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Best of Print Reference

New and Noteworthy || Librarians' Choices

New and Noteworthy

Benezit Dictionary of Artists
N40 .D5213 2006
While this work has been around since 1911 and has been revised and expanded 3 times, most recently in 1999, this edition is the first English translation. Since its inception, Benezit has served as a unique and indispensable reference for art historians, dealers, collectors and scholars. The scope of this work is massive; artists, including painters, sculptors, engravers, and draftsmen, from all over the world and from antiquity to the present are included. Entries include artist biographies, descriptions of museums and galleries, graphics (including artist signatures, monograms and stamps of sale), auction records, and scholarly bibliographies.

Encyclopaedia Judaica, 2nd edition
Ref DS102.8 .E496 2007
"Nowhere is the enduring legacy of Jewish culture related as comprehensively as in the new second edition of the Encyclopaedia Judaica, which updates the 1972 original honored as one of the best reference works ever published." This 22 volume work cover all manner of history, religion, and culture of the Jewish faith and people. Alphebetical listings vary from short entries to essay length. They are signed, attributing responsibility to their authors, and include bibliographies for more information on the topic.

Librarians' Choices

Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia
Ref HQ1115 .W6 1999
Women in World History: a Biographical Encyclopedia is a beautiful set of volumes. Take note of the 10,000 biographical entries on both lesser-known women not readily recognized outside of their communities and cultures alongside entries on the renowned stars of world history. The primary attraction to the reviewer are the fantastic indices found in the 17th and final volume. These four indices (Era, Geographic, Occupation/Experience, and Name) are what forge the crucial link between the breadth of coverage and the ease of use on the part of the patron.
Reviewer: Eugene Owens, Reference Assistant

New Dictionary of the History of Ideas
Ref CB9 .N49 2005
This multi-volume work is a guide to intellectual history. It provides alphabetical listings of entries discussing intellectual concepts, and the evolution and changing of their meaning over time and sometimes geography. The New Dictionary of the History of Ideas augments the original Dictionary of the History of Ideas, first published in 1973, with entries covering more diverse and multicultural topics. One may question the need for such a work, let alone an updated edition; but in fact it fulfills a very specific information void. Ideas, by their very nature, are our biased understanding of the world around us based on our own perceptions and assumptions. In order to truly understand what someone says about any discipline, you must make sure you understand their context and subsequent perception of the core ideas related to their topic. Understanding the changes and variances of ideas provides a unique perspective on the cultures that espouse them, and the people who are of that culture. This perspective is the unexpected value that the New Dictionary of the History of Ideas can add to your work.
Reviewer: Rex Krajewski, Reference Services Librarian

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary
PE1628 .M36 2003 
A classic, pragmatic, and tangible presentation of American English since 1898. Although it's now in its 11th edition, I truthfully prefer my raggedy 9th, circa 1983, which I won during a 4th grade spelling bee and have been toting around the country ever since. MWCD 9th not only contributed to every paper I wrote from 5-16, but also supported my randomized sleep-deprivation poetry habit in between, helped me name my cat, and pressed the 4-leaf clover from my high school crush. (Try doing that with Bartleby.com!)
Reviewer: Kelly Jo Woodside, Career Resource Librarian

Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE)
Ref PE2843 D52 1985 v.1-4
This resource offers so much more than its title suggests. Housed in the Beatley Reference collection, this four volume set offers a comprehensive look at the variations of speech and language throughout the United States. It is a summation of a scholarly project of tremendous proportions. Sponsored by the American Dialect Society, it had its beginnings in 1889 when interested members of the society worked to collect data on dialects spoken in America. The data collection was not a comprehensive effort at that stage despite visions for the dictionary to be what it is today. It was not until 1964 that a data collection questionnaire was devised and field workers trained to administer it. The study was conducted in 1000 communities (averaging 20 per state) throughout the country over a period of five years. The communities studied fell into the following categories - urban, large city, small city, village, and rural. By 1970 the questionnaires were completed leaving the editors of DARE with almost 2,500,000 answers for every question asked! Coding the answers and linking data to maps and social facts allowed the editors to provide the information in a helpful and usable format. Arranged alphabetically the words and phrases listed are answers to the questionnaire questions - Y52 To move over - for example on a long bench: "We have to make room for one more. Can you ________ (a little)?" Within each entry are regional variations of the word, quotations from printed sources and occasionally a map with dots detailing the areas in states where a particular answer was prevalent. "Skipping Jenny" was for North Carolinians, rice and peas cooked together. The full text of the questionnaire as well as profiles of the participants are included at the start of the first volume. This is a helpful source for those tracing elements of regional differences, researching the origin of a particular word or phrase, or simply for those interested in language. This is a highly browsable item. Anyone for a tonic?, or is it soda or pop?
Reviewer: Vivienne Piroli, School for Health Studies Librarian

Business plans handbook: a compilation of actual business plans developed by small businesses throughout North America
Ref HD62.7 .B865
Anyone thinking about starting their own business - for a class project, or for real! - must check out this 10 volume set.  In order to get financers to back your idea, or even to get a simple small business bank loan, entrepreneurs need to be able to clearly articulate the need and benefits of their proposed business.  Each volume in this set provides about 30 examples
of successful business plans, giving you a flavor of how well thought out your idea must be to actually begin the process of financing and launching it.  A typical sample plan included an overview of the product/service, an analysis of industry trends, a case for market demand (demographics, competition), strategies for production, distribution channels, staffing, and marketing, and estimated financials - both costs and profits expected in the short and long term.  The sample plans serve as a great checklist to make sure you're not forgetting an important element of starting your business, and provide nuts and bolts as specific as how much to plan for renting office space, what to estimate spending on stationery and postage, and what you should expect to pay to lease web space.  Plans are for businesses as diverse as accountant, travel agency, bagel shop, bed and breakfast, bioterrorism prevention, nursery, nighclub, search services, wireless internet provider.  Browsing these books are also a great way to get ideas for businesses you could start!
Reviewer: Megan Fox, Web & Electronic Resources Librarian

The Statesman's Yearbook
JA51 .S7
The Statesman's Yearbook provides political, economic, and social information on every country in the world as well as detailed information on international organizations.  The 143rd edition of The Statesman's Yearbook contains "20% more content than previous editions" and includes"biographical profiles of current leaders for every country, government
histories, expanded economic overviews, historical economic statistics, and new essays". This source is organized into two main parts: "International Organizations" and "Countries of the World A-Z" and includes two helpful indexes: "Current Leaders Index" and "Place and International Organizations Index".  This is a great resource for obtaining a country overview with key
statistics and data.  
Reviewer: Kathy Berger, Assistant SOM Librarian

Page updated: January 21, 2007

 

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