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6023 results in Facet Publishing

Page 258 of 302

  • PARISH REGISTERS

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 367-399

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • How can I find details of my grandfather's birth?

  • • Where can I find the marriage registers for a particular church, chapel or synagogue?

    • Considerations

    The 1538 Act of Elizabeth I decreed that every church should maintain a register listing baptisms, marriages and burials in the parish. Parish registers in the UK officially started in 1538, but in many places not until 1598 or later. They show baptism (not birth), marriage, and burial (not death) records. The amount of detail varied considerably until the introduction of printed registers for marriages in 1754, and for baptisms and burials in 1813. ‘Parish registers’ here are those of the Church of England, the established church in the UK. All baptisms, marriages and burials had to be registered with the local parish church until 1837. Thereafter parish registers were still maintained for those people who chose to marry in church, baptize their children, or be buried in the parish churchyard.

    Where to look

    General

    Present-day registers are generally kept at the relevant parish church, but most older ones will have been deposited in local record offices.

    Some registers have been printed by regional societies such as the Yorkshire Parish Register Society. Check with your local record office or local history library to see if this is the case in your area, since, if so, the task of tracing entries is considerably eased. The existence of indexes is also important. In many cases the registers may have been transcribed and/or microfilmed.

    BMD Registers www.bmdregisters.co.uk

    Includes Nonconformist registers for England and Wales.

    UKBMD www.ukbmd.org.uk

    This site has links to all the sites with online versions of local registrars’ indexes (which are sometimes more accurate than the ones at the General Record Office).

    Humphrey-Smith, C. R. (2003) The Phillimore atlas and index of parish registers, 3rd edn, Phillimore.

    Coloured county maps showing the boundaries of individual parishes.

    National index of parish registers: a guide to Anglican, Roman Catholic and Non- Conformist registers with information on bishop's transcripts, modern copies and marriage licences (1968–) Society of Genealogists. In progress This multi-volume index is a useful location source. Available on the internet at www.sog.org.uk.

    Scotland's People www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk

    Includes indexes and records of parish registers.

  • FAIRY TALES & NURSERY RHYMES

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 210-233

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • Can you help me find a few Irish fairy tales?

  • • What is the origin of Goosey Goosey Gander?

  • • Who wrote xxxx?

    • Considerations

    There should be at least some classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes in your children's library. Check what is available on the catalogue. However, finding the historical origin of, and studies about, fairy tales and nursery rhymes can be a bit trickier. Some of the excellent websites below should help.

    Where to look

    Printed sources

    Fairy tales

    There is quite a comprehensive index to fairy tales:

    Eastman, M. H. (1926) Index to fairy tales, myths and legend, Faxon

    This provides about 30,000 references in an alphabetical, as well as geographical, sequence. Further supplements have been produced in this index.

    Zipes, J. (ed.) (2000) Oxford companion to fairy tales, Oxford University Press

    Nursery rhymes

    For nursery rhymes use:

    Opie, I. and Opie, P. (eds) (1952) The Oxford dictionary of nursery rhymes, Clarendon Press

    This book is indexed by first line and by notable figures.

    Websites

    Fairy tales

    This is a selection of some of the best, however, it is certainly not definitive:

    Fairy Tales www.bestoflegends.org

    A huge selection of fairy tales.

    Fairy Tale Resources www.myweb.dal.ca/barkerb/fairies/resource.html

    A guide to fairy tale resources on the web.

    Grimm's Fairy Tales www.nationalgeographic.com/grimm/index2.html

    Grimm's fairy tales based upon a 1914 translation.

    Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales www.grimmfairytales.com

    Folk and fairytales by the Brothers Grimm – interactive and animated stories.

    Hans Andersen Fairy Tales www.andersenfairytales.com

    Hans Andersen fairy stories – interactive and animated stories.

    Fairy Tale and Folklore Studies www.surlalunefairytales.com

    Fairy tale and folklore studies featuring annotated stories. Includes discussions and illustrations.

