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The
World Book Encyclopedia - ($899.00US) an easy
to use general multi-volume encyclopedia. Every library
needs a print version of an encyclopedia even if they
have CD-ROM products such as Compton's Interactive
Encyclopedia or Microsoft Encarta. |
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The
Columbia Encyclopedia - ($41.97US) a very
good one-volume encyclopedia. If you can't afford a print
version of a multi-volume encyclopedia this might serve.
The most recent edition is included on the CD-ROM, The
1998 Canadian Encyclopedia Plus. |
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The
Concise Columbia Encyclopedia - ($15.96US) a
compact portable desk reference tool designed for the
American user. We like to have it handy for quick
reference. |
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The
Canadian Encyclopedia, printed in 1988-This
is the latest print version and it may be hard to
acquire; Amazon.com will look for a second-hand version
for you. Recent editions of this work come solely on
CD-Rom; the most recent being The 1998 Canadian
Encyclopedia Plus. |
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The
Junior Encyclopedia of Canada-($99.00US)
There isn't a more recent edition than the 1990 edition
but it is a very useful work and is still available from
Amazon.com. 
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Excel recommends purchasing
either Funk
and Wagnalls Canadian College Dictionary-($22.95US)
or Houghton
Mifflin Canadian Dictionary of the English Language-(This
title is out of print, but Amazon.com may be able to find
you a used copy.) |
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Pat uses the Gage Canadian Dictionary (Gage
Canadian Dictionary Intermediate-($30.95US)
for Canadian spelling, pronunciation, and usage; this
isn't the same edition as we have but it's as inclusive
and Eric couldn't work without Merriam
Webster's Collegiate Dictionary-($39.77US) |
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The Globe and Mail of June 27, 1998, says
the brand-new Canadian Oxford Dictionary is
"the best Canuck wordbook yet, eh?" The
review goes on to say, "The Canadian Oxford
is a very good one [dictionary], though not the last
word. Then again, if there were such a thing as the
last word, we wouldn't need new dictionaries." |
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Consider purchasing either of these two unabridged
English dictionaries The
Compact Oxford English Dictionary-($245.00US)
or Webster's
Third New International Dictionary-($83.30US).
They give you a reference resource just not available in
an abridged dictionary. We have both and find we consult
them frequently. |
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For those times when you know what something looks like
but not what it's named libraries should consider
acquiring a visual dictionary such as The
MacMillan Visual Dictionary-($31.50US) or The
Ultimate Visual Dictionary-($27.97US). |
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The dictionaries above are all descriptive. Libraries
also need reference materials on proper English usage
such as Fowler's
Modern English Usage: Dictionary of Modern English Usage-($10.36US)
or The
MacMillan Good English Handbook-($28.50US). |
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All Canadian libraries need a French-English,
English-French dictionary such as Collins-Robert
French-English English-French Dictionary-($38.50US)
or Harrap's
Modern College French and English Dictionary-($11.86US).
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Excel recommends the
following popular general almanacs The
World Almanac and Book of Facts-($7.96US), Information
Please Almanac Atlas and Yearbook-($21.95US)
and Whitaker's
Almanack-($92.00US). |
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Canadian almanacs listed in the Excel
course include Canadian
Almanac and Directory-($223.00US), Corpus
Almanac and Canadian Sourcebook-(n/a), and Canadian
Global Almanac: a book of facts-($13.56US).
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Module 3 of the information services
course says the National
Geographic Atlas of the World-($70.00US) is
"an excellent general world atlas" and that Goode's
Atlas-($34.95US), "geared more to
students, is also useful." |
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Eric likes The
Times Atlas of the World-($70.00US) and Merriam
Webster's Geographical Dictionary-($20.97US). |
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States change their boundaries, new states come into
being, and old states disappear or change their names.
Every library needs a good historical atlas such as Hammond
the Times Concise Atlas of World History-($25.56US).
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There are many versions of Roget's
Thesaurus on the market. Either Bartlett's
Roget's Thesaurus-($13.97US) or Roget's
Superthesaurus-($16.09US) would be a good
choice.
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The most popular choice is Bartlett's
Familiar Quotations-($21.79US); there is a
CD-ROM version as well Bartlett's
Familiar Quotations-($29.95US). We have Familiar
Quotations: a collection of passages, phrases and
proverbs traced to their sources in ancient and modern
literature-($31.50US). Ontario libraries
should also have a book of Canadian quotations such as The
Dictionary of Canadian quotations-($20.97US).
Biography is a popular subject in any
library. Patrons will spend hours with the Dictionary
of Canadian Biography. The complete set (not all
volumes have been completed yet) represents a substantial
investment and few small libraries can afford to purchase
it all at once; they might consider purchasing individual
volumes over a number of years. The set is going to be an
enduring reference resource and a part of our national
heritage.
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1000-1700 Vol 1-($75.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1741-1770 Vol 3-($75.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1771-1800 Vol 4-($85.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1801-1820 Vol 5-($75.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1821-1835 Vol 6-($85.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1836-1850 Vol 7-($85.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1851-1860 Vol 8-($85.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1861-1870 Vol 9-($75.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1871-1880. Vol 10-($75.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1881-1890 Vol 11-($75.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1891-1900 Vol 12-($100.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : 1901-1910 Vol 13-($85.00US) |
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Dictionary
of Canadian Biography : Index, Volumes I to XII 1000 to
1900-($85.00US) |
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Libraries also need a good general biographical
dictionary such as Merriam
Webster's Biographical Dictionary-($19.57US).
There are many reference tools the
avid reader needs. Benet's
Reader's Encyclopedia-($35.00US) is a
personal favourite. Pat frequently consults Brewer's
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable-($31.50US) and
A
Dictionary of Superstitions-($39.95US). The Dictionary
of Imaginary Places-($15.16US) is a delight
to read on its own as well as being a great reference
tool. For all those questions about the references to the
Bible we recommend The
Interpreter's One Volume Commentary on the Bible-($27.97US).
Every library should also consider purchasing the Oxford
companion series:
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The
Oxford Companion to American Literature-($60.00US); |
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The
Oxford Companion to Canadian History and Literature-This
title is out of print, but Amazon.com may be able to find
you a used copy. Norah Storey was working on this work
when Eric Bow was working in the Toronto Public Library's
Reference Library at St. George and College Streets in
the mid 1960s. It is a remarkable one-woman effort but it
had a few mistakes and omissions largely corrected in the
Supplement (also out of print). The "history"
was removed and a new edition was published in 1984, The
Oxford Companion to Canadian Literature-($60.00US).
The just released second edition of this new companion
was reviewed in The Globe and Mail The Literary
Review of Saturday, November 29, 1997. |
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The
Oxford Companion to English Literature-($60.00US).
Every library needs a source of
information on "the rules of the game" as well
as how to play the game. We recommend The
Sports Encyclopedia North America-($32.00US)
and According
to Hoyle: official rules of more than 200 popular games
of skill and chance with expert advice on winning play -($9.60US).
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For information on high days and holidays
in Canada try Facts
about Canada, its provinces and territories-($35.00US). |
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Larousse
Gastronomique-($42.00US) claims to be the
"world's greatest culinary encyclopedia". It is
good for western cuisines but weak when it comes to the
world's other great cuisine, Chinese. |
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For everyday "how to" you still can't beat The
Joy of Cooking-($11.16US).
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