AT THE LIBRARY

November 20, 2008

New Encyclopedias

The Library's Information and Reference Center has chosen to highlight the following new books to help patrons find answers to a variety of questions.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DISASTERS, by Angus M. Gunn

This two volume encyclopedia consists of a timeline of environmental and human tragedies. From the Supervolcano Toba in Indonesia in 74000 BC to the Greensburg, Kansas tornado in 2007, this book covers all natural and man-made disasters. Each chapter focuses on a different disaster. Illustrations of maps and pictures of the actual disasters grace many of the pages. In the appendix are statistics of disasters, such as twenty-five of the deadliest tornadoes in the contiguous United States, twenty-five of the costliest hurricanes to strike the US, and earthquakes with a magnitude 7.8 or greater within the US.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF NORTH AMERICAN RAILROADS, edited by William D. Middleton, George M. Smerk, and Roberta L. Diehl

This 1000+ page encyclopedia offers information on the development and social history of American Railroads. It goes on to look at technology and operating practice in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. There are general entries listed in alphabetical order, from accidents to the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. The end of the encyclopedia is complete with a statistical abstract of North American railroads as well as geological maps of railroads. Complete with illustrations, photographs and cartoons, this is a must-see for railroad buffs.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, edited by Peter Bogucki

This four volume set is part of the Facts on File Library of World History. Entries are listed in alphabetical order and include things like architecture, astronomy, religion, and science. This encyclopedia includes not only a glossary but also a chronology listed by region and is complete with pictures and maps.