    Aesop's Fables www.aesopfables.com

    DLTK's Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/index.htm

    Nursery rhymes

    Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes www.zero.com/family/nursery/

    Nursery Rhymes – Lyrics and Origins www.rhymes.org.uk

    Tips and pitfalls

    Check with the enquirer whether they want the original fairy tale or if an abridged version will do. Childrens’ libraries contain many picture books and anthologies with abridged versions of these tales. It might be useful to keep a checklist of some of the more popular fairy tales and to keep a note of which anthologies they can be found in.

  • VOLUNTEERING

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 462-463

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • After college I would like to do voluntary work. Have you any addresses?

  • • I'm planning for my retirement and wonder if my skills would be useful.

  • • Where can I get volunteers for an environmental project?

    • Considerations

    Questions on volunteering are among the more pleasing of enquiries to handle. This is a growing area now that there are more retired people and more people are concerned with helping the environment and helping other people.

    Where to look

    Organizations

    British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

    Tel: 01795 583 850

    www.btcv.org.uk

    International Voluntary Service

    7 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2NJ

    Tel: 0131 226 6722

    National Association of Volunteer Bureaux

    New Oxford House, 16 Waterloo Street, Birmingham B2 5UC

    Tel: 0121 633 4555 (England); 029 2039 0477 (Wales)

    Places volunteers in a number of different projects across the country.

    National Centre for Volunteering

    Regents Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL

    Tel: 020 7520 8900

    www.volunteering.org.uk

    National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

    Regent's Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL

    Tel: 020 7713 6161

    National Women's Register (formerly National Housewives Register)

    Unit 3A, Vulcan House, Vulcan Road North, Norwich NR6 6AQ

    Tel: 0845 4500 287 or 01603 406767; Fax: 01603 407003

    E-mail: office@mwr.org

    www.nwr.org;

    Informal meetings and discussions.

    Pybus, V. (ed.) (1997) The international directory of voluntary work, 6th edn

    Vacation Work

    REACH

    Tel: 020 7928 1452

    Arranges voluntary places for experienced managers or professionals.

    Relatives Association

    Tel: 020 7916 6055

    Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP)

    Tel: 020 7278 6601 (England); 029 2039 0477 (Wales)

    The voluntary agencies directory, NCVO Publications. Annual

    Guide to over 2000 charities and voluntary organizations, with contact details.

  • GAMES RULES (INCLUDING SPORTS)

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 234-249

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • What are the dimensions of a standard crown bowling green?

  • • Have you got the rules for pool?

    • Where to look

    Printed sources

    Encyclopedias may provide an overview of some sports rules. If you need more detail, try some of the following:

    Rules of the game (1990) rev. edn, St Martins Press

    This ‘essential’ has the rules for over 150 sports. The coverage can be fairly limited, but it is certainly a good starting point.

    For more in-depth coverage, try:

    Pocock, T. (2003) Official rules of sports and games, 19th edn, Hamlyn

    This thousand-page work goes from Archery to Water Polo.

    See also some of the official sports yearbooks, e.g. Lawn Tennis Association, Amateur Athletic Association.

    For card and board games, The new complete Hoyle (1991) Doubleday, is a good bet. This is the definitive source for the rules of all card and other indoor games.

    Electronic sources

    There is a great website covering card game rules at www.pagat.com.

    Tips and pitfalls

    The associations governing bodies of different sports all have websites nowadays.

    These sites can sometimes be useful for finding out rules.

    GARDENS, GARDENING & FLOWERS

    See also Natural History

    Typical questions

  • • When are the gardens at Parham open?

  • • What's the best way to make compost?

  • • What is this flower?

  • • Where can I buy unusual plants?

    • Considerations

    People often ask for details of famous or interesting gardens, about which there are several directories, or for help to identify plants or flowers. Don't forget the library's lending stock.

    Where to look

    General

    Bagust, H. (1998) The gardener's dictionary of horticultural terms, Brockhampton

    Hamilton, G. (1993) The Gardener's World directory, 2nd edn, BBC Books A compendium of gardening information.

    Goode, P. and Lancaster, M. (eds) (2001) The Oxford companion to gardens, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press

    Huxley. A. J. (ed.) (1991) New Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening, Macmillan

    The four-volume ‘bible’.

    Ettlinger. S. (1990) The complete illustrated guide to everything sold in garden centres (except the plants), Macmillan

    Mulches, nematodes, etc., etc.

