CAPSULE COMMENTS

November 8, 2007

New Reference Books

The Library’s Information and Reference Center has chosen to highlight the following new reference books to help patrons find answers to a variety of questions.

Do you know when Revolution Day is celebrated in Algeria? When Independence Day is celebrated in the Republic of Congo? How about the capital city of Aruba? This detailed, three volume, encyclopedia of holidays and celebrations is organized by country. Volume one lists countries beginning with A-K, volume two L to Z and volume three gives an overview of all of the entries. Each entry has a fact file which lists the country’s location, size, capital city,

languages, and other such information. A history of the country is given, geography and climate information, economy and culture facts and finally a list and description of the holidays that country celebrates.

An excellent resource for students and anyone interested in World War I, this five volume set begins with a list of entries and maps, and lists everything related to World War I in alphabetical order. From the Battle of the Aa, to German diplomat Arthur Zimmerman, this set is packed with historical information and is complete with black and white photographs and charts.

The final volume includes documents relating to the war, such as Julian Grenfell on World War I and the British Munitions of War Act. This is a must have for students, teachers, and history buffs alike.

This encyclopedia of the important people, places and things in American culture and history begins with a table of contents and a guide to related topics before getting into the alphabetical listings of important people and moments. With black and white pictures gracing many of the pages, and information on anything from Johnny Cash to Barbie, this is a fun read for anyone interested in the changes that have occurred with popular culture and how it shapes American lives.