AlmanacsAlmanacsGives current facts on many subjectsGives current facts on many subjects

(Comes from al-manaak= horoscopes)(Comes from al-manaak= horoscopes) annual publication containing tabular information annual publication containing tabular information

in a particular field or fields often arranged in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the according to the calendar calendar . .

Astronomical data and various statistics are also Astronomical data and various statistics are also found in almanacs, such as the times of the rising found in almanacs, such as the times of the rising

and setting of the and setting of the sun sun and moon , eclipse s, hours of and moon , eclipse s, hours of full tide , stated festivals of church es, terms of full tide , stated festivals of church es, terms of courts, lists of all types, timelines, and more. courts, lists of all types, timelines, and more.

The word The word almanac almanac comes from the Arabic comes from the Arabic al-al-manaakh manaakh , "the climate," reflecting its primary , "the climate," reflecting its primary

original purpose of providing information about the original purpose of providing information about the calendar and weather useful in agriculture. calendar and weather useful in agriculture.

FeaturesFeatures Answer quickly on questions like: dates, facts, Answer quickly on questions like: dates, facts,

times, amounts, etc.times, amounts, etc. Note the first page: ‘list of contents” for types of Note the first page: ‘list of contents” for types of

topics covered.topics covered. Index at the front of the book and a “Quick Index at the front of the book and a “Quick

Reference Index” at the very back.Reference Index” at the very back. Published yearly with the most up-to-date Published yearly with the most up-to-date

information. For information. For For current information (people, events, For current information (people, events,

entertainment, science, sports, etc.) go to the entertainment, science, sports, etc.) go to the most recent edition.most recent edition.

For historical data older books are okay. For historical data older books are okay.

Topics covered in the Topics covered in the almanacsalmanacs

geography geography , , government government , , demographics demographics , , agriculture agriculture , , economics economics and and business business , , health health and and medicine medicine , , religion religion , , mass media mass media , , transportation transportation , , science science and and technology technology , , sport sport , and , and award award s/ s/ prize prize s.s.

Printed almanacs Printed almanacs Information Please Almanac Information Please Almanac Whitaker's Whitaker's AlmanackAlmanack (1868-present) (1868-present) The The World Almanac World Almanac and Book of Facts (1868-1876, 1886-present) and Book of Facts (1868-1876, 1886-present) EncyclopædiaEncyclopædia Britannica Britannica Book of the Year Book of the Year (?-present) (?-present) Canadian Global Almanac Canadian Global Almanac ( ( 1992 1992 -present), a book of facts about -present), a book of facts about Canada Canada and the and the

world world Many Many U.S. State U.S. State s print a " s print a " Blue Book Blue Book ," which contains factual information about ," which contains factual information about

that particular state. Topics covered in these books frequently include but are that particular state. Topics covered in these books frequently include but are not limited to: biographies of important state officials, text of the not limited to: biographies of important state officials, text of the Governor Governor 's 's most recent most recent State of the State State of the State (or Commonwealth) message, budget figures for (or Commonwealth) message, budget figures for the most recent the most recent fiscal year fiscal year , data pertaining to state agencies and offices, and , data pertaining to state agencies and offices, and information regarding the state's information regarding the state's culture culture and institutions. They are often and institutions. They are often available for little or no cost and most public libraries carry a copy. available for little or no cost and most public libraries carry a copy.

Online almanacs Online almanacs Information Please Information Please CIA World CIA World FactbookFactbook

Difference between an almanac and a Difference between an almanac and a dictionarydictionary

An almanac is An almanac is organized by topics organized by topics (sports, arts and (sports, arts and culture, entertainment, culture, entertainment, etc) according to the etc) according to the calendar. Information calendar. Information is found first in the is found first in the indexindex

A dictionary is A dictionary is organized in organized in alphabetical order. alphabetical order. Does not contain data Does not contain data about facts.about facts.

Difference between an Difference between an almanac and encyclopediaalmanac and encyclopedia

Search an almanac if brief, factual answers are needed

Or search for an encyclopedia for more complete, general information on a topic. – Entries are generally longer than in an

almanac, directory, or dictionary. Encyclopedia entries (articles) are in alphabetic order.

Vocabulary: keywordsVocabulary: keywords ScanningScanning

– Looking for a specific fact or word. Looking for a specific fact or word. – Useful when you are searching through a chart or table for a Useful when you are searching through a chart or table for a

certain number, date, name, or other specific fact.certain number, date, name, or other specific fact. SkimmingSkimming

– Reading quickly to find general ideasReading quickly to find general ideas– Look for typographical cues, printing changes like Look for typographical cues, printing changes like boldfaceboldface and and

italics.italics. Chronology= record of events listed in the order in Chronology= record of events listed in the order in

which they occurred (they can be indicated in a which they occurred (they can be indicated in a timeline). timeline).

Statistics Statistics

Which reference source?Which reference source?

Chemistry--Dictionaries Chemistry--Dictionaries Shipwrecks--Shipwrecks--

Encyclopedias. Encyclopedias. Almanacs--Ohio. Almanacs--Ohio. Landscape gardening--Landscape gardening--

United States--United States--Handbooks, manuals, Handbooks, manuals, etc.  etc. 

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Almanac Index

----------------U----------------- Ukraine, 62-63 map, 75; flag, 80 United Kingdom. See Great Britain United States, 214-280 capital of, 275 Constitution, 216-217 earthquakes, 103 hottest and coldest places, 283 maps, 67, 248 parks, 278-280 presidents, 226-233 time zones, 210 vice presidents, 226 Utah facts about, 271 maps, 248, 253 parks. See United States. ----------------V----------------- Valentine’s Day, 116 Van Buren, Martin, 226, 228 Vermont facts about, 271 maps, 241, 249 Vice presidents. See United States Videos and video games, 140