    Gardenweb www.gardenweb.com

    Discussion-based, but good for gardening advice, plant directory, and answers to questions.

    Greenfingers www.greenfingers.com

    Gardens to visit, finding a gardener, tips, reports and general advice.

    Owen, J. and Gavin, D. (2004) Gardening through time, BBC Books

    An illustrated guide to 200 years of garden design giving timelines and background.

  • NAMES

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 355-364

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • Have you got a book about the meanings of Christian names?

  • • I am trying to find out where the name Skipton originates from.

    • Considerations

    You can generally split this area into three subjects: the meaning of place names, the meaning of surnames, and the meaning of first names. Enquirers may be researching a place, doing their family tree, or choosing a name for their baby.

    Where to look

    Printed sources

    There are no general encyclopedias that will cover these subjects. You will need to look at more specialist dictionaries.

    People's names

    For first names there are several useful texts available:

    Cresswell, J. (1990) Bloomsbury dictionary of first names, Bloomsbury

    Dunkling, L. and Gosling, W. (1983) Everyman's dictionary of first names, Everyman Reference.

    *Hanks, P. and Hodges, F. (1990) A dictionary of first names, Oxford University Press

    For surnames, two of the best books available are:

    *Hanks, P. and Hodges, F. (1988) A dictionary of surnames, Oxford University Press

    Reaney, P. H. (1991) A dictionary of English surnames, 3rd edn by R. M. Wilson, Routledge

    *These titles have been partially incorporated into Hanks, P. et al. (2002) The Oxford names companion, Oxford University Press.

    There are also many books available about names around the world and their meanings. For example there are books on Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Muslim, Jewish and African names.

    Place names

    Try the following titles for British place names:

    Mills, A. D. (2003) A dictionary of British place-names, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press

    Room, A. (1988) Dictionary of place-names in the British Isles, Bloomsbury

    For world place names, the following is a good bet. It covers over 1000 of the world's more familiar place names:

    Room, A. (1987) Place-names of the world, Angus and Robertson

    Electronic sources

    An excellent site for first names is:

    Behind the Name: the etymology and history of first names

    www.behindthename.com

    For last names try:

    www.last-names.net

    NATIONALITY & IMMIGRATION

    See also Law

    Typical questions

  • • How do I get a passport?

  • • On what grounds can an overseas national qualify to be British?

  • • Is ‘English’ a nationality?

    • Considerations

    This subject is one to treat carefully. While, rightly, library staff must be wary of getting too involved in personal cases, enquiries may just be for student projects. There may also be language difficulties, and not just foreign languages.

  • QUOTATIONS & SPEECHES

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 400-402

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • Who said ‘Let them eat cake’?

  • • Can you suggest some humorous quotes I can use for a talk I am giving?

  • • What's the correct wording of ‘All that glitters is not gold’?

    • Considerations

    Finding the source of quotations is a frequent task for library staff. There are numerous compilations of quotations. It is a subject beloved of crossword and quiz compilers. Writers and after-dinner speakers are also regular enquirers. Bear in mind that there is sometimes genuine uncertainty about the first recorded use of a ‘quote’ and it is worth checking more than one source if there is time.

    Collections of quotations are arranged in many ways, by subject, by first word, and by the person quoted. Although most books have indexes for the approach not chosen in the main sequence, it is useful to know which books in your stock are best for which purpose. There are numerous books on quotations; often you will have to look through all of them on the library shelves in search of the elusive quote. This is one of those categories of enquiries, especially for the phone enquirer doing a crossword, where one has to put a time limit on how long to spend searching. Perhaps a check in three sources is enough for the quiz addict.

    There are also books of quotations on particular subjects. These are generally located with other books on that subject, for example, medical quotes, biblical quotes.

    Where to look

    Quotations

    Andrews, R., Biggs, M. and Seidel, M. (1996) The Columbia world of quotations, Columbia University Press

    65,000 quotations from 5000 authors with 6500 subject categories. The 1996 print edition of The Columbia world of quotations is available online at www.bartleby.com/66

    Bartleby www.bartleby.com/100

    A website based on the 1919 edition of Bartlett's Familiar quotations. It has some 11,000 quotations.

