Directories,+Almanacs,+Handbooks,+and+Yearbooks

List your favorite directories, almanacs, handbooks, and yearbooks below.


 * Anita Cellucci**
 * Many of the choices in the library had old copyright dates. I chose based more on the type of source and what was offered within the source and the illustration of the differences, rather than if the source was current. Many of these would be out of date.**


 * Directories, Almanacs, Handbooks and Yearbooks:**

//The Latino student's guide to college success//. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 2002. Offers advice to Latino students considering or already in a university or community college, including tips on choosing a college, strategies for academic success, and success stories from notable Latinos.
 * Directories:**

//Eating Disorders: a reference sourcebook//. Rev. ed. Phoeniz, Az.: Oryx Press, 1999. A collection of articles which discuss the causes, symptoms, health and psychological effects, and treatments of eating disorders, and provides a directory of facilities and programs designed to help people with these disorders.

Bode, Janet.//Rape: preventing it, coping with the legal,medical and emotional aftermath.// New York: Watts,1979. Discusses the crime of rape;what it is, why it may occur, how to prevent it, and how to handle the legal, medical and emotional aftermath.

Cousteau, Jacques Yves//.The Cousteau almanac: an inventory of life on our water planet.// 1st ed. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1981. The effects of humans on nature, environmental protection, and ecology.
 * Almanacs**

Papale, Henry. //Banners, buttons, and songs: a pictorial review and capsule almanac of America's presidential campaigns//. Rev.1984 ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984. Vintage style book with campaign information; songs, photos, cartoons, slogans, stats, speech excerpts, visuals, signatures, and covers of campaign bulletins.

Carter, Paul 1956-1990. //Backstage handbook: An illustrated almanac of technical information//. 3rd. Louisville, KY: Broadway Press, 1991. Information on theaters, stage setting and scenery, architecture and stage machinery.

//Historical topics for the mathematics classroom.// Washington: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1969. The history of mathematics as a teaching tool; includes the history of numbers and numerals, the history of computations, geometry, trigonometry and the development of modern mathematics.
 * Yearbooks**

Bailey, John, ed. //Great cartoons of the world, by the world's foremost cartoonists. Crown: 1967.// A collection of more than 300 cartoons. Selected from famous publications.

//Time capsule, 1943: a history of the year condensed from the pages of Time//.New York: Time, Inc. 1968. Illustrations, maps and articles from the year of periodicals.

//The United States government manual, 2007-2008.// Rev.ed. Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register of the National Archives and Records Administration, 2007. A comprehensive guide to the structure of the US government that offers information on the responsibilities, phone numbers, function, organization, and employment of various government agencies.
 * Guides/Handbooks/Manuals**

Lieberman, Susan Abel. //The real high school handbook: how to survive, thrive and prepare for what's next.//Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. A guide to getting through high school and deciding what will come next, providing information about courses, grades, testing, communicating with teachers, and post graduation options.

Brancato, Robin F. //Money: getting it, using it and avoiding the traps: the ultimate teen guide.// Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2007. A guide to personal finance for teenagers; discusses allowance, employment, choosing a bank, saving, investment, charitable contributions, comparison shopping, cellphone plans and credit.


 * Melanie Patterson **
 * Directories, Almanacs, Handbooks, & Yearbooks**

__**Directories**__ Gottlieb, Richard. //The Complete Learning Disabilities Directory, 2011: Associations, Products, Resources, Magazines, Books, Services, Conferences, Web Sites//. Amenia, NY: Grey House Pub., 2010. Print. This 900+ page directory has been published annually for over ten years. It is supported by the National Center for Learning Disabilities and is available both in print and online. According to the publisher, “this directory or database provides comprehensive, critical, and immediate information in just one source that can be accessed in minutes. With more than 6,000 listings, this newest edition makes it easy for users to pinpoint specific information in a matter of minutes.” It would make a wonderful addition to the professional collection of any school library. It seems to be the most comprehensive resource of it’s kind.

//Educators Resource Directory.// Millerton, NY: Grey House Pub, 2009. Print. This 650 page directory is designed for educators. It provides them with over 6,500 resources, as well as tables and charts containing educational statistics. According to //Booklist//, “This one volume has the capacity to save literally hours of valuable research time.” This would be a good addition to the professional collection of a school library.

//The Complete Directory for Pediatric Disorders.// Amenia, NY: Grey House Pub., 2009. Print. This 1,000 page directory provides “parents and caregivers with comprehensive and useful information about common Pediatric Conditions, Disorders, Diseases and Disabilities.” This is a valuable resource “for anyone wishing to provide parents and caregivers with an understandable description of any of the disorders included, and information about support groups and available resources.”

__**Almanacs**__ Joyce, C. Alan. //The World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2009//. New York: World Almanac, 2009. Print. This resource will provide answers to virtually any question. It’s been published annually since 1868 and it’s useful for entertainment and ready reference questions. I use this reference book to send my students on a scavenger hunt, looking for information about when the flushable toilet was invented and who won the Super Bowl in 1968. The 5th graders love using this book to answer a series of off-beat questions.

//Time for Kids Almanac.// New York: Time, 2002. Print. This annually published work is a good resource for kid-friendly information. It contains “wacky facts,” as well as puzzles and quizzes that students will love. There are full-color photos, which will also appeal to students. This is a good introductory almanac for elementary schools.

//National Geographic Kids Almanac, 2010.// Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2009. Print. According to National Geographic, this almanac teaches students all about “living on, and caring for, planet Earth.” It contains color pictures, a “Homework Helper” section, puzzles, projects, and experiments. This is a good resource to get students interested the environment.

__**Yearbooks**__ Michael, Margaret. //The Mailbox Yearbook: the Idea Magazine for Teachers//. Greensboro, NC: Education Center, 2000. Print. //The Mailbox// is a magazine that provides teachers with materials and ideas to support the curriculum. This yearbook is a compilation of the year’s issues of the magazine in a hard-cover edition. I keep this yearbook in the professional collection of the library.

