What's New Archive 2007
A-Z how to find information > What's new > What's new archive
|
|
13th December 2007
'Inform' newsletter
- Now available - the Winter 2007 issue of the Inform newsletter
- Catch up on information and reference developments
Yahoo Song Lyrics
- Want to check the actual words of a song, rather than the often inaccurate versions given on many web sites?
- Yahoo now has a huge searchable collection of lyrics supplied by record companies themselves, at Yahoo Music - Lyrics
New quizzes
- Three new quizzes have been added - on foreign words and phrases, art and film locations
- Check what you know already or find the answers in the 'Credo reference' online reference books collection
New online books on Credo reference
- New reference books have been added to the online books collection 'Credo reference'
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Credo reference now. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
|
New online books added to Credo reference |
Encyclopedia of American poetry - twentieth century Over 400 entries, covering all aspects of American poetry in the twentieth century There are entries on American poets, entries on individual works and topical essays on key developments in poetry This book is in the Credo 'Literature' section' |
Encyclopedia of the United States in the nineteenth century Comprehensive coverage of all aspects of 19th century history: population, politics and government, economy and work, society and culture, religion, social problems and reform, everyday life, and foreign policy, in more than 600 A-to-Z articles More than 400 illustrations and maps, a year-by-year chronology, original documents, and tables This book is
in the Credo 'History' section |
7th December 2007
December 2007 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography magazine
- The December issue of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography magazine is online now
- Includes a Christmas competition advent calendar! There are three competitions that you can enter, with closing dates in December
- You can read the magazine without having to log in to the full Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- To view the full dictionary,
log in to the Oxford
Dictionary of National Biography with your library card and PIN. If you
don't have a library card, you can
join the library now. If you
don't have a PIN, you can request a PIN
now
New books
- See New books December 2007 for a list of new
reference books recently received
4th December 2007
Money made clear!
- Get to grips with your finances with the new web site Money made clear
- Money made clear gives you impartial information from the FSA (Financial Services Authority), the UK's official financial watchdog
- Along with guides to money issues it has comparison tables for pension
annuities, mortgages, savings accounts, stakeholder and personal pensions,
unit trust and OEIC ISAs, investment bonds and savings endowments; calculators
for loans, mortgages and pensions; a register of firms and individuals who
provide financial services; and information about unauthorised firms and scams
New beadwork pages
- A new beadwork section has been added to the Crafts section
- Find out how to start beading and view some lovely beadwork samples
Art treasures
online
- You can now view online nearly 8,000 European oil paintings from 200 UK museums and galleries
- The images are in a new database NICE Paintings (The National Inventory of Continental European Paintings), hosted by the Visual Arts Data Service (VADS) web site
- The collection is the first phase of the National Inventory Research Project which aims to record and make public a searchable database of all 22,000 pre-1900 Continental European oil paintings in Britain's public collections
Consumer help for Europe
- Have you ever had problems with something bought from another European country? Now you can find help from a new UK European Consumer Centre (UK ECC)
- The UK ECC gives you free information on consumer rights in Europe and helps in cross-border disputes
- It covers goods or services, including online shopping, internet auctions, flights and holidays, bought from any country in the European Union, or from Iceland or Norway
- The service is one of 27 across Europe co-ordinated by the European Commission
- You can contact the UK ECC using a
form on the web site, or
by phone, fax or email
16th November 2007
Foreign language options for online articles and books
Immediate translation of search results
