, schools, restaurants, and so much more.<br /><br /> What are your favorite research sources? Let me know!<br /><span class="inline inline inline-center inline-center"><a href="http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/id?1117907" title="Pete Markovich&#039;s strong drink, Digital ID 1117907, New York Public Library"><img width="300" height="182" src="http://images.nypl.org/?id=1117907&amp;t=w" alt="Pete Markovich&#039;s strong drink, Digital ID 1117907, New York Public Library" title="Pete Markovich&#039;s strong drink, Digital ID 1117907, New York Public Library" /></a></span></p> Food http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/05/25/quick-guide-culinary-research#comments Tue, 25 May 2010 13:46:47 -0400 Best of Reference 2010: Thrifty Reference http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/05/13/best-reference-2010-thrifty-reference Jenny Engstrom <div>Knowledge is power, and in hard times, finding the best information can be even more important. These books, websites, and electronic resources, available through your local library, can save you both time and money! </div> <!--break--> <p><br /> Selected and presented by librarians from all three NYC library systems, Best of Reference is sponsored by The New York Library Association's <a href="http://www.nyla.org/index.php?page_id=51" rel="nofollow">Reference and Adult Services Section</a>.</p> <h3><strong>Coupon Clipping</strong></h3> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/world_myth_big.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="96" height="96" /></span>Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend </strong></div> <div>Anthony S. Mercatante and James R Dow, eds. Facts on File. </div> <div><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b17739976~S1">NYPL</a> / <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/facts-on-file-encyclopedia-of-world-mythology-and-legend/oclc/184982566" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9780816073115</div> <div>This revised and expanded 2- volume encyclopedia is organized alphabetically. In addition to over 3000 cross-referenced entries it contains a general index, a categorized index of entries by culture, geographic area and ethnicity, as well as essays examining the influence of myths and legends on art, music and literature.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/american_indian.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="80" height="102" /></span>Atlas of the North American Indian </strong></div> <div>Carl Waldman. Facts On File. </div> <div><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18080104~S1">NYPL</a> / <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/atlas-of-the-north-american-indian/oclc/148693648" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9780816068586  </div> <div>Through the extensive use of maps, photos, illustrations, and art this volume comprehensively discusses various tribes, their culture, geography, and politics.  Several appendices include a chronology from 30,000 BCE through 2008, a catalog of nations and linguistic groupings, state by state listing of Reservations in the U.S., names of tribes by Canadian province, listing of relevant place names, and a museum directory.</div> <div><strong> </strong></div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/science.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="96" height="115" /></span>Concise History of Science and Invention: An Illustrated Time Line </strong></div> <div>Jolyon Goddard, ed. National Geographic. </div> <div><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18194045~S1">NYPL</a> / <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/concise-history-of-science-invention-an-illustrated-time-line/oclc/318867462" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9781426205446</div> <div>This richly illustrated volume covers scientific and innovative achievements over ten chronological eras beginning with the Origins of Science through the Modern World.  Year by year timelines for four major disciplines of science plus current world events are broken down into geographic regions. Over 40 topical essays highlighting momentous discoveries and brief biographies are sprinkled throughout. </div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/heilbrunn.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="296" height="170" /></span>The Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History </strong></div> <div><a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/toah" rel="nofollow">www.metmuseum.org/toah</a></div> <div>This impressive website is a chronological, geographical, and thematic exploration of the worldwide history of art, as illustrated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collections.  Students, scholarly researchers and the general public will find this a useful tool that can be browsed or searched by time, place, type of medium, subject of art, artist, and more.  With in-depth thematic essays this site richly illustrates humanity’s creative history. </div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/fedspending.inline vertical.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="300" height="105" /></span>FedSpending </strong></div> <div><a href="http://www.fedspending.org" rel="nofollow">www.fedspending.org</a></div> <div>Created by OMB Watch (a nonprofit organization promoting government transparency) this highly usable tool will benefit students, general researchers, community groups and interested citizens.  The intuitive search interface allows users to search for federal contracts, assistance, and Recovery Act spending, as well as rank top recipients and contractors.  Data is searchable by state, agency, recipient, and congressional district, and is complemented by an interactive map, and in-depth essays.</div> <div> </div> <h3><strong>Belt Tightening</strong></h3> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/genetics.inline vertical.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="300" height="70" /></span>Genetics Home Reference </strong></div> <div><a href="http://www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov" rel="nofollow">www.ghr.nlm.nih.gov</a></div> <div>Genetics Home Reference is the National Library of Medicine's website for consumer information about genetic conditions, genes, and chromosomes.  It is a substantial starting point for patients, their families, and students interested in learning about human genetics and inherited disorders.  