//The Guinness Book of World Records-2010//. Enfield, England: Guinness Media, 2010. Print. This is probably the most popular book in the library. Published annually, this is a book of records and superlatives. The website: [], is a nice companion to the book. Students are intrigued by all of the information and color photos available in this book.

//Annual Editions: Educating Children with Exceptionalities//. Guilford: Dushkin, 2008. Print. This is a collection of articles relating to special education from a multitude of respected newspapers, magazines, and periodicals. It’s a great resource for instructors and it’s affordable: about $32. It contains an annotated list of websites, as well as a companion website supported by the publisher, McGraw-Hill.

__**Handbooks**__ Woodill, Gary, Judith Bernhard, and Lawrence Prochner. //International Handbook of Early Childhood Education//. New York: Garland Pub., 1992. Print. This resource is edited by experts in the field of early childhood education. “The entire landscape of early childhood education is surveyed through a collection of specially commissioned articles including the following themes: child & society; policy and politics; development and learning diversity, learning and access professionalism; and, parents new developments.”

Woolls, Blanche, and David V. Loertscher. //The Whole School Library Handbook//. Chicago: American Library Association, 2005. Print. I’ve had this resource in my personal collection for many years. It has proven useful when looking for information about promoting the school library program or material selection. The information is organized into 15 categories and the guide to acronyms at the beginning is useful.

Kaplan, Allison G., and Ann Marlow Riedling. //Catalog It!: a Guide to Cataloging School Library Materials//. Worthington, OH: Linworth Pub., 2006. Print. This book provides information on the theory and practice of cataloging material in a school library. The second half of the book is devoted to the practice of cataloging, providing concrete examples. It’s a good addition to any elementary library professional collection.


 * Mary Murphy Wood **

Directories, Almanacs, Handbooks, and Yearbooks
This directory provided four pages of text and data provided by each ABA approved law school in the United States and Puerto Rico. Each entry begins with full contact information: mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses and website location. The data pages include statistics on The Basics” including type of school, private or public; application fee and deadline; financial aid deadline; start time other than Fall; student to faculty ration; and availability of campus housing. They also contain data on faculty, curriculums, student ethnicity, transfers, tuition and fees, living expenses, GPA and LSAT scores of applicants and acceptances, grants and scholarships, informational resources, student attrition, bar passage and post graduate employment. Text pages allow schools to describe their specific or unique programs or assets. This directory also provides brief information on the law school admission process and what it is like becoming and being a lawyer. There is no ranking or comparison of listed law schools.
 * // Directories //**
 * 1. Print directory: //ABA// //- LSAC Official Guide. . .// **
 * Law** **School Admission Council and the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, ed. //ABA// //- LSAC Official Guide to ABA Approved Law Schools//. Newtown, PA: Law School Admission, 2008. Print.**

This two volume directory provides information about U.S. brands and trademarks as well as related parent companies. Volume I is the brand listing section containing an alphabetical listing of all U.S. brands. Each entry includes the trade name, a description of the product an its manufacturer or distributor. Volume II is an alphabetic listing of company names, mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses and website locations. This directory answers the question which company manufactures, imports, or markets a specific brand and where the company is located. These are a great resource for a business curriculum.
 * 2. Print Directory: //Brands and Their Companies// **
 * Geeseman, Peggy, and Daniel King, eds. //Brands and Their Companies//. 32nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale Cengage Learnig, 2009. Print. 2 vols.**

This is a very useful directory of those seeking local Massachusetts government information. It contains detailed full contact information on every department or part of every municipal government in the Commonwealth. It also contains similar information on state regional school districts, charter schools, counties, government councils, regional planning agencies and professional associations. Moreover, full contact information is provided for major state and federal government offices. Finally, this directory includes a map of Massachusetts by locality and county, a basic Massachusetts fact sheet and a listing of state legislators by community. Overall, a great deal of useful information about Massachusetts and local government in the state.
 * 3. Print Directory: Massachusetts Municipal Directory **
 * Evich, Mitch, and John Ouellette, eds. //Massachusetts// //Municipal Directory 2009 - 2010//. Boston: MMA Publications, 2009. Print.**

In the Table of Contents there is a highlighted section with information on how to contact them. There is information about the almanac’s mission of linking the past to the present and being useful to the community. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is nicely organized with sections on Amusement, of which there are a number of laughable topics. Anniversary, Astrology including the best days for 2010, which the almanac is famous for! For example, the best days to set posts or pour concrete in November are the 10th & 11th – I need to let my husband know because he needs to set a post! The almanac provides additional information on Astronomy, Calendar, Special Reports, Food, Gardening, Health & Home, Husbandry, Nature, News, and Weather. There are quite a few resources that can be incorporated into a classroom curriculum.
 * // Almanacs //**
 * 1. Print almanac: The Old Farmers Almanac **
 * Thomas, Robert B, ed. //The Old Farmer’s 2010 Almanac//. 218th ed. Dublin, NH: The Old Farmer’s Almanac, 2010. Print.**

The World Almanac 2010 edition contains Special Features such as the world at a Glance, the Decade in Review. The Almanac also contains a brief review of the important events of 2009. The almanac also contains information on the Economy, Crime, Military Affairs, Health & Vital Statistics, Science & Technology, Consumer Information, U.S. Government, U.S. Facts, History, & Elections, U.S. Cities, States & Population, World History and Culture, Sports, and a General Index. This is a great resource for students who are looking for facts and figures on topics where they may need to fill in the blanks. Students especially seem to like the sports section. The almanac is nicely organized and information is easy to find. In addition to the Table of Contents, there is a General Index and a Quick Reference Index in the back of the book, i.e. Zodiac signs can be found on page 360. Sports have a separate section on where to find sports from Auto Racing (p. 959) to Yachting (p. 978).
 * 2. Print almanac: The World Almanac **
 * Likoff, Laurie, and Edward A Thomas, eds. The //World Almanac and Book of Facts 2010//. 1868. New York: World Almanac Books, 2010. Print.**