- Speakers of Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean can now view many of the Virtual Library's online resources translated immediately into their own language
- The online newspapers (except the Times Digital Archive), online magazines and journals and 'Gale virtual reference library' online reference books all now show a 'Translate' option
- When you have searched any of these resources and viewed the search results list, click the item you want and you will see a red box headed 'Tools'. Just choose a language from the drop-down menu and click 'Translate'
- Your article, news item or any other kind of result will appear in an automated (therefore not guaranteed perfect) translation
Options for 'search interface'
- The same resources - the online newspapers (except the Times Digital Archive), online magazines and journals and 'Gale virtual reference library' online reference books - also let users choose a different language for all the other text on every page (the instructions, links, tabs, help and so on)
- If you click 'Preferences', which appears near the top right of each page, you can then choose French, Spanish or Italian
How to read old handwriting
- If you are interested in old handwritten documents take a look at the new section Old handwriting added to Gateway to the Internet > Languages and Writing
- There are links to brief introductory guides for beginners and to more in-depth tutorials. See especially the National Archives Palaeography pages
- What does palaeography mean? It means the study of old handwriting and manuscripts. The word can also mean the old handwriting itself
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB) November 2007 magazine
- The new Oxford Dictionary of National Biography magazine is now online
- The November 2007 issue includes a selection from the ODNB's coin collection, images and biographies related to the 'Millais at the Tate' exhibition and much more
- You can read the magazine without having to log in to the full ODNB
- To view the full ODNB,
log in to the Oxford
Dictionary of National Biography with your library card and PIN. If you
don't have a library card, you can
join the library now. If you
don't have a PIN, you can request a PIN
now
2nd November 2007
Lace
- A new section on Lace in A-Z how to find information > Crafts will guide you to all you need to know to start lace-making or learning about this beautiful craft
- Includes images of lace samples and bobbins
New books
- New books November 2007 is now online, giving
you a list of reference books recently received in the libraries
New online books on Credo reference
- New reference books have been added to the online books collection 'Credo reference'
- One of these new online books, the Encyclopaedia of African history, is featured below, after the table of all the new books
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Credo reference now. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
|
New online books added to Credo
reference |
In section |
| Cambridge encyclopedia of child development |
Social sciences |
| Cambridge
world history of food |
Food |
| Collins
Spurrell Welsh dictionary |
Bilinguals |
| Encyclopedia
of African history |
History |
|
Encyclopedia of German literature |
Literature |
| Encyclopedia
of life writing: autobiographical and biographical forms |
Language |
|
Encyclopedia of the Romantic era, 1760-1850 |
History |
| Harrap’s
Polish dictionary |
Bilinguals |
| Reader's
guide to British history |
History |
| Reader's
guide to the history of science |
Science |
| Reader's
guide to the social sciences |
Social sciences |
|
Featured title Encyclopedia of African history,
published by Routledge |
|
The 'Encyclopedia of African history' is a new reference resource on Some examples of the in-depth entries are:
|
25th October 2007
Create a sensory garden
- Which plants can you grow to delight your senses? Find out in the new help-sheet 'Creating a sensory garden' in the Gardening section
Highway Code new edition
- The new edition of The official highway code, published in September 2007, is available for reference at all libraries
- You can also see view online an adapted version of the current highway
code at
The Highway Code online version
Nature and biodiversity
- Nature and biodiversity is a redesigned web site within the European Union's broader Environment web site. It covers EU biodiversity policy and legislation, protected species and more
- Where in Europe do brown bears live? Where do wolves roam? You can see maps and information about these and other threatened animals at the site's Large carnivores page
The EU what's in it for me?
