HIT: Reference Materials

[Stacey Le <absostacey1@YAHOO.COM>]

Thank you all for sending me great ideas on reference
materials for my ancient section.  Below are some of
the responces I got from all the helpful "People" on
this list serve.  I am saying people because it seems
like a lot of us are trashing "parapros" for being in
a position that they are hired for, do not be mad at
them, be mad at the systems that allow it to happen.

Stacey Le Blanc
Media Specialist
Park Street Elementary
Marietta, GA 30101
sleblanc@marietta-city.k12.ga.us

Some books that are always in use are Popular Sciene
set, Medical
encyclopedias, any of the reference books put out by
Oxford publishing,
Ency. of American History, Geographical and
biographical dictionary,
Gray's anatomy, who's who in science, dictionary of
art, foreign
language
dictionaries. Hope this helps - Diane Anderson South
Central High
School
Greenwich, Ohio  44837

I am in the same situation as you.  We are an
elementary school and the
reference section rarely gets use.  Besides what you
have I also have
Jr.
Book of Authors series, a few thesaurus, Bartlett's,
and some local
publications that are out of print.  Will be
interested to see what
others
respond.

Actually anything can go into the reference
collection. Books that are
expensive or too big for elementary students to
handle, books that
focus on
special topics, such as science encyclopedias, history
timeline books,
art
books, car books, etc.  Books about authors (Something
about the
author),
biographical dictionaries, Guiness Book of Records.
The list is
endless.

Roberta Gleeson
libros@jps.net
Guinness book of world records and other facts books
(including
"firsts")
Other "records" books (Academy awards...)
Set of series on young people's authors (if author
research is done)
timelines
speciality encyclopedias (including single books) on
topics often
researched (indians, states, animals...)
indices to sets that have been split among the shelves
your state school code book (and possibly other
professional books)
any book that states is covers a subject A to Z
who's who type collective biographies
Children's Magazine Guide

When I was in the elementary school we kept our U.S.
states books in
the
reference for two reasons, 1) no room left on the
shelves in the 900s,
and they were researched so much we wanted them handy.
 Now in a high
school, I still keep my states books (as a set) in
reference for the
special ed and ESL kids coming in to do states
research.

We also keep book on controversial issues in the
reference section, but
that is to have they handy for seniors doing them comp
papers rather
than censorship.  We place them in their own section
and allow
overnight
checkout only so all 700 seniors have somewhat equal
access to these
popular -- wait, make that necessary -- books.

 Libraries Unlimited puts out *Recommended Reference
Books for small and
medium-sized libraries and media centers."  I'm still
using the 1998
edition but will update the next time I really want to
update my
reference
section.  It is worth the money (even the money that
could be spent on
other reference materials) because it gives grade
levels AND
annotations.

Pat


Patricia Moore, Media Specialist
North Polk Jr. Sr. High School Alleman IA 50007

You Eat What You Are: People, Culture and Food
Traditions.  Thelma
Barer-Stein.  Firefly Books.  1-55209-365-4.

My Family and Consumer Ed/ History Departments love
it!!

Jennifer


Jennifer M. Smith
Library Media Specialist
Prairie du Chien High School
phone: (608) 326-8437, ext. 4125
e-mail: smije@pdc.k12.wi.us

I hear your cry!  Last year (my first in the library)
while I was at
the
state media convention the librarian who retired sub
for me--she
couldn't
understand why I had thrown the Wisconsin Statues
Books from 1974!!
:-)

Lands & People (Grolier)
Popular Science (Grolier)
Oxford Atlas of the World's Religions (0-19-521449-8)
Encyc. of World Biography (Gale) 19 vol. --use it ALL
the time

I have ordered a lot from Grolier (Biomes, North
American Biographies,
World Biographies, Native Americans) but I have not
received them yet.
Also
from Salem Press (Enc. of Family Life, Enc of
Genetics, Magill's Law
Review) but I just got them in.

Good Luck!  I will look forward to your hit.

Jennifer



Jennifer M. Smith
Library Media Specialist
Prairie du Chien High School
In my K-8 library I also have a Geographical
Dictionary. It's a
wonderful resource for finding obscure places in the
world!
The Lands and Peoples set from Groliers.
Biographical Dictionaries because I can't afford the
number of
biographies contained in that one book.
Facts about Cities, etc
Bartlett's Quotations

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kate Stirk, Media Specialist
stirkk@annunciationacademy.org (school)
Annunciation Catholic Academy, Altamonte Springs,
Florida, USA
stirkk@juno.com (home)

I have all of Scholastic's Encyclopedias about
presidents, sports, Native Americans, war, etc.  The
children love the condensed versions.  I also make
sure I have rhyming dictionaries, idiom books, and
other popular titles.  Not only do the kids like them,
but the teachers find them to be great teaching tools.
 Those are also from Scholastic.  Peruse the latest
World Almanac catalog for ideas--I look there & then
order better bindings elsewhere!
Hope this helps!
Melissa McConnell
Hillcrest Elementary
Belton, MO





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