    Bartlett, J. (1993) Familiar quotations, 16th edn, Little, Brown and Co.

    Cohen, J. M. and Cohen, M. J. (1998) The new dictionary of quotations, Penguin

    Farkas, A. (2002) The Oxford dictionary of catchphrases, Oxford University Press

    Jeffares, A. N. and Gray, M. (1995) Dictionary of quotations, HarperCollins

    Kemp, P. (2002) The Oxford dictionary of literary quotations, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press

    Knowles, E. (2000) The Oxford dictionary of quotations, 5th edn, Oxford University Press

    20,000 quotes from 2500 people.

  • EDUCATION – GENERAL

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 172-209

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • How many women are there in higher education?

  • • Can you give me the address of … education authority?

  • • Have you got any information on educating my child at home?

    • Considerations

    It would be difficult to list all the types of questions you could possibly be asked about such a huge subject area, but suffice to say they usually fall into two categories; those relating to statistical or research information and those relating to contact details. In this book education has been divided into four chapters, on:

  • • general educational matters (includes statistics, law and research)

  • • schools and pre-school

  • • universities and colleges

  • • lifelong learning and e-learning.

    • Where to look

    General

    Education yearbook, Pearson

    Provides information and contact details of all those involved in education provision in the UK, including local education departments, central government, educational establishments and other educational organizations. There is also a section on overseas education.

    World of learning (2008) 58th edn, Europa

    Covers 30,000 academic institutions and 200,000 staff and officials. These include universities, colleges and schools of art and music among other institutions. Also available via online subscription: www.worldoflearning.com.

    Journals

    Times Educational Supplement

    TSL Education

    Tel: 020 7782 3000; Fax: 020 7782 3100

    www.tes.co.uk

    Weekly

    Times Higher Education Supplement

    TSL Education

    Tel: 020 7782 3000; Fax: 020 7782 3100

    www.timeshighereducation.co.uk

    Weekly

    Statistics

    For brief statistics on education use the chapters on education in Social Trends or Annual Abstract of Statistics, both published by the Office for National Statistics.

    For more detailed statistics use the excellent website of the Department for Children, Schools and Families www.dcsf.gov.uk. Many statistical publications can be downloaded freely. Go to ‘Tables and statistics’ and select ‘Research and statistics’ or ‘Local statistics about Education’. Highly recommended.

    OECD (2007) Education at a glance: OECD indicators, OECD

    400 pages of statistics and commentary. Available to download at www.oecd.org. Excellent.

    For research

    For research publications covering all aspects of education use the excellent website of the Department for Children, Schools and Families www.dcsf.gov.uk. Go to ‘Resources’ and select ‘Publications’ or use ‘Tables and statistics’ and select ‘Research and statistics’.

    Key Note Reports

    For free executive summaries of report titles listed under Education and Training visit www.keynote.co.uk. For details of obtaining full reports contact Key Note Tel: 020 8481 8750; Fax: 020 8783 0049.

  • ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 13-61

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • What do the letters NACRO stand for?

  • • What does ibid. mean?

    • Considerations

    Abbreviations are shortened forms of a word or phrase, such as ‘tel’ for telephone, or ‘fax’ for facsimile. Ibid. is short for ibidem (Latin for ‘in the same place’). Acronyms are groups of letters made up of some or all of the first letters of a name such as BL for British Library, NACRO for the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, or CAMRA for the CAMpaign for Real Ale. Both abbreviations and acronyms are common in text and speech but they do cause difficulty for people unfamiliar with them. They are particularly common in technical or specialist writing where they are useful as a form of shorthand.

    Where to look

    Printed sources

    Most general dictionaries include the more common abbreviations and acronyms, either in the main alphabetical sequence or in appendices. Specialist subject dictionaries and handbooks often contain them, though obviously the subject area needs to be known first.

    Specialist dictionaries of abbreviations and acronyms include the following examples. They are usually shelved with general language dictionaries.