- Discover how the EU works for you with a new guide called The EU what's in it for me? A no nonsense guide for UK citizens to what the European Union delivers, produced by the European Commission Representation in London
Eutube
- You can find out more about the European Union by watching short videos at
Eutube, the YouTube space of the European Commission
New quizzes
- Four new quizzes have been added to the Quizzes page
European Union Reform Treaty
- Information about the European Union Reform Treaty and PDF files of the full text of the treaty are at the 'Britain in the EU' section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office web site
Ozone layer
- What is the problem with the ozone layer? What are the European Union and other international bodies doing about it? Find out at the new European Commission web site, Protection of the ozone layer
- The new site is part of the European Commission's larger Environment web site, which also has a broad section on Climate change
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography - October Update
- One of the current projects of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB) is to commission and publish a set of about 350 essays on significant groups in British history
- The latest ODNB update adds 35 group essays on well-known historical gangs, clubs, and networks including the war poets, the Desert Rats, the metaphysical poets and 'Steamboat ladies'. There is also a special feature '1807 distinguished men of science'
- Without having to log in, you can view extracts from the October 2007 update and you can also read a free selection of essays on other groups
- To view the full ODNB, log in to the Oxford dictionary of national biography with your library card and PIN. If you don't have a library card, you can join the library now. If you don't have a PIN, you can request a PIN now
Workplace stress
- Stressed at work? A new
Workplace stress 'microsite'
on the main Health and Safety Executive web site gives information to help you
and your managers understand the causes of stress at work and identify and
solve problems in the workplace
15th October 2007
'Great British biography quizzes' competition
- Try a Great British biography quiz by consulting the online 'Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB)'. The competition closes on 9th November 2007
- Use your library card and PIN to log in to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. If you don't have a library card, you can join the library now. If you don't have a PIN, you can request a PIN now
October online ODNB magazine
- Without needing to log in, you can read the online Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB) magazine
- The new October edition includes, among other things, feature articles on 'Brewers of Britain - pint-sized biographies of British drinks manufacturers: from Boddington to Tetley' and 'Millais at the Tate - a gallery of 'brothers', friends, and sitters to accompany Tate Britain's new Millais exhibition'
Power of attorney
- There has been a major change in the way power of attorney works in England and Wales. The law that made this change is the Mental Capacity Act 2005, most of which came into force on 1st October 2007
- You can find full details of the new system and online copies of the necessary forms at the web site of the Office of the Public Guardian (formerly called the Public Guardian Office)
- The web site includes a Mental Capacity Act menu section with an explanation and overview of the Act and the text of the Code of Practice, while the Office for Public Sector Information web site gives the full text of the Act itself
- For more web sites giving guides to the Mental Capacity Act, see the
Gateway to the Internet section Law and your
rights > Power of attorney
Buying cigarettes - minimum age change to 18
- On 1st October 2007 the law on selling tobacco changed. It is now illegal to sell cigarettes and other tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18 (an increase from 16)
- For details see The law for selling tobacco has changed from the Department of Health
New information guides from Age Concern
- New free Information Guides for older people on the Age Concern web site cover your health and home, your money and managing your life
- The new guides give concise overviews of broad areas. The web site also
has more detailed downloadable
Information Sheets and
Factsheets
on many topics
27th September 2007
New lovely images in the Art Gallery
- The Art gallery on this web site has been expanded with two new themed collections containing many more beautiful images for you to enjoy
Embroidery
- There are even more lovely images included in a brand new set of pages on embroidery in the new Crafts section of the Information and Reference A-Z
- The new pages include a guide to Finding out about embroidery and a set of beautiful embroidery samples
- There is an accompanying new section of embroidery web sites at
Gateway to the Internet > Crafts > Embroidery
'Take it away' - help to buy musical instruments
- 'Take it away' is a new scheme from Arts Council England to help people buy musical instruments
- The scheme 'allows individuals to apply for a loan of up to £2,000 for the purchase of any kind of musical instrument, and pay it back in nine monthly instalments (with a minimum 10% deposit), completely interest free'
Health and safety at work free service for employees and small businesses
