Best of Reference 2007: Big Top Reference

Lion Taming

Encyclopedia of Feminist Literature
Snodgrass, Mary Ellen | Facts on File, © 2006 | 809.892 S
From Sappho to Steinem to Sontag – authors, works, topics, timelines, criticism, filmographies, and primary sources (to name a few) convey the depth and breadth of the feminist literary movement.
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Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia
Ruiz, Vicki L. and Virginia Sanchez Korrol, editors | Indiana University Press, © 2006 | 920.7208 L
This three-volume encyclopedia covers the impact of Latinas in many areas of society including the arts, science, politics and much more. In-depth biographical information fills a much needed (and well deserved) place in reference collections in the city and across the United States.
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Pew Hispanic Center

www.pewhispanic.org
What do Hispanics think about the war in Iraq, or the immigration debate? How do they view their place in U.S. society? Stay informed and draw your own conclusions about these and other critical questions, using this nonpartisan research center's website.

Recalls.gov

www.recalls.gov
Let your government and your tax dollars work for you -- stay safe by using this online resource for recalls. Search current and past recalls posted by six separate federal agencies of everything from Acme toys to peanut butter to Zenith TVs. Also – Información en español.

SchoolMatters

www.schoolmatters.com
An objective, independent means to analyze school data by examining national and state test results, class size, graduation and dropout rates, demographics, adult education, comparisons of spending, revenues and taxes.

Fire Eaters

The Atlas of Climate Change: Mapping the World’s Greatest Challenge
Dow, Kirstin and Thomas E. Downing | University of California Press, © 2006 | 551.6 D
This colorful atlas provides ample maps, charts, photos, illustrations and information to help us understand climate change and face its great challenges.
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Encyclopedia of the Underground Railroad
Hudson, J. Blaine | McFarland & Company Inc., © 2006 | 973.7115 H
Hudson's masterpiece speaks of the many people, places, and even songs that were part of the railroad. This exhaustive tome will bring light to the well-hidden Underground Railroad.
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Forensic Science: An Encyclopedia of History, Methods and Techniques
Tilstone, William J., Kathleen A. Savage and Leigh A. Clark | ABC-CLIO, Inc., © 2006 | 363.2503 T
If you are a fan of “CSI” or old enough to remember “Quincy, M.E.,” then this is the reference tool for you. A must-have for curious forensic fans looking for more information than TV provides. The substantial introduction gives a detailed history of forensic science.
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The Guide to Off-Label Prescription Drugs: New Uses For FDA-Approved Prescription Drugs
Loughlin, M.D., Kevin R. and Joyce A. Generali M.S., R.Ph., editors | Free Press, © 2006 | 615.14 G
To learn more about a drug, you may reach for the latest edition of the PDR. But what if your doctor has taken a more novel approach? One out of every four prescriptions written is off-label: administered for a treatment the FDA hasn’t formally approved. Learn about your options as well as the risks, side effects, and interactions.
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Political Handbook of the Middle East 2006
CQ Press Staff | CQ Staff Directories, Inc., © 2006 | 320.956 P
This book is vital to understanding the social currents and political changes that rock this volatile region of the globe- from Afghanistan to Yemen and all stops in between. Points along the way include types of governments and constitutions, political parties, NGOs and foreign relations.
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Flying Trapeze

Desk Reference to Nature's Medicine
Foster, Steven and Rebecca L. Johnson | National Geographic Society, © 2006 | 615.321 F
More than the familiar guide to herbal remedies, this is illustrated with botanical drawings and color photographs. It gives the cultural, historical, and scientific background of hundreds of plants used for healing by people the world over.
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Learning Express Library

www.learningexpresslibrary.com
The place to steer patrons for practice on exams such as the GED, ASVAB, civil service, nursing, and TOEFL. Subject e-books can be downloaded. Whatever you need in the world of tests, you'll likely find it here. Totally free through NYPL's website.

Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture
Gerstner, David A., editor | Routledge, © 2006 | 306.766 R
Get a better understanding of Queer Culture in the world by searching the thematic list of entries. You will find details on international gays, lesbians, and bisexual or transgender individuals as well as topics of relevance to the gay community.
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WholeHealthMD

www.wholehealthmd.com
Herbal solutions and support for all that ails you. Find the right supplement, the proper dose, and the perfect meal and recipe to keep you feeling your best.

WorldCat

www.worldcat.org/
From the wilds of central Ohio, OCLC has finally unleashed WorldCat to the wider web. Search for materials held by member libraries around the globe, and then narrow it down to see where to find those items close to home.

Elephant Parade

America’s Historical Newspapers

infoweb.newsbank.com
“You want a primary source from when?” One-stop shopping for full-text digital images from more than a thousand U.S. newspapers published from 1690 to 1922. Zoom in and out of particular time periods with a score of handy limit options.

The Food Encyclopedia: Over 8,000 Ingredients, Tools, Techniques And People
Rolland, Jacques L. and Carol Sherman | Robert Rose Inc., © 2006 | 641.03 R
You say tomato… I say, well, heirloom, plum, cherry, or beefsteak. Whether you’re looking for the definition of cuttlefish, cornichons, or Cincinnati chili, this encyclopedia gives you the meaning, history, and context for each term. It also includes important culinary tools, techniques and people.
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A Global History of Architecture
Ching, Francis D. K., Mark M. Jarzombek and Vikramaditya Prakash | John Wiley and Sons, © 2006 | 720.9 C
A wild and unexpected romp through the world’s most famous buildings, organized chronologically and cutting across continents. Maps, floor plans, and approachable text draw out surprising architectural ties between such structures as the Forbidden City and Villa Medici.
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Google Patent Search

www.google.com/patents
This handy website will show you who invented what. When they invented what they invented and where they invented it, too. Last but not least you will even learn how they invented it. A quick and easy way to research the many inventions that have made our lives easier.

JSTOR (Journal Storage)

www.jstor.org
This vital archive holds high-resolution scanned images of scholarly journals from the seventeenth century to the last three to five years. Search, browse, link, and print full-text articles in cultural studies, literature, economics, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science and sociology.

Clowning Around

The eBay Price Guide
Wilkinson, Julia L. | No Starch Press, © 2006 | 381.177 W
This isn’t your grandfather’s price guide! Thirty-five chapters detail average selling prices for a wide variety of goods, based on careful analysis of past sales. Each category includes useful tips for buyers and sellers on eBay whether you’re looking to make a buck or score a great deal.
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An Encyclopedia of Swearing: The Social History of Oaths, Profanity, Foul Language, and Ethnic Slurs in the English-Speaking World
Hughes, Geoffrey | M.E. Sharpe Incorporated, © 2006 | 427.09 H
What are the origins of your favorite curses and swear words? Need some insults from literature or classic film to impress your friends? There's something to offend and amuse everyone in this comprehensive volume, complete with illustrations.
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The Greenwood Encyclopedia of African-American Folklore
Prahlad, Anand, editor | Greenwood Publishing Group, © 2005 | 398.0899 G
These volumes reflect and radiate the artistic and expressive folk tradition among African-derived peoples in the Americas and the Caribbean. They contain a mélange of music, literature, fashion, speech, spirituality & religion, social groups, personalities and much more.
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Technorati

www.technorati.com
Organizing 66.6 million web logs, Technorati lets you browse the hottest searches, tags, and topics in the real-time blogosphere. As their slogan promises, you’ll know: “Who’s saying what. Right now.”

Wayback Machine

www.archive.org/web/web.php
If you’re looking for a website that no longer exists, or cached content from a page that has changed over time, type the URL into the Wayback Machine. It serves as a repository of hypertexts from the earliest days of the World Wide Web to the present.

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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 branch collections, organization of material, style of presentation, and authority of authors and editors.

These sources were selected by the following committee from the staff of The New York Public Library: Helen Broady, Lauren Lampasone (Co-Chair), Fred Michel, Auburn Nelson, Kim Walstad (Co-Chair), and Jennifer Zarr; with Tara Kay Johnson and Hong Yao, Advisors.