This favorite among die hard sports minded students is nicely organized. The almanac is chalk full of statistics and brief articles on male and female athletes. The almanac starts out with a section on The Year in Sports, a review of the previous year’s athletic accomplishments. The book is then organized into the major area or possibly the most popular sports such as Baseball, Pro-Football, College Football, Pro-Basketball, College Basketball, Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Boxing, Horses Racing, Motor Sports, Soccer, NCAA sports, Olympics, Track & Field, Swimming, Miscellaneous sports, Awards, Obituaries and it was interesting to note that a famous horse was included, and Major Events of the previous year.
 * 3. Print almanac: Sports Illustrated **
 * //Sports Illustrated 2009 Almanac//. New York: Time Inc., 2008. Print.**

The history of this book came about when John Bartlett of Cambridge, MA a bookseller edited and published the first edition in 1882. He gathered mostly quotations from the King James Bible, Shakespeare and British writers; the Americans he chose were an elite few. Bartlett sold his book store and became a partner in Little, Brown. This edition incorporated significant changes. The editors have eliminated hundreds of cross-references and footnotes; they supply a full citation of title and source in place of the “Ibid.” The book remains literary in nature and is loyal to prose and poetry. Did you know that when you say “In my minds eye” and “All hell broke loose” that you’re quoting Hamlet? Bartlett’s welcomes suggestions, comments and nominations for additions to its book from readers. There is an Index of Authors ranging from Abigail Adams’ to Henny Youngman, and many in between. If the reader is not sure of the author there is a Quotation Guide organized alphabetically if you are looking for a famous quote on checkers if you turn to page 790 you will find Nixon’s famous quote about his dog.
 * Handbooks **
 * 1. Print handbook: Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations **
 * Kaplan, Justin, ed. //Bartlett////'s Familiar Quotations//. 17th ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2002. Print**

This handbook is organized into five chapters, Let’s Get Ready to Rock, Making the Band, Recording, All the Way Live, Turn it Up. Appendix A: Essentials of Rock, Appendix B: Getting Started in GarageBand and My Rock Profile. This is a nice handbook for any female student interested in the music industry. The book contains a fold-out timeline of the history of females in the music from 1923 to 2008. The book also contains a profile worksheet for the reader to fill out; this worksheet helps the user focus on themselves and what they want their band to sound like. The book contains many useful tips on areas such as business, equipment, electronics, safety and friends. The book contains inspiring quotes from famous female rock stars. The book also discusses the role of all the members of the band and drives home the importance of practice to the budding young rock star.
 * 2. Print Handbook: The Girl’s Guide to Rocking . . . **
 * Hooper, Jessica, ed. T//he Girl’s Guide to Rocking: How to Start a Band, Book Gigs, and Get Rolling to Rock Stardom//. New York: Workman Publishing Company, Inc., 2009. Print.**

When I saw this book with the number “21” in the title, I immediately thought how appropriate for the 21st Century Learner! In an age where everyone is so connected to technology this hand book unplugs the reader and teaches them the importance of connecting with people and that it’s ok to play outside of the technology box. This how to handbook is organized into 21 chapters. Each chapter opens with a wonderful quote. Think about how many times have you picked up a rock and tried to skim it on the water? Most kids today don’t know what that is! Here are the 21 skills; 1) Catch a Fish, 2) Throw a Ball, 3) Catch a ball, 4) Plant a Tree, 5) Ride a Bike, 6) Bake Bread, 7) Fly a Kite, 8) Juggle, 9) Build a Fire, 10) Make a Sand Castle, 11) Play a Blade of Grass, 12) Skip a Stone, 13) Make a Paper Airplane, 14) Do a Magic Trick, 15) Eat with Chopsticks, 16) Build a Wooden Box, 17) Spin a Yo-Yo, 18) Grow a Garden, 19) Make Apple Pie, 20) Throw a Frisbee, 21) Naming the Stars. This handbook is a wonderful resource to connect with elementary or middle school students. I strongly recommend this book for adults who want to reminisce or brush up on their childhood skills!
 * 3. Print Handbook: Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite . . . **
 * Lee, Jeffrey, ed. //Catch A Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite, 21 Timeless Skills Every Child Should Know//. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2004. Print.**

If you enjoy antiques and collectibles this is the yearbook to own. This yearbook is organized alphabetically by category, object, description (size age, color, and pattern), if the item is illustrated it will be noted and displayed with a color photograph on the corresponding page. In the Introduction the authors discuss how they have determined the value on the collectibles. They check prices, visit shops, shows and flea markets, read hundreds of publications and catalogs, check internet sales and other online services and then decide which are the most collectible. The writers concentrate on the average price in each category. The prices have been determined for the American market. The highest priced item in the yearbook is $422,500 for a Tiffany lamp and the lowest is 15 cents for a milk bottle cap. The yearbook contains information on items from advertising ephemera to Zsolnay pottery. The book also discusses what’s in and what’s out in collecting. This is a great resource to use for placing value on your antiques and collectibles.
 * Yearbooks **
 * 1. Print Yearbook: Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles price guide 2011 **
 * Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles price guide 2011**
 * Kovel, Terry, and Kim Kovel, eds. //Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles.// 43rd ed. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal, 2010. Print.**