- Workplace Health Connect is a government funded service providing confidential, practical and free advice to small businesses on workplace health and safety, management of sickness absence and return to work issues'
- Employees can also call the Workplace Health Connect advice line 0845 609 6006 for confidential, free advice
New health and safety 'microsite' for disabled people and their employers
- A new 'microsite'
Health and safety for disabled people and their employers, on the main
Health and Safety Executive web site, gives
- an introduction to disability discrimination and health and safety law
- advice for people doing health and safety risk assessments
- advice for disabled people
- links to further sources of information, including grants
Learn a new 'Word of the Day' in French, Italian, German and Spanish
- You can sign up to a new free Word of the Day service in French, Italian, German and Spanish, provided by Oxford University Press
- You would receive emails giving you a 'Word of the Day' and a link to a web page leading to full details of the word
New words in the online Oxford English Dictionary
- What do guggle, sakatini or aeroponics mean? If you say 'puh-leeze', is it likely that you are being polite - or not? These are just a few words from latest update to the online Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
- The alphabetical section from 'proter' to 'purposive' has been revised. It now includes 2785 new words and revised entries, from psychonaut to pruno, pterodactyl to puffin, and from pudding-poke to puh-leeze
- In addition, 310 new words and senses from across the alphabet have been added to the dictionary
- See the full list of new words and learn the stories behind some of these words in notes on some of the new words
- You do not have to log in to see the new words, but if you log in at
reference
books online you will be able to search the whole dictionary
New quiz
- A new quiz has been added to the quizzes page
New online books on Credo Reference
- Several new online books have been
added
to the
Credo reference collection
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Credo reference now. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
|
New online books added to Credo
reference |
|
The American Heritage guide to contemporary usage and style |
| The American
Heritage medical dictionary |
| The American
Heritage science dictionary |
| Cambridge
dictionary of sociology |
| The
encyclopaedia of American folk art |
| How we talk:
American regional English today |
Revised prices indexes and inflation page
- The page 'Quick links
to prices indexes and inflation data' in the
A-Z how to find information > Statistics section has been revised
5th September 2007
Oxford dictionary of national biography free magazine
- The September issue of the free Oxford dictionary of national biography magazine is now available online
- Features include 'Lives of Wales', illustrated biographies of a selection of famous Welsh men and women and 'Five lives', covering five famous double acts
Local statistics
- The latest edition of Bedfordshire County Council's annual publication 'Population estimates and forecasts' is now online
- At the Population estimates and forecasts page, click the link 'Population estimates and forecasts' to save or open the 'Population estimates and forecasts 2006' file
- 'Population estimates and forecasts 2006' gives the quick and easy way to find key population statistics for Bedfordshire districts and towns and villages
- It gives not only census 2001 figures but also estimated figures for
mid-2005 plus forecast figures
New books
- See New books September 2007 for a list of new
reference books recently received
15th August 2007
New guide - 60th anniversary of the partition of India
- British rule in India ended at midnight at the end of 14th August 1947. India was 'partitioned' and the two independent countries of India and Pakistan were created
- Find out more with the new guide 60th anniversary of the partition of India in the History and archaeology section
Freephone service on money problems
- A new freephone service has been launched by the Department for Work and Pensions to help people with money problems - 0800 012 1656
- The service aims to put people in debt in touch with experts offering free, independent financial advice so that they do not end up turning to loan sharks
European Union rights for elderly and disabled air passengers
- New European Union rules are being phased in to end discrimination against elderly and disabled passengers at airports and to give them the help they need
- The first rule came into force from 26th July 2007. For flights from airports in the European Union (EU), airlines and tour operators must not refuse to carry passengers, or to take bookings, on the basis of reduced mobility (exceptions can be made only for duly justified safety reasons)
- Two further rules will come into force in 26th July 2008, covering free assistance in all EU airports and assistance on board
- For further details see the European Union Press Release
- If you would like to read the full legal document that is bringing in the new rules, see REGULATION (EC) No 1107/2006 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 5 July 2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.
(You need to have Adobe Reader software on your pc in order to open the document. If you do not have it already, you can download it free from the Adobe web site.)
