Reference Book of the Week: Texas Almanac

When you want to know a little more about the Lone Star State, you can get the Texas Almanac. Published since 1857, this publication is now in its 64th edition with the 2008-2009 volume. For someone like me who came to Texas from someplace else, this is a valuable book to learn about the state I now call home. However, the book can also be indispensable to native Texans. So, what can you find in this book? Here are some examples of information you can find in the Texas Almanac:

• Under Environment, you can learn about the geology of Texas, Texas forest resources, and Texas endangered species.
• The book includes an astronomical calendar.
• Are you like me, and you like to travel around the state? This book has a handy list of National Natural Landmarks in Texas. There is also a list of Fairs, Festival, and Special Events throughout the state.
• There are lots of trivia in the book as well. Find out what are the 10 largest cities in Texas. Do you need the lyrics to the state song "Texas, Our Texas"? They are in here (page 13).

You can learn about Texas history, politics, business, and government. This is basically a one volume guide to the state of Texas. It features maps, statistics, and photos too. There is a companion website to this book at www.texasalmanac.com. According to the book's editor, the website has been expanded and does feature items that could not be included in the current book edition due to space constraints. The site is a companion to the book. The site includes some features from the book but not everything. Available only online is a Searchable Town Database so you can look up Texas towns. For teachers, there is a Teacher's Guide to the Almanac, which is now available as a PDF download. You can find the latest edition of the Texas Almanac, the 2008-2009, in the Ready Reference shelf in reference. That's the shelf right behind the reference desk. The call number for it is AY 311 .D3 T5 2008-2009. As a reference book, it is not available to be checked out. Some previous copies are available on the third floor stacks; they do not circulate outside of the library. With each new edition, some features are added or changed, so at times, it may be useful to look at earlier editions. So, if you want to know more about the state of Texas, reach for the Texas Almanac.