    Acronyms, initialisms & abbreviations dictionary (2008) 38th edn, Gale. 4 vols

    Fergusson, R. (2004) Alphabet soup: an A to Z of abbreviations, Bloomsbury

    Fioretta, B. M. (2003) Elsevier's dictionary of acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations and symbols, 2nd edn, Elsevier

    Oxford dictionary of abbreviations, (1998) 2nd edn, Oxford University Press

    Paxton, J. (2002) Everyman dictionary of abbreviations, Dent

    Subject dictionaries may be found with the subject itself. Some examples are:

    Buttress's world guide to abbreviations of organizations (1996) 11th edn, Springer

    Ramsay, A. (2001) Eurojargon: a dictionary of European Union acronyms, abbreviations and sobriquets, Fitzroy Dearborn

    Electronic sources

    Two good websites are:

    The Internet Acronym Server www.ucc.ie/info/net/acronyms/acro.html

    Acronym Finder www.acronymfinder.com (180,000 definitions)

    Tips and pitfalls

    Ask the enquirer for the context in which the abbreviation or acronym was heard or read. This will help narrow the search. Is it in current use? Was it in a newspaper or a book? If so, what was the subject? Is it a technical term? Or a literary one?

    Beware the many abbreviations and acronyms that have more than one meaning. JSC can stand for Joint Stock Company and Joint Staff Council; ‘p’ for ‘page’ or ‘pence’.

  • Introduction to the second edition

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp xiii-xiv

  • Summary

    We were gratified by the enthusiastic reception given to Know It All, Find It Fast by reviewers, users, and those who purchased copies. We were not surprised though: all of us who work on the front line of enquiry service know how difficult it is to help new staff. There is a need for a quick guide to places where questions can be answered. The Reference Reviews award for the Best General Reference Work of 2003 was, though, a very welcome surprise.

    What was intended to be a leisurely revision during this year was not to be. Stocks were running out and rather than go for another reprint we decided to go for a full revision. The basic structure and layouts remain although there has been some revision of headings and content. A ‘General Sources’ section has been introduced to pick up those almanacs, encyclopedias and websites that have a wide application, and our experiment of relying exclusively on ‘see also’ references has been abandoned in favour of providing an index as well – librarians seem to want an index!

  • RAILWAYS

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 403-422

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • Have you got maps of where old railway lines used to go?

  • • Who owns all the various railway services?

  • • Can I go by train to Gainsborough?

  • • How many passengers use the trains every day?

    • Considerations

    There is a huge interest in railways, both from the historical perspective (cultural and local history) and the modern concern for improving public transport services and reducing carbon emissions. Not forgetting the train spotters and model makers!

    Where to look

    General

    Butcher, A. C. (ed.), Railways restored, Ian Allen. Annual Overall picture plus technical details.

    A comprehensive guide to Britain's railways, 9th edn, Emap. Annual

    Guide and directory to the routes, operating companies and infrastructure of today's rail network.

    Glover, J. (2005) ‘Modern Railways’ dictionary of railway industry terms, Ian Allan

    Holland, J. (2007) Amazing and extraordinary railway facts, David & Charles

    Jackson, A. A. (2006) The railway dictionary: worldwide railway facts and terminology, 4th edn, Sutton Publishing

    The modern railway: directory, review, opinion, reference, Ian Allen. Annual

    Standard reference source for the railway industry.

    Thomas, D. St. J. et al. (1960–) A regional history of the railways of Great Britain, David & Charles

    The standard 14-volume series covering the UK.

    Ottley, G. (1983) A bibliography of British railway history, 2nd edn, HMSO;

    Supplement (1988), HMSO

    Railway directory, DVV Media UK. Annual

    Worldwide coverage of companies, personnel, statistics, suppliers and maps. Available also as subscription website.

    Journals and magazines

    Modern Railways Ian Allen. Monthly

    Fairly technical.

    The Railway Magazine, IPC. Monthly

    Today's Railways, Platform 5 Publishing. Monthly

    Maps and atlases

    Baker, S. K. (2007) Rail atlas of Great Britain and Ireland, 11th edn, Midland Counties Publications.

    Every operating line, whether passenger, private, freight or narrow gauge.

    Ball, M. G. (1996) European railway atlas, Ian Allen, 3 vols

    Wignall, C. J. (1985) Complete British railways maps and gazetteer from 1825 to 1985, OPC Railprint

    Timetables

    Bradshaw's April 1910 railway guide (1968 reprint) David & Charles

    Bradshaw's railway timetables were published from 1840. This reprint shows the full extent of the UK rail network at its height.