Free bus travel to be extended from 2008
- From April 2008, all people aged 60 and over and disabled people will receive free off-peak travel on local bus services throughout England
- The legislation providing for this is the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007, which was passed in July 2007
- For a more readable explanation than the Act itself, see the
Explanatory Notes to
Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007
6th August
2007
Updated Credo Reference online books
- Several books in the Credo reference collection have been updated
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Credo reference now. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
| Updated online books added to Credo Reference | ||
 |
 |
 |
| Collins dictionary of astronomy This book is in the Credo 'Science' section |
Mosby's dictionary of medicine, nursing and
health professionals, 7th edition This book is in the
Credo 'Medicine'
section |
Saunders comprehensive veterinary dictionary,
3rd edition This book is in the Credo 'Medicine' section |
- 'Mosby's dictionary of medicine, nursing and health professionals, 7th edition' gives you not only dictionary definitions and illustrations but also a colour atlas of human anatomy, divided into eleven sections such as the 'skeletal system', 'muscular system', 'circulatory system' and so on
- To browse the contents of the anatomy atlas, and the other sections of the
dictionary, log in to
Credo reference, click 'Medicine', then click 'Mosby's dictionary of
medicine, nursing and health professionals'
Oxford reference online tip
- You can now re-order the search results you find at Oxford reference online so as to show longer results first. See the tab at the top of the search results page
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Oxford reference online (premium collection) now and search over 100 quick reference books from Oxford University Press. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
New chemical hazards compendium
- Have you ever wondered about the effects of chemical hazards that may be encountered in the workplace or in the environment? If so, take a look at the new Chemical hazards compendium produced by the Health Protection Agency
- The Chemical hazards compendium gives information aimed at both the public and at professionals, on the effects of hazards such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, mercury, petrol and more
- There is a link to the compendium on the Gateway to the Internet at Science and Technology > Chemistry, chemicals and chemical technology
16th July 2007
New books
- See New books July 2007 for a full list of the recent new reference books
- Here are a few of the new books. Click the title or image for catalogue details
|
Available at all libraries
|
Available at all libraries
|
Available at larger libraries
|
Available at most libraries
|
|
Disability rights handbook 2007-2008
Social security benefits, tax credits and related services |
Your rights to money benefits 2007/08
Covers the full range of state benefits for the over 60s |
Guide to housing benefit and council tax benefit 2007-08 | Big guide 08: the official universities and colleges guide 2008 |
Updated business directory
- The new D & B business register 2007/08: Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire is now available at Bedford Central, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard libraries
- The directory lists businesses in the two counties that have 5+ employers or turnover in excess of £250,000.
- The directory includes name, address, telephone and fax details and other features such as names of directors, partners or proprietors; industry sector; turnover, profit and loss; number of employees; and net worth
- Each entry also shows the unique D&B 'risk indicator' (the risk that a business will fail). The risk indicator ranges from 1 to 4 where 1 indicates a minimal risk and 4 a significant level of risk
New government web sites
- Three new government departments were set up by the Prime Minister on 28th June 2007. Click each department's name below to see its web site:
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. This replaces the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI). At the moment quite a few pages on the site still refer to the DTI
Department for Children, Schools and Families. This replaces the Department for Education and Skills
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. This department brings together some responsibilities from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including science and innovation, and responsibilities for further and higher education and skills from the former Department for Education and Skills
2nd July 2007
New additions to Oxford reference online
- Several new books have been added to Oxford reference online. You can search and browse the new reference books below, and hundreds of others, on your pc at home, at work or wherever you are:
New encyclopedia of birds
Encylopedia of underwater life
Oxford dictionary of the classical world
Oxford dictionary of science fiction
A dictionary of public health
- Also on Oxford reference online are two new timelines, 'Ireland' and 'Modern design', several updated editions and improvements to search results
- Take a look at Oxford reference online May 2007 update for full details of the new books and other new developments
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Oxford reference online (premium collection) now. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
27th June 2007
Credo reference, the new name for Xreferplus
- The online reference books service Xreferplus has changed its name to Credo reference
- Any existing Xreferplus links on these pages will still take you to Credo reference, for the same large collection of reference books on many subjects. See the full list of books on Credo reference
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Credo reference now. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
New free online biography index
- You can check the freely available Oxford biography index for basic details of over 55,000 notable people from British history
- The index gives you full names, birth and death dates, alternative names, maiden names and fields of activity
- You can search the index by using a general search engine such as Google or Ask.com. Just add odnb after the name you are searching. For example, type jane austen odnb or oscar wilde odnb or pocahontas odnb or bess of hardwick odnb
- You can also browse the index to look through similar names and find the one you need or to check the correct spelling
- The index includes everyone in the full Oxford dictionary of national biography (ODNB) so you can also use it to check whether there is an article on someone before you log in to the full dictionary
- You can search the index whether you are logged in or not. However, to read the biographical articles just use your library card and PIN to log in to the Oxford dictionary of national biography. If you don't have a library card, you can join the library now. If you don't have a PIN, you can request a PIN now
- Find out more at the Oxford biography index page
20th June 2007
'It was forty years ago today...'