The yearbook is organized with a Thematic Table of Contents, List of Documents, and Preface, How to Use This Book and an Overview of 2005. The remainder of the book is organized chronologically. Information may be located by date, by theme, by document type and source, or by index. . The yearbook opens with an Overview of 2005 with articles on Hurricane Katrina, The “War on Terrorism,” and the U.S. Economy to name a few. Important issues in political, historical and social contexts are covered. Each article gives a comprehensive introduction followed two primary source documents. This yearbook would make an exceptional library media center resource at the high school level with its varied topics.
 * 2. Print Yearbook: Historic Documents of 2005 **
 * Gottron, Martha, John Felton, and Bruce Maxwell, eds. //Historic Documents of 2005//. 1st. ed. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2006. Print.**

This naval military yearbook was first written by Fred T. Jane in 1939, the yearbook was then edited in 1971. The book opens with a list of classified advertisers. It was equally interesting to find blank numbered pages with the words “deleted by the censor” on them, one can only imagine what was on the page in 1939 that was found offensive or politically incorrect and removed. This yearbook contains great information on naval ships from all the great naval countries such as Brittan, Argentina, France, Japan, and the United States as well as many other countries. There is information on ship flags; uniform information for each country with examples of officer insignia and rank on the sleeves. One of the most interesting sections in the book is the illustrated information provided about the ships and the “classes” of ships such as battleships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers & gunboats, coast guard cutters and sub-marine classes for each country. It was interesting to see photos of ships prior to Pearl Harbor, some of which are now reside on the ocean floor as a memorial. I highly recommend this book for the military naval enthusiast.
 * 3. Print Yearbook: Jane's Fighting Ships 1939 **
 * McMurtre****, Frances****, ed. //Jane's Fighting Ships 1939//. 2nd. ed. Great Britain: David & Charles Limited, 1971. Print.**

__Directories__ **//The Address Book of Children's Authors & Illustrators//**, by Gervase Phinn, 2002. Written for children who want to know more about their favorite authors, this book includes contact address and website information for over 100 well-known children’s authors and includes mini biographies, including details like childhood experiences, pets, likes & dislikes, favorite words, foods & places, a photograph, signature and brief lists of their selected works. Organized by type of program, this directory provides overview information on different summer camps, arts programs, sports clinics, academic courses, travel tours, wilderness adventures, and volunteer opportunities for kids. This resource would be helpful for kids and parents alike.
 * //Gopher It: An Internet Resource Guide for K-12 Educators//**, by Gail and Garry Cooper, 1997. Though it’s a bit dated being from 1997, this directory is organized to refer teachers to the best web resources for teaching materials, educational research, conference information, and grant/funding opportunities. Despite its age, many of the resources and organizations listed are still in existence.
 * //Summer Programs for Kids & Teenagers//**, by Peterson’s, 2009.

__Almanacs__ This almanac is like a one-volume encyclopedia. It provides facts, definitions, biographical profiles, simple experiments, and some quirky anecdotes for the major branches of science. This would be a great tool for kids looking for a science fair topic. **//Scholastic 2010 Almanac for Kids//**, by Scholastic, 2009. This is a hodgepodge almanac of information and trivia on the high-interest topics of elementary school kids, such as the animal kingdom, the environment, geography, science, sports, and pop culture. I doubt this would be helpful as a ready reference tool, but it could entice those looking for nonfiction pleasure reading. Somewhat of a random find in my library, this almanac is organized by calendar month with ideas to use for story times, library skills, reading programs, and a few learning-type games. It’s helpful to me as a teacher when I’m planning displays or mapping out the amount of time needed for major projects.
 * //The Science Almanac for Kids//**, by Q.L. Pearce, 1998.
 * //The New Elementary School Librarian's Almanac//**, by Barbara Farley Bannister, 1991.

__Handbooks__ There are more recent editions of this, but my library has a set of these which are excellent ready reference tools for students who need to look up a rule related to grammar or compositional styles. I also like the section of commonly confused words and spellings. This is a how-to book on writing that is very graphically appealing and easy to read. It is written as a conversation between two writers on different aspects of the writing process, such as developing good beginnings, writing narratives, and what to do when you get stuck. This is a relatively short book geared for elementary/middle school students and is organized around four major environmental concerns. Each section has “what you can do” advice, quizzes, and interesting statistics that would motivate kids to become activists. It would be a good overview of environmental issues, but I might not shelve it in the reference collection.
 * //Merriam-Webster's Concise Handbook for Writers//**, 1998.
 * //Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook//**, by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter, 2010.
 * //Making a Difference: The Changing the World Handbook//**, by Ali Cronin, 2009.

__Yearbooks__ I especially like these annual compilations because they supplement the biography section with popular figures who may not be covered there. It gives students an authoritative resource alternative to what they might find online about a recently-celebrated person. This is a great resource for elementary teachers to keep abreast of how changes in the publishing world are affecting children’s literature. It’s a British-based work, but it does a nice job of approaching publishing from a global perspective. I like these annuals because it provides a wealth of context for students who are studying a particular event in history. Contextual reference can be extremely difficult to extract from history books, so this makes a great alternative for quick overviews.
 * //Biography Today 2008 Annual Cumulation//**, by Cherie D. Abbey, 2008.
 * //Children's Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2011//**, Jacqueline Wilson, 2010.
 * //Time Annual 2008: the Year in Review//**, by Time Inc., 2009.

**1.** **Foundation Grants to Individuals** - Phyllis Edelson, editor This directory includes information on federal grants and scholarships and where to find them & resources for those who are seeking funding. The entries in this book provide addresses, contact information, as well as the types of support and/or grants that the organization offers. **2.** **D & B Regional Business Directory** – Boston Area 2010 (Dun & Bradstreet Corp.) This three-volume annual set includes business listings by geographic area, company name, and Standard Industrial Classification.
 * Kate Millerick **
 * __Directories:__ **
 * 3. ** **Literary Marketplace 2011: The Directory of the American Book Publishing Industry with Industry Yellow Pages** – “Literary Market Place 2011 is the ultimate insider's guide to the U.S. book publishing industry, covering every conceivable aspect of the business.” This volume includes: 54 sections organizing everyone and everything in the publishing business, (publishers, agents, and ad agencies to associations, distributors, and events) Listings include: names, addresses, and numbers; key personnel, activities, specialties, and other relevant data; e-mail addresses and Web sites.