    European rail timetable, Thomas Cook. Monthly

    Covers 40 countries including the UK, but does not give full details of purely local services.

  • CANALS & WATERWAYS

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 94-154

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • Can anyone use a canal?

  • • Are towpaths public rights of way?

  • • Who owns rivers?

  • • What's a ‘navigation’?

    • Considerations

    After decades of decline and disuse, canals and inland waterways are seeing increasing leisure use (and some commercial use as well). Cruising in owned or hired narrowboats, and walking the large network of towpaths, are popular occupations. For the librarian this translates into enquiries about using the canals, their history, and perhaps even volunteering to help in restoration work. A ‘navigation’ is a river that has been made navigable, often by making a new ‘cut’ to avoid rapids, etc.

    Where to look

    History

    The standard history of the canals of the UK are the eight regional volumes by Charles Hadfield, published by David & Charles.

    An excellent historical encyclopedia is:

    Paget-Tomlinson, E. (2006) The illustrated history of canal and river navigation, 3rd edn, Landmark

    General

    Waterscape www.waterscape.com

    Gives information about waterside areas and the national waterway network.

    Edwards, L. A. (1985) Inland Waterways of Great Britain, 6th edn, Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson

    A detailed account of every canal and navigable river, giving history and detailed technical information.

    Towpath (monthly). Mortons Media Group www.towpathtalk.co.uk

    Newspaper for waterways users.

    Maps and guides

    Inland Waterways Map of Great Britain (2006) Nicholson/HarperCollins

    Full colour map.

    Nicholson guides to the waterways, Nicholson/Collins, 7 vols

    Nicholson's detailed regional guides to the canals and navigable waterways of the UK, with maps based on the Ordnance Survey showing locks and towpaths, and giving information on navigation, boatyards, services and local information, are the canal user's ‘Bible’.

    Pearson's canal companions, J. M. Pearson & Sons

    Less detailed than Nicholson, but adequate for the water user. The candid observations of places covered are a feature.

    Organizations

    British Waterways

    Customer Service Centre, Willow Grange, Church Road, Watford WD17 4QA

    Tel: 01923 201120; Fax: 01923 201102

    E-mail: enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk

    www.british-waterways.org

    British Waterways manage a network of two thousand miles of canals and navigable rivers. It has regional offices.

    Inland Waterways Association

    3 Norfolk Court, Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth WD3 1LT

    www.waterways.org.uk

    The campaigning group for the use, maintenance and restoration of Britain's inland waterways.

    Tips and pitfalls

    Like most hobbyists and enthusiasts, the user will often know far more about the subject than the librarian.

  • Unexplained, The

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 454-461

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • Have you any books on interpreting dreams?

  • • Where are the most haunted places in the UK?

  • • Where can I find something on the Bermuda Triangle?

  • • How can I work out my horoscope?

    • Considerations

    The ‘unexplained’ covers a wide range of subjects from angels to zombies! Only a few of these subjects can be touched on here. Broadly speaking, the subjects fall outside the boundaries of orthodox science and one of the first considerations the librarian has is to find out whether the enquirer is a ‘sceptic’ or a ‘believer’, that is to say, is the enquirer investigating the subject, or are they serious about the subject? The sources used may vary accordingly. For better or for worse, there is a great popular interest in these subjects and there is a need to be well supplied with sources and information about them.

    Where to look

    General

    Bord, J. and Bord, C. (1996) Dictionary of earth mysteries, Thorsons

    Carall, R. T. (2003) The skeptic's dictionary: a collection of strange beliefs, amusing deceptions, and dangerous delusions, Wiley

    Available online, free, at http://skepdic.com.

    Guiley, R. E. (1992) Harper's encyclopedia of mystical and paranormal experience, HarperCollins

    Picknett, L. (1990) The encyclopedia of the paranormal: a complete guide to the unexplained, Macmillan

    Randles, J. (1996) The paranormal source book; the comprehensive guide to strange phenomena worldwide, Piatkus

    Rickard, B. and Michell, J. (2000) Unexplained phenomena: a Rough Guide special, Rough Guides

    Steiger, B. and Steiger, S. H. (2003) The Gale encyclopedia of the unusual and unexplained, Gale, 3 vols

    Williams. W. F. (ed.) (2000) Encyclopedia of pseudoscience, Fitzroy Dearborn 2000 A–Z entries relating to superstitions, alternative medicine, frauds, hoaxes, mistaken therories, etc.