- On 10th June 2007 it was forty years since the Beatles album 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' went to number one in the charts and stayed there all summer and autumn in 1967. Have you ever been able to identify all the people pictured on the album cover? Now you can do that with the Oxford dictionary of national biography's interactive record sleeve
- Just hover your mouse over each person to see who it is. For many characters, you can then click their images and read about their lives in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, or, in a few cases, in the American National Biography
More from Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford DNB)
- See more news and feature articles from the June 2007 issue of the Oxford DNB's online magazine
- For example, find out about key figures from 1967 in the 'Summer of Love' article. This includes Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones and more
- The magazine also has a feature on the Victoria Cross called For Valour, with articles on some of the holders of the VC, for the 150th anniversary on 26th June 2007 of the first investiture of the award
- The latest update feature lists new additions to the Oxford DNB, including individuals from the British Empire and early Commonwealth plus fifty new essays on historical groups, such as the Norman conquerors, the Bounty mutineers and the British Expeditionary Force of 1914
- The Oxford DNB's online magazine will show you articles whether you are logged in or not. However, to see the full content of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography just use your library card and PIN to log in to the Oxford dictionary of national biography. If you don't have a library card, you can join the library now. If you don't have a PIN, you can request a PIN now
Smoke-free news
- From 1st July 2007 most public places and workplaces will be smoke-free. You can find out all about the new protection from second-hand smoke at the official web site Smokefree. The site gives information for both businesses and individuals on the 'smokefree regulations', including downloadable leaflets and guidance available in several languages
- For help with giving up smoking, see Gosmokefree, where you can find information and helpful guides to order or download. The guides are available in several languages
New rights for gay people
- New legislation, the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007, gives gay people legal protection against discrimination from businesses and public services. Visit the Stonewall web site for details, including a downloadable simple guide to the new regulations called 'The colour of your money'
New quizzes
- Two new quizzes have been added to the
Quizzes page. You can find all the answers to the quizzes in the
Xreferplus online reference books
New books
- See New books June 2007 for new reference books at Bedfordshire libraries
31st May 2007
Animations, video clips and much more information and added to Xreferplus
|
|
The 'Hutchinson unabridged encyclopedia including atlas |
|
 |
|
symbol. Animations include ocean currents, how cells divide, how planes fly,
the formation of a black hole, the digestive system, the first day of World
War I's Battle of the Somme, the Cassini flight to Saturn and more...|
More new books added to Xreferplus |
|
 Astronomy encyclopaedia 3000 encyclopedia entries. Colour illustrations, photographs, artworks, and tables This book is in the Xreferplus 'Science' section |
 Brewer's curious titles The fascinating story behind more than 1500 book titles This book is in the Xreferplus 'Literature' section
|
 Chambers classic speeches From the 'Chambers book of speeches'. Includes speeches by politicians, monarchs, rebels and intellectuals from around the world This book is in the Xreferplus 'Quotations' section |
Word histories and mysteries, This book is written in a lively and entertaining style perfect for browsing This book is in the Xreferplus 'Language' section
|
 The encyclopedia of world historyA comprehensive chronology from prehistoric times to the year 2000, with more than 20,000 entries This book is in the Xreferplus 'History' section
|
 Business: the ultimate resource A dictionary of global business and management This book is in the Xreferplus 'Business section
|
 The Wisden archive of cricketers' lives Selected entries from the 'Wisden cricketer's almanack' featuring biographies of the cricketers of yesteryear This book is in the Xreferplus 'Biography' section