The site includes an online book and a glossary as well as searchable and browseable topics.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/herbal_trends.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="113" height="147" /></span>Herbal Medicine Trends and Traditions: a Comprehensive Sourcebook on the Preparation and Use of Medicinal Plants </strong></div> <div>Charles W. Kane. Lincoln Town Press. </div> <div><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/herbal-medicine-trends-and-traditions-a-comprehensive-sourcebook-on-the-preparation-and-use-of-medicinal-plants/oclc/298184645" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9780977133321</div> <div>This scholarly study of folk and natural medicines profile over 100 plants and contains several useful appendices such as plant Family groupings, weights and measures, and helpful worksheets.  Also included are a bibliography and an extensive glossary.  The content is clear enough for the layperson and comprehensive enough for the practitioner with balanced coverage of this complicated subject.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/eol.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="154" height="86" /></span>Encyclopedia of Life</strong></div> <div><a href="http://www.eol.org" rel="nofollow">www.eol.org</a></div> <div>The Encyclopedia of Life has the lofty goal of classifying and describing all 1.9 million living organisms known to science and is loaded with technical data, scientific terminology, geographic distribution, genetic information, hundreds of colorful images and videos, and links to other trusted Internet sources.  The strength of this resource is the collaboration between the amateur taxonomist and the scientific community in the form of respected Institutional partners such as the Field Museum of Natural History, Harvard University’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, and the Smithsonian Institution. </div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/septop.inline vertical.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="300" height="30" /></span>Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy </strong></div> <div><a href="http://plato.stanford.edu" rel="nofollow">plato.stanford.edu</a></div> <div>This unique online source offers peer-reviewed, scholarly content with free access in the broad subject of philosophy. Signed entries are accessible through keyword searching or browsing on the alphabetical Table of Contents.  Most entries average over 20 pages and contain dynamic cross-references as new articles are published, Useful Internet resources, and lengthy bibliographies to scholarly print articles.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/war.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="115" height="115" /></span>War: From Ancient Egypt to Iraq </strong></div> <div>Saul David, ed. DK Publishing. </div> <div><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/war-from-ancient-egypt-to-iraq/oclc/311780542" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9780756655723</div> <div>This source dramatically tells the tale of warfare, including eyewitness accounts through art, maps, photos, images and illustrations, charts, and timelines. Organized chronologically, with extended essays on special topics and a 150 page catalog briefly covering every known military campaign in history.</div> <div> </div> <h3><strong>Penny Pinching</strong></h3> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/baseball.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="111" height="111" /></span>The Dickson Baseball Dictionary </strong></div> <div>Paul Dickson. W.W. Norton &amp; Co. </div> <div><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18049267~S1">NYPL</a> / <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/dickson-baseball-dictionary/oclc/227016193" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 978039306681</div> <div>A comprehensive survey of baseball terminology including the etymology of popular and obscure terms and phrases. This substantially revised third edition includes many terms introduced recently by the popularity of sabermetrics, the mathematical analysis of baseball. Dickson's will be helpful to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the colorful vocabulary and history of baseball's language and culture.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/african_american_history.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="125" height="119" /></span>Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present: From the Age of Segregation to the Twenty-First Century </strong></div> <div>Paul Finkelman. Oxford University Press. </div> <div><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b16534208~S1">NYPL</a> or <a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18352771~S1">Access Electronically</a> / <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/encyclopedia-of-african-american-history-1896-to-the-present-from-the-age-of-segregation-to-the-twenty-first-century/oclc/239240886" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9780195167795</div> <div>This companion title to the previous Oxford release covering 1619-1895 resumes with the death of Frederick Douglass and the historic Plessy v. Ferguson decision.  With over 1,000 biographical and topical entries, its scope, breadth and accessibility make it an essential resource for students, general readers and educators looking for a comprehensive historical encyclopedia of the post-Reconstruction African-American experience in politics, law, business, arts and entertainment.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/political_encyclopedia.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="130" height="130" /></span>Political Encyclopedia of U.S. States and Regions<br /></strong></div> <div>Donald P Haider-Markel and Michael A Card, eds. CQ Press. </div> <div><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/political-encyclopedia-of-us-states-and-regions/oclc/232129884" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9780872893771</div> <div>The two-volume set shines as a one-stop resource for student and general research on state politics, government and policy.  Organized into four parts (topical essays; regional and state profiles; state politics A-Z; and statistics), the signed entries explain important terms, concepts, and issues, and are complemented by maps, bibliographies, and a substantial section of statistical tables.