    Wilson, C. (1987) The encyclopedia of unsolved mysteries, Harrap

    Astrology

    Parker, J. and D. (2001) Parker's astrology: the definitive guide to using astrology in every aspect of your life, 2nd edn, Dorling Kindersley

    Goodman, L. (1968) Linda Goodman sun signs, Pan The classic bestseller.

    Fenton, S. (1998) How to read your star signs, Thorsons

    Astrology.com www.astrology.com

    Astrology Gateway www.astrologygateway.homestead.com

    Dreams

    The alleged ‘meaning’ of dreams can be addressed in a number of books compiled specifically for the purpose. The enquiries relating to such popular beliefs like astrology need to be distinguished from orthodox scientific enquiries about the physiology and psychology of sleep and consciousness. In terms of the Dewey classification, between the 135s and the 150s.

  • OPTICIANS

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 365-366

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • Can you give me the telephone number of … optician?

  • • How do I find out if … optician is registered?

    • Where to look

    Directories

    For an alphabetical list of opticians use the Opticians’ register, General Optical Council:

    www.optical.org

    Try also:

    Optical yearbook, Reed Business Information. Annual

    or

    Find an optician www.nhs.uk/England/Opticians

    Journals

    Optician

    Reed Business Information

    Tel: 020 8652 8250

    Weekly

    Websites

    Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers www.aclm.org.uk Excellent links to other eyecare sites.

    Eyecare Information Service www.eyecare-information-service.org.uk

    General Optical Council

    41 Harley Street, London W1G 8DJ

    Tel: 020 7580 3898

    www.optical.org

    The statutory body that regulates the optical professions.

    Complaints

    For complaints against an optician refer to the General Optical Council:

    www.optical.org.

  • SAINTS

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp 423-436

  • Summary

    Typical questions

  • • Who is the patron saint of librarians?

  • • I want to know more about St Ia.

    • Considerations

    General encyclopedias cover the more common saints but try and make sure you have a specific dictionary or encyclopedia, too.

    Where to look

    Printed sources

    Farmer, D. H. (2004) The Oxford dictionary of saints, Oxford University Press

    This dictionary contains concise accounts of the lives, cults and artistic associations of around 1250 saints from Great Britain and Europe. Make sure you have a copy!

    Watkins, B. (2002) The book of saints, 7th edn, ARC Books

    Biographical dictionary of 10,000 saints.

    Electronic sources

    Catholic Online: Saints and Angels www.catholic.org/saints

    An excellent resource. Most saints are covered. Lives, patronages and feast days are all shown.

    SIGNS & SYMBOLS

    See also Alphabets & Scripts

    Typical questions

  • • What's the sign for a low bridge?

  • • What does the symbol on this packaging mean?

  • • What does ‘?’ in chess notation stand for?

    • Considerations

    Signs and symbols are used almost everywhere, on labels giving washing instructions, on the machines that do the washing, on keyboards and on documents. And this is before looking at the symbolism used in art and in cultural history. Information about many symbols, in art or on road traffic signs, for example, will be covered in books on the subject or in general encyclopedias in the case of cultural symbols such as the cross or swastika. A number of specialist works do exist which display symbols whose meaning may be unknown. Obviously, arrangement is problematical!

    Where to look

    Printed sources

    Foley, J. (1993) The Guinness encyclopedia of signs and symbols, Guinness Publications

    Modern symbols such as trade marks.

    Liungman, G. (1995) Dictionary of symbols, W. W. Norton Strong on classical symbols.

    Shepherd, R. and Shepherd, R. (2002) 1000 symbols: what shapes mean in art and myths, Thames & Hudson

    For domestic symbols, such as washing temperatures and cleaning symbols, books on household work are useful, such as:

    Phillips, B. (1989) The Daily Mail book of household hints and tips, Dorling Kindersley

    Electronic sources

    Symbols www.symbols.com

    4500 Western signs in 54 groups from ‘ideograms carved in mammoth teeth by Cro Magnon man, to hobo signs and subway graffiti’. Interactive facility whereby you can describe the symbol you want.