 * __Almanacs:__**
 * 1.** **The World Almanac & Book of Facts 2010** – Sarah Janssen This almanac, in addition to being full of information, is fun and interesting to read. The 2011 edition includes a 2009: year in review as well as information on economy, business & energy, crime, military affairs, Health & vital statistics, personalities, arts & media, science & technology, consumer information, U.S. government, U.S. facts, history& elections, U.S. cities, states & population, world history & culture, and sports.
 * 2.** **Time Almanac 2011 – Time Home Entertainment** – “Powered by Encyclopedia Britannica” – This almanac contains comprehensive up to date facts, statistics, dates and information. This edition also includes an internet website guide. 864 pages – includes colored illustrations and maps.
 * 3. The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids Vol 2 ** – 192 pages – Houghton Mifflin 2007 - "Fascinating facts, fun activities, amazing stories, and wacky tales about ... weather, sports, history, gardening, astronomy, pets, farming, nature, and more!"--P. [4] of cover - This book is not for kids only, older readers will also enjoy the layout of facts and interesting tid-bits in this almanac.

**1. Statesman’s Yearbook 2011: The Politics, Cultures and Economies of the World** – 147th edition - Edited by Barry Turner - This book consists of political, economic and social accounts of every country. It includes information on current world leaders, key events listed in chronological order and detailed maps of 193 countries. **2. The Best Plays Theater Yearbook 2007-2008** (published 2009) This book includes a comprehensive collection of facts and figures over a year in United States theater. (The 2007-08 book is the most recent edition that my library carries.) The best plays in this book are chosen from Broadway, Off-Broadway & Off-Off-Broadway productions that opened between June 2007 – May 2008. This yearbook includes essays and reference on the year in theater, as well as production photographs. **3. The Best American Short Stories** **of the Century** – John Updike, Editor; Katrina Kenison, coeditor – published 1999 Titles in this book are selected by John Updike from ** the ** 1915 through 1998 editions of ** The ** ** best ** ** American ** ** short ** stories series. The 55 selections Updike made for this book struck him as “lively, beautiful, believable, and, in the human news they brought, important.” (introduction) Authors included: Hemingway, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Tennessee Williams & Tim O’Brien to name a few.
 * __Yearbooks:__ **

**1. Occupational Outlook Handbook** – U.S. Dept of Labor, U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics Published 2010-2011 edition. This handbook tells readers the training and education needed for jobs, expected earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job and working conditions. This would be an excellent addition for older high school students & may be helpful for them as they are beginning to look into colleges and potential majors. **2. Top 300 Careers: Your Complete Guidebook to Major Jobs in Every Field 12 edition** This 818 book is based on the Occupational Outlook Handbook, it explorers hundreds of careers and assesses the best career fit for particular skill sets. “This book provides thorough, current, and interesting descriptions for all major jobs covering about 90 percent of the workforce.” **3. Getting Financial Aid Handbook 2010** New York: College Board c2009 This guide includes advice on how to apply for financial aid as well as financial aid information on more than 3,000 colleges – including available scholarships.
 * __Handbooks:__ **

__Directories, Handbooks, Yearbooks and Almanacs by Mary Gaeta__
 * Directories**
 * Peterson’s Four Year Colleges 2011**, NJ: Peterson’s (2010) - This book provides a listing of accredited colleges in the United States and Canada. It has a section on financial aid basics. It also contains a list of college majors.
 * Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2010** U.S. Dept. of Commerce and Economics – This book provides statistics compiled by different federal agencies. For example, the statistics on the birth rate were compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics. It also contains some statistics for regions and states. The library catalogs this book as the “national data book.”
 * The Complete Directory for People with Disabilities, 2011,** Millerton, NY: Grey House (2010) – This book provides a very comprehensive list of resources for people with disabilities who are looking for specialized products. It provides the address, telephone number, email address and website for the resources. This is an excellent resource for people with disabilities or for their family members.
 * Almanacs**
 * World Almanac and Book of Facts, 2010** Senior Editor Sarah Jansen, NY: World Almanac Books - This book contains the 2009 year in review with pictures. It has a section devoted to the swine flu. Like most almanacs, it has sections on business, economy, crime, entertainment, science, government, history, sports, and US cities and states. It is a great resource for facts.
 * ESPN Sports Almanac 2009** with Gerry Brown and Michael Morrison Editors. NY: Ballentine (2009). This book contains numerous facts on all sports and up to date records for the sports. It has many photographs. It also contains a great section on the 2008 Summer Olympics.
 * Sports Illustrated for Kids Year in Sports 2005,** NY: Scholastic (2004) This book contains numerous facts on all the sports. Most of the pictures included in this book are in black and white, with a few color photos in the middle. It has team statistics, World Series results, and notable baseball achievements since 1901.
 * Yearbooks**
 * Chase’s Calendar of Events, 2004** Chicago; NY: Contemporary Books – This book has an extensive listing of holidays, including religious holidays and federal and state holidays. It also includes major sports events dates and state fairs dates. It has interesting facts for every date.
 * Lynnfield** **High School** **Yearbook** Copies of the high school yearbooks are available from 1970 to present. Some yearbooks from the 1960s are also available.
 * Best Plays Theater Yearbook 2007-2008** edited by Jeffrey Eric Jenkins, NY: Limelight Editions, 2009**.** This book contains the best plays from Broadway, Off Broadway and some regional plays. Unfortunately, I did not know any of these plays.
 * Handbook**
 * Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010** by the United States Department of Labor and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lanham, Md. Bernan, 2010. This book provides an extensive listing of jobs and their prospective employment rates for the future. It also provides information of what the salary is for that job.
 * Quotation for Kids** compiled and edited by J.A. Senn (1999), CT: Millbrook (1999). This book is geared toward children. The quotes are arranged by subject and it includes numerous illustrations to attract a child’s interest. The book contains a subject index, people index, and a bibliography of secondary sources.
 * Book of Firsts** by James Buckly, Jr., NY: Scholastic (2005) – A fun book for children to read or to browse through. It contains over 1,000 first events in the areas of space, government, food (Luck Charms first sold in 1963), and many other categories. The book does not have a table of contents, but it does have a comprehensive index.

