The Patriot Spot

Welcome to another post in the Reference Book of the Week series. Once again, we are featuring a U.S. Government publication: the Occupational Outlook Handbook. It is officially known as U.S. Deparment of Labor Bulletin 2700. When it comes to career information, this item is a lifesaver. Most libraries, whether they are document depositories or not, will carry a copy of this publication. In brief, this book gives information on careers. If you want to know more about a particular job or career, how much it could pay, what education it would require, and its outlook in terms of employment, this is the place to go. The handbook is published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an agency within the Department of Labor, which is “the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics” (from the BLS website).

The Robert R. Muntz Library has the “library edition” of the Occupational Outlook Handbook. This is basically a hardcover edition with stronger binding for institutional use. In plain English, we buy a stronger edition because we expect it to be heavily used. You could also buy the book in trade paperback through the Government Printing Office (GPO) online bookstore if you were so inclined. However, you are welcome to come to the library and use our copy. So, what’s in the book then?

• The table of contents: This can be your first point to start a search. It gives you a sense of how the book is organized. The OOC is organized by career groups (clusters) such as: management, business, and financial occupations; professional and related occupations; and service occupations. Each cluster is then further divided. For example, you would find education, training, library, and museum occupations under the professional and related occupations cluster. My job, librarian, would be in that section (on page 266).
• Each job entry features the following: a set of significant points to give you some quick facts about the job; nature of the work describing what the job typically does and entail; training, other qualifications, and advancement where you learn what kind of education and/or training is needed for that job; employment; job outlook; earnings; and related occupations which often tells you other careers that are similar or require some of the same skills. Finally, each entry gives a list of additional sources of information, mostly websites.
• Special features: the volume includes a series of special sections on topics such as: sources of career information; and finding and applying for jobs and evaluating offers. There is also a section labeled “Data for Occupations Not Studied in Detail.” The OOC does not cover in detail every single career. They claim to cover 9 out of 10 jobs in the U.S. (23). This additional section “presents summary data on 128 additional occupations, for which employment projections are prepared, but for which occupational information is not developed” (843).
• The book features an index in the back of the book, which allows readers to look up a specific job and find the page directly. There are some cross-references. For example, let’s say you want to be a pet groomer. You look it up and find there is no “pet groomer” listing. However, you look a bit more, and there is a listing for “groomers,” telling you then to go to page 485. It also tells you that for groomers, you need to see jobs under “animal care and service workers.” However, unlike other reference books, it does not make you take the extra step of finding the “see also” entry in the index; it gives you the page right away.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook is revised every two years. The library just acquired the new 2008-2009 edition. It is available in the library’s ready reference shelves (the shelving right behind the reference desk) under the call number HF 5381 .A1036.

Also, like a good number of government documents, the OOC is available online is freely available online. Here is the direct link to the OOC. The BLS site, which I linked above, also links to it under the “Publications” heading. The online version allows you to look at the career clusters, there is a link to the A-Z index, or you can search the publication by typing a term in the search box to get the information (this is what I usually do when I use the publication). The online resource also features some other helpful features such as a guide for teachers. In addition, I would like to note that you can find other valuable labor resources through the BLS website such as information on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), productivity, and employment. If you want to see where many news anchors get their labor numbers or want to know what exactly is the CPI, the BLS site is a good place to look.

Here we go with another edition of Reference Book of the Week here at The Patriot Spot. Today we feature a federal government document: the Economic Report of the President. Even though the title says “of the President,” don’t be fooled. The report is actually written by the President’s economic advisers. To be precise, the report, which is submitted annually to Congress, is written by the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. According to law, it “is transmitted to Congress no later than ten days after the submission of the Budget of the United States Government” (from the GPO Access website).

So, what does this document do? According to the Government Printing Office (GPO), it includes:

• ” Current and foreseeable trends and annual numerical goals concerning topics such as employment, production, real income and Federal budget outlays.” In other words, you get what the Council sees as current economic trends in topics like productivity, employment, and other topics. For example, the 2007 report looks at things like the transportation sector in terms of issues like fuel markets and infrastructure.
• “Employment objectives for significant groups of the labor force.” This is where some of that stuff on productivity mentioned above comes in.
• “Annual numeric goals.”
• “A program for carrying out program objectives.”

The report usually includes as well a year in review (for the year prior to the report) so you get an overview of the economic picture in the nation; they also look at international issues and trends as they may affect the United States. Another value of a document like this is in the tables. There are a lot of tables with statistics and figures to support the material. There are also boxes, which are basically text boxes with additional or supplementary information. This is yet another way to look at the federal government, the economic policies, and what they do with your tax dollars. The report also gives a look at the economy from the view of the executive branch. Thus, here why this document is important: it “is an important vehicle for presenting the Administration’s domestic and international economic policies” (219).