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/galaxy.gif" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="167" height="67" /></span>Galaxy of Images </strong></div> <div><a href="http://www.sil.si.edu/imagegalaxy" rel="nofollow">www.sil.si.edu/imagegalaxy</a></div> <div>This website showcases thousands of images from printed books and manuscripts in the varied collections of Smithsonian Institution Libraries including illuminated Initial Letters, Butterflies, Natural History museums, and much more.  New collections are added regularly.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/SLBA_gray.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="205" height="110" /></span>Student Loan Borrower Assistance </strong></div> <div><a href="http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org" rel="nofollow">www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org</a></div> <div>A resource aimed at borrowers, their families, and advocates, this nonprofit site provides up-to-date information about student loans, including repayment, forbearance, and deferment.  Detailed attention is paid to students' options and legal rights regarding financial hardship and debt cancellation with a nonjudgmental tone. </div> <div> </div> <h3><strong>Bargain Hunting</strong></h3> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/voyages.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="240" height="60" /></span>Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database </strong></div> <div><a href="http://www.slavevoyages.org" rel="nofollow">www.slavevoyages.org</a></div> <div>A valuable resource on the Atlantic slave trade for students, educators and genealogical researchers covering voyages made during the years 1514 - 1866, with ship manifests, maps, lesson plans, images from manuscripts, essays, and statistical estimates that assist in bridging data gaps.  The database is searchable by name of ship, name of captain, date of voyage, geographic region, country of origin, and more.  A special feature allows users to construct custom charts, graphs, and data tables and compare voyage statistics.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/daily_life.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="100" height="130" /></span>Daily Life Through World History in Primary Documents  </strong></div> <div>Lawrence Morris, ed. Greenwood Press. </div> <div><a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/daily-life-through-world-history-in-primary-documents/oclc/191922514" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9780313338984</div> <div>This source offers readers an opportunity to understand the Ancient World, the Middle Ages and the Modern World through the use of primary documents. Each chapter thematically covers aspects of daily life in seven broad categories: domestic, economic, material culture, political, recreational and religious. Included are a chronology of important world events, an appendix of brief biographies, and a comprehensive index.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-left inline-left"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/islam.img_assist_custom.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-img_assist_custom" width="100" height="126" /></span>Encyclopedia of Islam</strong></div> <div>Juan E. Campo. Facts On File. </div> <div><a href="http://catalog.nypl.org/record=b18050476~S1">NYPL</a> / <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/encyclopedia-of-islam/oclc/191882169" rel="nofollow">WorldCat</a> / ISBN: 9780816054541</div> <div>A single volume covering basic knowledge about Muslims - their culture, religion and politics.  Alphabetically arranged and cross-referenced, this title spans the eras from the birth of Mohammed to the assassination of Pakistani leader Benazir Ali Bhutto in 2007.  The volume is concluded by an in-depth, topically arranged bibliography with additional Internet resources, and a comprehensive index.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/bio_rc_titleBar.inline vertical.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="300" height="27" /></span>Biography Resource Center </strong></div> <div><a href="http://www.nypl.org/collections/articles-databases/biography-resource-center">NYPL</a> / also available offsite with your NYPL card</div> <div>Biography Resource Center is your one-stop authoritative source of bibliographical information on over 380,000 people.  Browse by dozens of categories including athletes, world leaders, multicultural groups and more with the ability to further narrow a search by a specific set of facts such as occupation, nationality and birth place.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong><span class="inline inline inline-right inline-right"><img src="http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/images/NIHsenior.inline vertical.gif" alt="" title="" class="image image image-inline image-inline vertical vertical" width="300" height="64" /></span>NIH Senior Health </strong></div> <div><a href="http://nihseniorhealth.gov" rel="nofollow">www.nihseniorhealth.gov</a></div> <div>This Senior-friendly Website developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine contains authoritative, easy-to-understand and topical health and wellness information.  Each page features a variety of accessibility controls such as adjustable text size, color contrast, text to speech option, and keyboard shortcut navigation.  Of special interest to Librarians is a lengthy section with an online Toolkit to assist in creating public programs. </div> <div> </div> <div><em>Best of Reference is an annual list of books, websites, and electronic resources selected by a committee of librarians for their usefulness in branch reference collections. Selection criteria include value and appropriateness for community library collections, organization of materials, style of presentation, and authority of authors and editors.</em></div> <div><em> </em></div> <div><em>These sources were selected by the following committee members from the staff of the Brooklyn Public Library, The New York Public Library, and Queens Library:</em> <em>Courtney Bennett and Jennifer Gellmann (BPL), Aliqae Geraci and Marianna Vertsman (QL), and Hyacinth Persad (NYPL). Special thanks to Jennifer Zarr, Advisor (NYPL).</em></div> Islam http://www.nypl.org/blog/2010/05/13/best-reference-2010-thrifty-reference#comments Thu, 13 May 2010 14:23:36 -0400
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