Almanacs, Directories, Handbooks and Yearbooks -- Michael Lavieri

//** Almanacs **//
 * 1) //Total Baseball,// 7th Edition, by John Thorn, 2004 -- //Total Baseball// is a regularly updated statistical almanac that documents the careers of every player to ever play in a Major League game. Readers could discover games played, batting average, home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, and many more statistics. The book also includes detailed facts about the World Series, league awards, and the Baseball Hall of Fame. Updated versions of the book feature essays about each year since 1903.
 * 2) //The Shakespeare Almanac: Curious Facts and Strange Wonders through the Seasons of the Bard's Life//, by Gregory Doran, 2009 -- In this volume, readers will follow a day-to-day calendar of Shakespeare’s life, documenting “family occasions, changing seasons, local customs, and global events.” Cultural, natural and historical information is also covered, in terms that relate to Shakespeare’s writing.
 * 3) //The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2010//, by Sarah Jansen, 2010 – This book could serve to answer basic questions – what is the highest waterfall in the world? – and also as a jumping off point for research of larger topics. Sections of Population, Geography, Science, Government and Economy can answer students’ inquiries quickly and decisively.

//1.// //Fiske Guide to Colleges 2010//, 27th Edition, by Edward B. Fiske, 2010 – //Fiske’s Guide// not only provides application information for “more than 310 colleges and universities,” but also details majors, “academic climates, and social and extracurricular scenes” at the schools. Students can find school contact information, tuition rates, and school comparisons to help them decide their futures. 2. //2011 Social Media Directory: The Ultimate Guide to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Resources//, by Jeffrey A. Riley, 2010 – This guide can help students navigate the world of social media as it expands further every day. The guide provides information about how to reach companies and organizations via the various social media websites, assisting them in the discovery of how social media can be more than just a time-waster. //3.// //Have Talent, Will Travel: The Directory of Authors, Illustrators and Storytellers East of the Mississippi//, by Gwynne Spencer, 2002 – This directory (and its companion covering the Midwest and western states) lists contact information for many authors who do school visits. Each person listed “[has] done at least ten school visits,” and information is provided concerning the cost of such an event, and the background information for the author or illustrator//.//
 * Directories **

//1.// //MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers//, 7th Edition, by Joseph Gabaldi, 2009 – This book not only details the research process, from topic selection to citations, it also covers the mechanics of writing, spelling, punctuation and format. Updated versions have included comparisons of print and online research, and specific instructions on how to cite the most up to date sources. //2.// //The Grammar Bible//, by Michael Strumpf and Auriel Douglas, 2004 – This easy to use book compiles questions fielded by the National Grammar Hotline over its 25-year history. Readers can discover how to “make their subjects agree with their verbs,” why it’s sometimes acceptable to let a sentence end with a preposition, and when one should use “who,” and when “whom.” Most helpfully, the questions are phrased in natural ways (as they are in fact real questions) so students with a problem will most likely find their answers hear. 3. //Practical English Usage// by Michael Swan, 2005 – Somewhat drier than //The Grammar Bible//, Swan’s book focuses on word usage, with the entries order alphabetically for easy reference. Readers wondering about the various uses of the word “have” and when to use each one need look no further, as that particular word earns six individual entries. Other sections cover the variety of ways numbers can be used in writing, and how usage various in different forms of correspondence, from a business letter to a text message.
 * Handbooks **

1. //The Best American Non-required Reading 2010,// by David Sedaris and Dave Eggers, 2010 – Part of the long-running //Best American// series, this volume compiles all types of writing – short stories, articles, poetry, comic strips, blog entries, you name it. The editors seek out more offbeat and humorous work than the other books in the series, but students will likely find something to interest them if they pick up this book, and they may see that not all writing has to be “traditional.” 2. //Baseball Prospectus// //2010//, by The Baseball Prospectus Staff//,// 2010 – This book could be considered a more statistically complex companion to //Total Baseball//, as it includes more recent statistical advancements in baseball research, like Wins Above Replacement, Value Over Replacement Player, and Fielding Runs Above Average. While these may seem more complex than the traditional statistics, as the book argues annually, they are more telling about what happens on the field (and what can be predicted to happen in the future). Most interestingly, each edition includes explanations of how the statistics are devised and updated each year, sure to be of interest to the mathematically-inclined. 3. //The Writers’ and Artists’ Guide to Getting Published: The Essential Guide for Authors//, by Harry Bingham, 2010 – This yearbook, “written from a writer’s point of view,” will detail the process of getting work published, teaching writers about working in the publishing industry. It could be most helpful in encouraging talented writers to pursue writing as a career, and could even be used to get them started.
 * Yearbooks **