The library currently has the 2007 edition. It is placed in the Ready Reference shelf (behind the reference desk) under the call number HC 106.5 .A272 2007. The print edition for the 2008 is currently on order.

Note: This document is available online via the GPO Access website here. Under the link you can find the PDF to the 2008 edition, which is the most current. You can look at the complete document, or at individual tables. If you prefer to download the information, there are options for that as well. You can go as far back as 1995. There are some historical editions of older reports (1960-1980) provided via a collaboration between the GPO and FRASER (Federal Reserve Archival System for Economic Research).

This week we are featuring a government document:The United States Government Manual. This federal government publication is put together by the Office of the Federal Register. In brief, it is a directory with information about the government agencies on the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. According the Preface, “the Manual also includes information on quasi-official agencies; international organizations in which the United States participates; and board, commissions, and committees” (iii). You can use it to look pretty much any government agency. The book includes names and contact information as well as a description of the agency; it tells you what the agency does. For example, what is the United States Trade Representative? This book will tell you that the U.S. Trade Representative is “responsible for directing all trade negotiations of and formulating trade policy for the United States” (100; italics in the original). You then get a short history of how the agency was created and what it does. There is a list of officials in the agency as well as contact information for futher information. Still using the example of the Trade Representative, I learn from the book that there is a website for this agency at www.ustr.gov.

The book also includes some appendices that may be helpful. One of these appendices is a list of common abbreviations. So, if you know the initials of an agency, but you are not sure what the initials actually stand for, you can look it up here. For example the difference between DOD (Department of Defense) and DOE (Department of Energy). There are also two indexes: one for names and one for agencies and subjects. This is helpful if you know someone’s name, and want to find where they work. Or, what many people want to know: what agency does what. For example, use the agencies and subject index to find the entry for AMTRAK. Did you know that AMTRAK’s official name is National Railroad Passenger Corporation? The agency was created in 1970 by the Rail Passenger Service Act. I found it on starting on page 472.

The library has the 2007-2008 edition in the Ready Reference shelf (that’s the shelf behind the reference desk). It is under the call number JK 421 .A3 2007-2008.

Note: You can also access this publication online via GPO Access. Here is the direct link to the Manual’s page. GPO stands for the Government Printing Office. The Manual tells me that “the mission of the Government Printing Office is to inform the Nation by producing, procuring, and disseminating printed and electronic publications of the Congress as well as the executive departments and establishments of the Federal Government” (51; italics in the original). Basically, GPO makes a lot of government documents available to the public. It is one of the ways in which the government makes information available to the people, and the Manual is one example of government information. On the GPO link, you can look at the 2007-2008 edition as well as editions back to 1995.

Welcome to another edition of Reference Book of the Week. We are featuring the Texas State Directory this week, which is a convenient tool to learn more about the structure of Texas government. The book is billed as “the comprehensive guide to the decision-makers in Texas government.” Started in 1935, the book is now in its 50th edition, which is the 2007 edition. It was initially published every other year, but it is now an annual publication. This almanac covers all branches and levels of Texas government. The book is arranged as follows:

• A state section: This is a guide to every branch of the Texas state government and its officials (elected and appointed). It covers the legislative, executive, and judicial branches as well as agencies, boards, and commissions.
• A county section: Get information and data from 254 Texas counties and their public officials. Information featured includes: name of the county, population, the county seat, an internet address if available, the mailing address of the county judge as well as phone numbers. There are also listings for various county officials. For example, get information about Smith County officials in the county section.
• A city section: This provides information on officials for incorporated cities in the state. For instance, get information on Tyler, Texas officials here. Note that the book states it covers “most” elected officials.
• A federal section: The book states that this section covers “the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of Texas’ Congressional delegation, federal law enforcement officials, and members of the federal judiciary in Texas” (559).
• A reference section: This features information on items of general interest such as the Capitol Press Corps, Democratic and Republican Party officials, and other pieces of information. For example, there is a diagram of the legislative process on page 607.

Basically, this is a book you would use to find out directory information about elected and appointed officials in the state of Texas. The book will also give you a sense of how the Texas state government is organized and who does what. The Texas State Directory, 2007 edition, is available in the library’s ready reference shelf (right behind the reference desk) under call number JK 4830 .T4 2007.

We continue featuring reference books dealing with poetry as part of our National Poetry Month celebration. This week we feature the Longman Dictionary and Handbook of Poetry. This is a dictionary of terms, concepts, theories and techniques in poetry. So, what might you use this book for?

