There Are Reference Books You Should Know About!

We've been adding like crazy to our reference library, and there are reference books you should know about.
For those of you thinking about college, look at these books:

• Top 100 Careers Without a Four-Year Degree, Eighth Edition, by Michael Farr
• Health Careers in Georgia
• Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-2007 Edition, U.S. Department of Labor
• Book of Majors, Second Edition, by CollegeBoard
• 2008 Getting Financial Aid: Scholarships, Grants, Loans & Jobs by CollegeBoard
• 2008 Scholarship Handbook by CollegeBoard.

If you need to write a resume, look at this book:

• Same Day Resume: Write An Effective Resume in an Hour by Michael Farr.

Now, if you're interested in starting a business, look at these books:

• How to Start a Business in Georgia, 3rd Edition, by Judge Charles T. Robertson II and Mark Warda, Attorney at Law
• The Only Grant-Writing Book You'll Ever Need, 2nd Edition, by Ellen Karsh and Arlen Sue Fox
• Foundation Grants to Individuals, 11th Edition, from The Foundation Center
• The One Page Business Plan by Jim Horan.

And just to make the reference section of the library more interesting, look at these books:

• eBay Power Seller, Million Dollar Ideas by Brad Schepp and Debra Schepp
• A Civilian's Guide to the U.S. Military by Barbara Schading, Ph.D.
• The United States Government Manual 2007-2008
• World Book
• Chase's Calendar of Events 2008.

The reference section of the library is not hard to find. When you come up the front steps of the library it is straight ahead to the right of the circulation counter. If you come into the library from the parking lot, it will be just past the circulation counter to your left. There are plenty of seats and study areas, and library staff to help you.

How Just One Librarian Met The Challenge

Elois is our reference clerk. We were chatting the other day when she told me about a real challenge she'd recently encountered.
She said a young man came to her for help. He asked for information about the Brady bunch. Of course, Elois did what I would have done and thought he meant the television comedy, The Brady Bunch. But that wasn't what he wanted. In the course of conversation with her, he asked about the Griffin papers. Elois suggested he talk to the librarian in the Odom Genealogy Library, but he said he'd already been there and Ann suggested he talk to her, Elois. Finally, the young man said he was a Brady and was looking for information from Berrien County.
Ah ha! Elois thought (can't we just see the light bulb come on in her head!). She said, "You need to go back to genealogy and ask for the census of Berrien County from the year you need." And so, away he went.
Elois later checked on him, and there he was sitting at the computer, just working away.
Now, talk about meeting a challenge!
Every staff member here in our library, not only the Moultrie-Colquitt County Public Library but the Odom Genealogy Library, can tell you a story like this. Answering questions to help patrons can be quite a challenge for us, but that's why we're here. All you need to do is just ask. And like Elois, we all do our best to meet the challenge. Every day.

Looking For A Reference?

I asked Elois what's going on in the Reference Library. She said she'll be ordering three new books:

1. "Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia" - What do Hispanics think about the war in Iraq, or the immigration debate? How do they view their place in U. S. society? You can also check out the nonpartisan research center's website at http://www.pewhispanic.org/
2. "Political Handbook of the Middle East 2006" - This book is vital to understanding the social currents and political changes that rock this volatile region of the globe.
3. "Encyclopedia of the Underground Railroad" - by J. Blaine Hudson. His masterpiece speaks of the many people, places, and even songs that were part of the railroad.

Elois also said if you're contemplating making a Will or need to know your legal rights, check with her. And there are books on landlords' property management, lease and rental agreements, health conditions, college data, etc. Just ask for Elois! In the Reference Library!