3 Favorite Almanacs, Directories, Handbooks, and Yearbooks by Stacia Frederick

**Almanacs ** 1. The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2010, by Sarah Janssen, 2010. This Almanac claims to have the “ authoritative answers to your questions on every essential subject.” Contents contains “Special Features,” “2009: Year in Review,” “2009 Year in Pictures,” “Economy, Business, & Energy,” “Crime,” “Military Affairs,” “Health & Vital Statistics,” “Personalities, Arts, & Media,” “Science & Technology,” “Consumer Information,” “U.S. Government,” “U.S. Facts, History, & Elections,” “U.S. Cities, States, & Population,” “World History & Culture,” “Sports,” and “General Index.” Here are some facts that you will read about in this book: the top-selling passenger car is the Toyota Camry;” the fastest roller coaster in the world is the Kingda Ka at 128 mph at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ; and Chinese is spoken by 1,213 million speakers compared to English at 328 million speakers. 2. Almanac of American History from Prehistory to Present Day, by James Miller and John Thompson, 2007. This Almanac covers a chronological overview of events and people that have shaped America. Sections include “The Land, In the Beginning” – an overview of America’s geological makeup; “Milestones” – 12 essays on topics vital to shaping America’s society; 11 separate “Major Eras;” and “At a Glance” – consists of America’s major events, leaders, artists, scientists, explorers, and other topics. There are many illustrations, maps, timelines, at-a-glance information boxes, biographies, and full text of historic documents. 3. Vietnam War Almanac, by James H Willbanks, 2009. This Almanac consists of a day-to-day account of the Vietnam War (1957-1973), a review of the major events of the First Indochina War, a detailed account of America’s war in Vietnam, and the aftermath of the conflict for Vietnam and the United States. There is also an A-to-Z dictionary of the key figures involved in the Vietnam War, maps, illustrations, and a bibliography.

**Directories ** 1. The Directory of the American Book Publishing Industry with Industry Yellow Pages, Volume 2, 70th Edition, by Information Today, Inc., 2009. This Directory contains almost 11,500 entries. Information on service providers and suppliers to the publishing industry are listed. There sections covering “Advertising, Marketing and Publicity;” “Book Manufacturing;” “Sales and Distribution;” and “Services and Suppliers.” Entries contain name, address, telephone and other telecommunications data, key personnel, company reportage, branch offices, brief statistics, and descriptive annotations. There are 4 Indexes: (1) Company; (2) Personnel; (3) Sections; and (4) Advertisers. 2. D&B Regional Business Directory, Vol. 1 of 3, by Dun & Bradstreet, 2010. Business Services; Transportation, Communication, and Public Utilities; Retail Trade; Wholesale Trade; Manufacturing; Construction; and Mining are the types of Massachusetts and New Hampshire businesses found in this Directory. Each business description includes: company name, address, telephone number, number of employees at that location, annual sales volume, and a few other categories. The top 1,000 businesses in the local area are listed in the “Business Rankings” section. There is also a section to Cross-Reference with respect to Industry and Alphabetical listing. 3. Jobs and Careers Abroad, 12th Edition, by Deborah Penrith, 2005. This Directory will help a person with their “General Approach” to finding a job or career abroad with information on creative job search, getting the job, rules and regulations, learning the language, and preparation and follow-up. Over 35 different “Specific Careers” are listed in industries such as Information Technology, Law, Medicine and Nursing, and Teaching. The last section is a Worldwide Employment directory with a general introduction to the country which is followed by facts and figures. Also listed is information on job-seeking using the Internet, and cultural and economic information.

**Handbooks ** 1. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition, by Joseph Gibaldi, 2003. This Handbook was developed by the Modern Language Association of America, an organization of teachers and scholars founded in 1883, and is for high school and undergraduate students. Guidelines for doing research on the Internet, evaluating the reliability of Web sites, a chapter on plagiarism, and recent technological changes are all subject matters that are covered. This Handbook is an up-to-date guide to documentation style and online research. Sample pages of a research paper that illustrate the MLA style are also provided. 2. The Job Description Handbook, 2nd Edition, by Margie Mader-Clark, 2008. This Handbook will help a person create a job description that can be used for hiring, new employee orientation, and/or evaluating performance. Sections on creating effective job descriptions, planning for team growth, hiring/promoting the right employee, and getting new hires up to speed quickly are covered. There are Tools and Checklists to help formulate a job description and sample job descriptions for various positions. 3. Getting Financial Aid Handbook, Fourth Edition, by CollegeBoard, 2010. The goal of this Handbook is to “connect students to colleges that match both their needs and their means.” Read through the “Financial Aid Step by Step” part which will take you from the basics to once you’re in college. Look over the Tables and fill out the Worksheets to help you prepare your application. Review the Financial Aid College by College for descriptions of colleges in states. Then, look over the Scholarship Lists parts to view which schools offer what kinds of scholarships.

**Yearbooks ** **1. ** ** The Best American Short Stories, 2008, Selected from U.S. and Canadian Magazines, by Salman Rushdie, 2008. The 20 stories, fiction and nonfiction, chosen were originally published between January 2007 and January 2008. There are 3 qualifications for selection: “(1) original publication in nationally distributed American or Canadian periodicals; (2) publication in English by writers who are American or Canadian, or who have made the United States their home; and (3) original publication as short stories.” These short stories contain themes of nations, race, faith, and family. ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2. The Novel 100, A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time, by Daniel S. Burt, 2004. This Yearbook is “an attempt to identify and compare the novels that have the greatest impact in defining or modifying the genre.” Three standards must be met in order to qualify: (1) novels must have maintained the “test of time”; (2) “prevailing conventions of a particular time that esteem certain works and devalue others based on current ideology”; and (3) “asserts the inevitable power of age, culture, gender, and personal experience that form each person’s idiosyncratic tastes.” Each entry for a novel has a plot summary and assessment. Number 1 is Don Quixote and Number 100 is Gone with the Wind. There is also a section of “Novels by Year of Publication,” and the 100 Honorable Mentions. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">3. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Annual Cumulative Title Index for 1989, Covers Volumes 1-52, 1989. Alphabetically lists titles reviewed in CLC from Volumes 1-52. Entries consist of a title, corresponding volume and page numbers where they are located. Titles of novels, novellas, dramas, films, record albums, and poetry, short story, and essay collections are printed in //italics//. Titles of individual poems, short stories, essays, and songs are printed in roman type within “quotation marks.”