• You are discussing a poem in class, and the professor says it has internal rhyme? You want to know what that is? The dictionary will tell you that it is “a rhyme that occurs within a metrical line in order to create a musical or rhythmical effect. . . ” (145).
• You need an overview of Romanticism (pages 268-269).
• You need to tell the difference between a Petrarchan sonnet and a Shakesperean sonnet (see the entry for sonnet on pages 281-282).

This is one of those cool books that you can use to look up a term quickly and get an answer. The Longman Dictionary and Handbook of Poetry is available in the library’s reference collection. Its call number is PN 1021 .M94 1985.

Since this is National Poetry Month, I figured that this month I will try to feature some reference books related to poetry. A reminder to our students to submit their poems for our Poetry Contest. Find the details on our website here. Now back to the Reference Book of the Week.

This is a reference book for those seeking information on American poets and their poetry in the 20th century. According to the editor, the book aims to explicate a broad selection of poetry. It also covers various authors and topics. It contains 400 entries, which are organized alphabetically. The book features a title index and a general index.

The book provides the following types of entries:

• “Entries on individual poets feature a critical treatment of the poet’s achievements” (ix). In these entries, you get a brief biography of the poet, a list of his/her published works, and a list of criticism under the heading of “further reading.” If you want an overview on a poet, this is a good place to get it. You can use the list of works to check if we have a poet’s books in the library by using the library catalog. You can also check to see if we have the items suggested for further reading in the library.
• “Entries on landmark poems offer close readings of the work thus distinguished and situate it within a historical and biographical context” (ix). For example, the entry for Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken,” will provide a small entry that gives some background on how the poem was written and where it fits in the context of Frost’s work. Entries for poems also feature a list for further reading. If you are writing a paper on a poem, this book can provide a good place to start.
• “Entries on major topics offer in-depth analysis of formal developmens in 20th-century American poetry” (ix). Some sample topics include: free verse, Beat Poetry, Harlem Renaissance, Canadian Poetry, and Literary Theory and Poetry. If you need information on poetry concepts, movements, and related concepts, this is a good start.

Do keep in mind this volume covers only American poetry. There are other works for other parts of the world, and I will try to cover some of them in the blog this month. I like works like this because they give me a good place to start researching a topic. The fact you get a small list of suggestions for further reading means you get some items that you can try to locate in the library and expand your research. Entries in volumes like these are signed and are written by scholars in the field. Usually, what they list in the further readings list is what the scholars consider to be a good selection of items on the topic.

The Encyclopedia of American Poetry: The Twentieth Century is available in the library’s reference collection. Its call number is PS 323.5 .E53 2001.

Published by CQ Press, the Political Handbook of the World 2007 is another good book for country information. It has more emphasis on politics and government information for the countries listed. If you want to get a good sense of the political conditions in a particular country, this is the book for you. This is also the book to get information on various intergovernmental organizations. The book is divided in two parts.

• Governments. These are the country entries. Entries are in alphabetical order. You start with the common name of the country, then the official name. Next you get a brief political status paragraph followed by some basic information. This is followed by the essay portion which looks at the country and its politics. Of particular interest is the listing of political parties and groups in a country. This feature of political parties and groups makes the Political Handbook a popular option for students.
• Intergovernmental Organizations. These are organizations defined as “groups with memberships composed of more than two states, governing bodies that meet with some degree of regularity, and groups that possess permanent secretariats or other continuing means for implementing collective decisions” (from the Preface). This is therefore a selective lists. It is arranged alphabetically. Some of the listed organizations are: Group of Seven/Group of Eight (often referred to in the news as the G-7 or the G-8 when they added Russia), Gulf Cooperation Council, Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the Southern Cone Common Market (commonly known as MERCOSUR).

The Political Handbook of the World 2007 is located in the ready reference shelf behind the reference shelf. It is under the call number JF 37 .P6 2007. It is update annually. Older editions can be found upstairs in the third floor with the same call number, JF 37 .P6. Editions before 1999 can be checked out.

This week we are featuring a resource for country information and international affairs. The Statesman’s Yearbook, now in its 2008 edition, makes for a good one-stop resource for country information as well as some information on international organizations.

The book is divided into two parts:

• International Organizations. This section starts with an overview essay. The 2008 edition’s essay discusses globalization. The section then has entries on various international organizations starting with the United Nations. It then provides entries for other organizations by continent (Europe, Asia, so on). Some of the organizations listed include: Amnesty International, International Olympic Committee, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Organization of American States (OAS), and League of Arab States.
• Countries of the World A-Z. This section has entries on countries. For larger countries, there are listings for the territories as well. For example, there is an entry for the United States. Under the United States, there are, in addition to the information about the U.S., individual entries for each state and U.S. territories. Under Russia, you will also find individual entries for the various Russian republics. Country entries feature the following: key historical facts, territory and population, social statistics, climate, constitution and government (also included is information on the government current as of the book’s publication), international relations, economy, energy and natural resources, international trade, communications, social institutions, religion, culture, and diplomatic representation. At the end of each entry, there is a small list of materials for further reading.