|
 The chronology of American literature More than 8,000 works by 5,000 authors This book is in the Xreferplus 'Literature section |
17th May 2007
Law reports
- A new guide How can I find a report of a court case? has been added to the Law and your rights section
New quizzes
- Test yourself with two new quizzes added to the Quizzes page. You can find all the answers to the quizzes in the Xreferplus online reference books
15th May 2007
BBC Balderdash and Piffle/Oxford English Dictionary Wordhunt Appeal
- 'One sandwich short of a picnic' - can you help the Oxford English Dictionary find verifiable evidence of the use of this phrase before 1993? 'Stiletto' - can you show this word was used before 1959?
- These are just two of the words and phrases whose origins the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is looking for and, in conjunction with the BBC Balderdash and Piffle programme, the OED is inviting the public to help with the search. Read more about the Balderdash and Piffle Wordhunt and see the full list of words and phrases at Wordhunt Appeal List
- The BBC's eight-part TV series, Balderdash & Piffle, will be broadcast in the UK weekly on BBC2 from Friday 11 May to Friday 6 July 2007, at 10pm, repeated on Mondays at 11.20pm
- While the series is on, the OED is letting anyone look up words and phrases on the online OED free for forty-eight hours after each programme - but all members of Bedfordshire Libraries can look up words and phrases on the online OED always, at any time you like, because the library service subscribes to the OED for you
- Members of Bedfordshire Libraries can use the online OED on any computer, whether at home, in the library, at work or wherever. You can always find it from the main Virtual Library menu at Information and Reference > Reference Books Online
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can
log in to
the Oxford English Dictionary now. Don't have a library card? You can
join the library now. Don't
have a PIN? You can request a PIN
now
9th May 2007
European Union 50th anniversary
- This month sees the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome
on May 9th 1957, which led ultimately to the European Union. Find out all
about the celebrations around Europe, the history of the European Union,
50 years in pictures, quizzes and games and much more at the
European Union's 50th anniversary web site
New books
- See New books April 2007 for new reference
books at Bedfordshire libraries
17th April 20007
British historical population statistics online
- A major new web site Online Historical Population Reports (OHPR) gives you online access to the complete British population reports for Britain and Ireland from 1801 to 1937
- 200,000 pages of census material (population, economy, society) and registration material (births, deaths, marriages and medical statistics) for the British Isles have been digitised
- You can search or browse the reports and discover detailed historical statistics for your area
- This web site has been added to the Statistics and Prices: UK section of the Gateway to the Internet
New books added to Xreferplus
- Several new books have been added to the Xreferplus online reference books collection. You can search and browse the reference books below, and hundreds of others, on your pc at home, at work or wherever you are
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Xreferplus now. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
New books added to Xreferplus |
|
Brewer's Dictionary of Irish Phrase & Fable Covers a huge range of different topics on the history, culture, mythology and language of Ireland, including Celtic gods and goddesses, bards, beasts, literary allusions, proverbial sayings, the origins and history of words and phrases, characters from Irish literature ancient and modern, individuals and events in Irish history, place-names, and contemporary Irish life and culture This book is in the Xreferplus 'Literature' section |
|
Cassell's Peoples, Nations and Cultures A unique and comprehensive historical guide to 1500 of the world's peoples, from the earliest times to the present - from the Assyrians of the ancient Middle East to the modern-day Armenians, from the Belgae of ancient Europe to the modern-day Basques This book is in the Xreferplus 'Geography' section
|
|
Marquis Who's Who in America Biographical information on famous names from many fields, including business and politics, healthcare and science, entertainment and the arts This book is in the Xreferplus 'Biography' section