__ ** Directory, Almanac, Yearbook, and Handbook - by Emmy Garr: ** __

Directories: //A Kid’s Guide to Giving//, by Freddi Zeiler, published in 2006. This is a wonderful resource for kids interested in charitable work. It contains a comprehensive listing of more than 100 kid-friendly organizations, as well as several chapters about how and why kids can get involved. Each listing is broken down into contact information as well as a very brief explanation (for example, each entry answers several questions, like “What is the organization’s mission?” and “Anything else I should know?”). In addition to having helpful, thorough, and accurate information, the book is also very visually appealing to a kid: it is small, colorful, and has a magnetized cover flap in the shape of a globe that seals the book shut. The pages are also colorful and look fun and appealing while getting across essential information about this important endeavor for kids.

//The Ultimate Guide to Student Contests, Grades 7-12//, by Scott Pendleton, published in 1997. This is a helpful resource for students who’d like to display their talents or participate in competitions. It is broken into various categories, like artistic endeavors, academic competitions, and even how to go about getting published. The contact information is thorough, though information may have changed since its publication in 1997 – for example, many entries do not include a website.

//Cool Colleges for the Hyper-Intelligent, Self-Directed, Late Blooming, and Just Plain Different//, by Donald Asher, published in 2000. A good resource for students who consider themselves to be “not average,” this directory includes standard college contact information but is gathered into unique categories, like “Work Colleges” and “Innovative Curricula and Scheduling.” It’s a good reference to check along with standard college guides.

Almanacs: //The World Almanac and Book of Facts//, Editorial Director William A. McGeveran, published in 2005. 2005 is the most recent edition my school library has of this almanac, though I wish they purchased it annually or biannually. It is a very thorough collection of information from that year about a huge range of topics, spanning from a chronology of the year’s events, to movies, to astronomy, to the most populous US cities and much more. This volume would be very helpful for someone doing research about a topic specifically in the year 2005; for example, they could compare US population data from that year to the current year, or get detailed information about a 2005 sporting event. The advantage to this book is that all of this varied information is collected in one easy-to-read and accessible volume.

//The People’s Almanac//, by David Wallechinsky and Irving Wallace, published in 1975. This is an interesting twist on the almanac: it brimming with information at almost 1500 pages, but its intention is to entertain while it informs. Though many categories are similar to a standard almanac, the information within the sections often contains fun facts; for example, “Favorite American Foods,” “Stories Behind the Songs You Grew Up With,” and “A Unique Tour of Unusual Historical Sites in the USA.” This would be a good choice for a student who likes to read and learn about trivia, though it may not always be helpful for academic research purposes.

//The Macmillan Visual Almanac//, edited by Bruce S. Glassman, published in 1996. This volume is exactly what its title suggests: an almanac that is nearly entirely visual. Each page consists of charts or other graphics that illustrate various facts or trends. It would be very helpful for a visual learner, below-level reader, or anyone who prefers visual cues. A drawback is that it was published 15 years ago and much of the information may be outdated.

Yearbooks: //The Best American Short Stories 1975 And the Yearbook of the American Short Story//, edited by Martha Foley, published in 1975. This is a volume in a series that has been around for many years and continues to be published today, though contemporary versions of //The Best American Short Stories// no longer have the yearbook feature. This is a great collection of stories and the yearbook section at the end lists a series of “Honorable Mentions” and “Distinctive Short Stories” from that year, listed chronologically and where they were seen that year (mostly journals and magazines). It’s a very convenient way to be able to see the best short stories from that year if the user has that specific goal in mind. A collection of information comparable to this is extremely hard to find online.

//The Guinness Book of World Records 1999// (or any year), edited by Rhonda Carrier, published in 1998. This large, colorful, and fun book is entertaining to read and a great choice for reluctant readers, because there are lots of (very interesting!) pictures and the written component is brief. It is written at about a middle school level, which is likely the age it will appeal to most. The information about extreme record breakers is also high-interest.

//CultureGrams World Edition 2004, Volume 3: Africa//, David Crandall, Ph.D., contributor, published 2004. This yearbook contains easy to read sections on every country in Africa; there are other volumes about Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Each volume is updated annually. Sections are broken down into factual and cultural information about the country; this yearbook is of particular interest because of its emphasis on cultural aspects of a country, including marriage rituals, holidays, and recreation. It also contains important events from recent years. It’s a helpful resource for students who want a complete picture of a country, though it would be helpful to obtain updated editions for the most recent important events.

Handbooks: //Essential Shakespeare// Handbook, by Leslie Dunton-Downer and Alan Riding, published in 2004. This is arguably the most useful book I found this week because of a combination of factors: it is directly related to the high school ELA curriculum, it is not overwhelmingly large (about 500 pages) and therefore will likely not intimidate students, it is laid out neatly and colorfully, and each entry is brief – less than ten pages- another perk for a student who may have turned to this book because he or she is struggling to read and understand Shakespeare’s work. It has a helpful “How to Use the Book” section at the beginning, and is divided by Shakespeare’s various genres (historical plays, tragedies, comedies, etc.). The different categories of work are even color-coded at the top of the pages, making the book even easier for a student to navigate.

//College Board 2006 Scholarship Handbook//, no author or editor, published in 2006. This is a very helpful handbook for any student seeking scholarships; it is organized for ease of use, including “How to Use This Book” and “Frequently Asked Questions” sections in the beginning. The “Eligibility Indexes” help students quickly determine which scholarships they should target, and contact information is thorough (though would possibly need to be updated in more recent editions).

//Handbook to Life in Renaissance Europe//, by Sandra Sider, published in 2005. This is a comprehensive volume about all aspects of life during Renaissance Europe. It is organized thematically and broken into sections such as “Religion,” Art and Visual Culture,” and “Architecture and Urban Planning.” Of particular importance in this volume are the multiple primary sources, including documents, art, and artifacts. There are also helpful maps and timelines for students.