reference

reference

World of Almanacs

World of Almanacs

, , books, Library Resources
Curious about the weather this July? Want to learn more about astrological signs and planetary movements? Reach for an almanac and celebrate Read an Almanac Month! Almanacs are a treasure trove of information, meticulously compiled to provide readers with a broad spectrum of knowledge. While these books have existed in various forms since the dawn of astronomy, the first printed version appeared in Europe in 1457. From detailed weather forecasts and celestial events to practical advice and historical facts, almanacs offer a rich blend of information that has been invaluable for centuries. One of the most prominent features of an almanac is its weather forecasts. These forecasts, often presented for the entire year, offer insights into expected weather patterns, temperature … Continued
DSM-5

DSM-5

, , books, Matt Dilworth
As you may have heard, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the American Psychological Association’s primary mental health handbook, has recently published a new edition.  It’s been a long time in coming – the DSM-IV came out in 1994 (it was revised in 2000).  This reference work is the primary tool for diagnosing and recommending treatment for mental disorders across the spectrum, and has been since the first edition came out in 1952.  It is the single most important reference book for anyone in a psychology profession. The classification system has been completely retooled, eliminating the infamous five axes of the previous edition – personality disorders are no longer separated as rigidly from other types of psychiatric disorders.  … Continued
Take a Picture: Reference Question of the Week

Take a Picture: Reference Question of the Week

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth, Research
An interesting reference question that’s popped up a few times this week concerns finding information about old artists and photographers.   The best source to start with is Biography in Context.  Type in the name of your artist – you’ll find biographies and articles.  Let’s say we’re interested in Augustus Washington, who was active in the 1840s and 1850s.  You’ll get a results set like this:  The first is an extensive biography for him, and the second is a newspaper article about his work.  If you need more, JSTOR is also a good source for older articles.   But what about high resolution images of their photographs or artwork?  You might have some luck with ImageQuest, which includes images from Encyclopedia Britannica … Continued
Streamlined Reference

Streamlined Reference

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
If you’ve visited the library recently, you know we’re always fine-tuning things here.  Our most recent change involves the reference books.  These used to be split up into two sections – reference and biography books, in two different places.  We’ve combined them into one easy-to-use collection.  Both types of books now make up the first row of shelves in the stacks.  So if you don’t see them where they used to be, don’t worry – they’re still here! While we were at it, we took the opportunity to update it into a much more streamlined, focused reference collection.  We’ve trimmed a few redundant volumes (like Something About the Author, now online), and transferred a lot to the circulating collection, so … Continued
Real Scholarship

Real Scholarship

Matt Dilworth, Research
This is Matt here again. So, I recently had a research question I’d like to share with you.  One of our excellent faculty had found a story in a blog online.  Apparently Sarnia, a town in Canada, is experiencing an abnormal shift in birth rates – today, there are two girls born for every boy.  It started changing in 1993, and there is no evidence that it’s going to stop.  It’s a part of Canada rife with industrial pollution, and the shift is blamed on contaminants. So that alone is interesting.  But the part that impressed me was not so much the question as the questioner.  Our faculty are thoughtful people, and don’t accept as true everything they read on … Continued