  • Introduction to the first edition

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp xi-xii

  • Summary

    Answering questions from its users is one of the most important services undertaken by a library's staff. Yet it is also one of the most difficult, least understood, and most neglected of subjects. Despite years of working in reference libraries, information units and subject departments, the lack of help we frontline staff get to assist people with their enquiries is a constant source of amazement and irritation. And puzzlement. How do you train staff to answer questions? Manuals on question answering techniques – the social and psychological aspects – there are a-plenty. Lists of recommended reference books are also common. Courses on government publications, law reports, online searching and other specialist literatures and search techniques exist. These can help, of course they can, but all too frequently the questions fired at us out of the blue have not been covered on a course. And the majority of staff on enquiry desks do not have formal library qualifications and have not been on courses. And there is a queue, the phone is ringing unanswered, the photocopier has jammed, and your inquisitor is waiting impatiently for an answer. You are stressed and you can feel the panic rising. Few outsiders can understand the terror experienced by staff newly placed on public enquiry counters. Few of us who have been there will ever forget those early experiences.

    What is needed is a guide that staff can use to know where to find the answers, and quickly! Hence this book. We hope it will help.

    This book is intended as a first point of reference for library staff unfamiliar with the subject of the enquiry. It is aimed at general library staff and no prior knowledge is assumed. It is an A to Z because this is the quickest way to find a subject. Some typical questions are given to indicate the nature of the subject. Then follow a few background comments that will assist the member of staff to clarify the nature of the enquiry; before one can find an answer it is important to have asked the right follow-up question or questions to make sure the questioner and the questioned understand each other. Then come a few of the more commonly available sources that may help to answer the question. These include printed sources, electronic sources (mostly free websites), and some useful contacts for referral purposes.

  • Introduction to the third edition

  • Bob Duckett, Peter Walker, Christinea Donnelly
  • Book:
    Know it All, Find it Fast
    Published by:
    Facet
    Published online:
    08 June 2018
    Print publication:
    25 October 2008, pp xv-xvi

  • Summary

    The need for information, and the need for a guide for those whose job it is to find information, or to help others to find it, continues unabated. This, the third edition of ‘KIAFIF', is a thorough revision of the second edition of 2004. More than ever we find how rapidly the familiar landmark reference books have disappeared or become websites, sometimes free, sometimes only available on subscription, sometimes tricky to use. Websites appear and disappear with confusing rapidity; publishers and information producers change their names; sponsors and advertisers intrude; and the increasing dependence on computers and communications technology add further pressure on frontline staff.

    Our focus remains on these frontline staff working with the general public on library enquiry desks. As a consequence we have generally ignored the more specialist, academic and expensive resources, though some of the classic reference works to be found in our larger libraries, which are often cited, are included: Joseph Wright's English dialect dictionary (1898–1905) and the Victoria county histories are two such examples.

    In earlier editions we generally excluded subscription websites and CD-ROMs on the ground that most staff and members of the public would not have access to them, but now that most libraries subscribe to services such as Britannica, Infotrac, Credo, Ancestry and EBSCO, indeed often enabling library members to use them on their home computers, such exclusion no longer seems necessary. We have also continued to loosen the earlier tripartite division of resources into ‘Printed', ‘Electronic’ and ‘Organizations'. Such a division seems increasingly artificial and unsustainable. Some new headings have been introduced (e.g. Death, Funerals & Bereavement; Police & Security), some ditched (e.g. Textiles) and many modified (e.g. Books & Bibliographies; Tourism & Travel).

    We would like to acknowledge the valuable information to be found in Reference Reviews (Emerald) and Refer: Journal of the ISG (Information Services Group of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals). We also acknowledge the useful titles found on the shelves in many library reading rooms and bookshops, and suggestions from colleagues and members of the public.

    Finally, we re-iterate the point that the titles, websites and organizations listed are just some of many; those we know about and have found useful. Maybe you know of others.

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