Overall, this provides an excellent overview of any country in the world. The Yearbook gets its information from a variety of sources such as: The United Nations Statistical Yearbook, World Bank Reports, European Union Reports, and various government departments, embassies, offices as well as international organizations. The book has an index listing world leaders and another index for places and international organizations.

The Statesman’s Yearbook 2008 is available in the ready reference shelf (the one behind the reference desk). It is a green volume with the call number JA 51 .S7 2008. Previous editions can be found under the same call number, JA 51 .S7, in the third floor stacks. The current edition and the previous editions do not circulate.

Welcome to another edition of Reference Book of the Week. This time we are featuring the Physicians’ Desk Reference, more commonly known as the PDR. If you have been to a doctor’s office, odds are good they may have a copy of this book on their desk. However, this is not just for doctors. The book is basically a large reference resource for pharmaceutical information. In other words, it provides drug information and prescription guidance. From the books foreword:

“The PDR contains Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved labeling for drugs as well as prescription information provided by manufacturers for drugs historically marketed without FDA approval. Some dietary supplements and other products are also included. Each full-length entry provides you with an exact copy of the product’s FDA-approved or other manufacturer supplied labeling.”

The book is divided into six sections:

• a manufacturer’s index: list of manufacturers that participate in PDR with contact information and product list.
• a brand and generic name index. It gives the page number for each product by brand and generic name. For example, let’s say you want to find information for”bismuth subsalicylate.” This section tells you that you can go to page 2651 of the volume to get it.
• a product category index. It is a list of the products by prescribing category. For example, are you looking for “laxatives.” The book in this section tells you that for “laxatives,” you actually need to look under “gastrointestinal agents.” You will then find a listing of “laxatives” under the larger category of “gastrointestinal agents.”
• a product identification guide. This is a color guide. It contains photos of tablets and capsules as well as a few other pictures of packages and doses. When it comes to doses, what it means is that you get a picture of a cup with the medicine on it to show what a dose would look like.
• product identification guide. This is the main part of the guide. In other words, this is what most people using the PDR want. It covers 3,800 pharmaceuticals. The entries are alphabetical by manufacturer. So going back to our example above of “bismuth subsalicylate,” this is where you go to page 2651. By the way, the brand and generic index told you also it is made by Procter & Gamble. If you still have not guessed, the brand name is Pepto-Bismol.
• a diagnostic product information. This provides use guidelines for diagnostic tools.

The PDR is published by Thomson, and it is updated annually.

There is a website that serves as a companion to the PDR, www.pdr.net. However, use of the site requires registration, which is restricted. It “is available free of charge to U.S.-based MDs, DOs, Dentists, Optometrists, NPs and PAs in full-time patient practice, and to U.S. medical students, residents and other select prescribing allied health professionals” (from the website). Non-medical users would have to purchase access.

The PDR is kept in the ready reference shelves (behind the reference desk) under the call number Ref. RS 75 .P5 2008. The book is also a pretty common selection in public libraries.

The Washington Information Directory, 2007-2008 provides information on government agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGO’s) based in Washington D.C. It is a directory, so you can use it to get contact information for various agencies and organizations. It does have other useful features as well, so read on. The publishers, CQ Press, ensure the accuracy of the information “by calling each organization and speaking with a member of its Washington office” (from the book’s preface). The book is updated annually.

This book is arranged by topic, then subtopics, then organizations. The organizations include governmental agencies, Congress, and NGO’s. Entries include the name of the agency, address, phone number, e-mail, website URL, and a small annotation. So, if you are not sure what agency does what when it comes to the government (i.e. deals with small businesses), you can browse through the book’s topics to find the right agency or NGO. In the small business example, one may want to contact the Small Business Administration (see pages 84-85).

This volume also features various charts and boxes of additional information. These can be useful to get a quick glance of some agencies’ organizational structures or quick reference lists on a topic. In addition, this particular edition contains an appendix of congressional information for the 110th Congress. There’s is also a ready reference section in the back of the book with other information materials.

The Washington Information Directory 2007-2008 is shelved in the library’s ready reference area (behind the reference desk) under the call number F 192.3 .W33 2007-2008. The new edition should be arriving later in the year.