|
|
Marquis Who's Who in the World Over 50,000 personal profiles of people from 215 countries and territories. Includes heads of state and ministers, leaders of large companies, philosophers, social scientists, writers, musicians, artists, actors, dancers, filmmakers, scientists and more This book is in the Xreferplus 'Biography' section |
|
5th April 2007
Refugee Week
|
 |
Probate
-
New page added on Probate
2nd April 2007
New Quizzes
- Two new quizzes have been added to the Quizzes
page
19th March 2007
Abolition of the slave trade information
- Abolition of the slave trade
page, produced to mark the 200th anniversary of the UK's Abolition of the
Slave Trade Act of March 1807
13th March 2007
New edition of 'Inform' newsletter
- See the new February 2007 edition of the 'Inform' newsletter to catch up on highlights of the Information and Reference service!
Abolition of the slave trade
- Find out about the lives of traders, freed slaves, and abolitionists in a special article in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography's online magazine. The article has been produced to mark the anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade on 25th March 1807
- The online magazine is part if the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography's free area. Anyone can look at the free area but with your Bedfordshire library card number and PIN you can also view the complete Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
New pages added to 'Law and your rights' section
- Where can I see a report of an employment tribunal case?
- Where can I find a report of an employment
appeal tribunal (EAT) case?
1st March 2007
New quizzes
- Two new quizzes have been added to the list on the Quizzes
page
14th February 2007
New quizzes section
- Do you like quizzes? Take a look at the new Quizzes section
for the first batch in our new series!
8th February 2007
New pages on immigration, nationality and asylum
- New pages will guide you to information on
Immigration, nationality and asylum and on applying for British
Citizenship
New online reference books added
- New online reference books have been added to the Xreferplus online reference books collection. You can search and browse the reference books below, and hundreds of others, on your pc at home, at work or wherever you are
- Do you have a library number and PIN? You can log in to Xreferplus now. Don't have a library card? You can join the library now. Don't have a PIN? You can request a PIN now
New books added to Xreferplus |
|
 A fascinating guide for film lovers whether you are looking for reliable facts or just browsing Covers film from the early days of silent cinema to the twenty-first century This book is in the Xreferplus 'Art' section |
 An illustrated guide to the identification and use of gemstones The main section gives complete descriptions of a wide range of gems This book is in the Xreferplus 'Science' section
|
|
Case histories of major disasters Maps, charts, tables and diagramsThis book is in the Xreferplus 'Science' section |
 An illustrated guide to the many facets of the world's oceans and seas An atlas section details all the major oceans and seas Includes a concise encyclopedia of marine fauna and flora This book is in the Xreferplus 'Science' section |
|
Includes general information on molluscs and their classification, Over 1200 species are described and more than 1000 are illustrated This book is in the Xreferplus 'Science' section |
 More than 7,000 concise articles covering more than 90 disciplines of science and technology More than 1600 two-colour illustrations This book is in the Xreferplus 'Science' section |
25th January 2007
Legislation
-
For the first
time you can now see official revised versions of all Public General Acts in force, at a new
web site, the
UK Statute Law Database.
Please note that the revision is not yet completely up-to-date. For
further details, see the new pages at Where can I
find an Act of Parliament? in the Law and your rights
section
Money
- A new section called Money matters brings together topics such as savings and investments, insurance, benefits and tax credits and more
Companies
- A new set of pages has been added in Companies and other businesses. The pages include guidance on frequently asked questions such as Where can I find the contact details of a business? and Where can I find share prices? and more
|
|
