Complete atlas of the world. (2nd Rev. ed.). (2012). London: DK.
Pages: 432
Price: $63.80
ISBN: 978-0-7566-8972-8
The Complete Atlas of the World was entirely revised when published in 2012. A Library Journal review recommended the title, stating it “is a close competitor to the superb Oxford Atlas of the World, 18th ed. (2011) and highly recommended.” It includes color maps, 100 city plans, a gazetteer, and country flags on the end papers. The price was the deciding factor in choosing the Complete Atlas of the World over the Oxford Atlas of the World, 18th ed. (2011) as $63.80 is almost 1/3 of the cost of the $199.00 Oxford title which is significant for the small ICSB library budget. This atlas is important for ICSB students in helping them understand their international community and for to their continued understanding of the world. It will help in assisting students to locate geographical information for assignments in one place instead of looking up information on multiple internet sites
Janssen, S. (Ed.) (2015). The world almanac and book of facts 2015. New York: World Almanac Books.
Pages: 1007
Price: $ 11.94
ISBN: 978-1-60057-190-9
The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2015 is the go to place to find thousands of facts. According to The World Almanac website “Notable Features for 2015” include “2014 Year in Sports,” “Ebola Outbreak Facts,” “Offbeat News Stories,” and “16 pages of world maps and flags and easy-to-use side tabs.” As the Library Journal review states “No doubt, most of the information in the almanac can be found using Google or Wikipedia. But it would take hours of online searching to locate the information found in this one-stop resource.” The resource is great for busy high school students who just need one piece of information for an assignment, but do not have time to log on to the slow computers to look it up. The detailed index can also be used as a teaching tool on how indexes work. The one downside of the almanac is small print that is difficult to see and may deter some students.
Mazzeno, L. W. (2011). Masterplots (4th ed.). Hackensack, NJ: Salam Press.
Pages: 6,144 (in 12 volumes)
Price: $1,200 includes unlimited access to e-version
ISBN: 978-1-58765-568-5
Masterplots provides plot summarizes and literary criticism to works written and translated into English for high school and college level students. According to the Salem Press website “Masterplots, Forth Edition features 2,200 essays in 12 volumes: 438 essays are newly written, 98 feature thoroughly revised or replaced plot synopses or critical evaluations; and 1,684 have been previously published but reedited for this new edition.” The scope of the volumes is large with “worldwide [coverage] and extends from 4500 BCE to 2007. Works include autobiographies, biographies, children’s literature, diaries drama, essays, history, memoirs, novels, poetry, short stories, travel writing, and more” according to Booklist. The set was recommended to purchase by Booklist, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. An added value to purchasing the set it that libraries purchasing the print version received unlimited access to Salem Literature which includes Masterplots. The ICSB library already supports the English department through books in the circulating collection, but does not always have the information the students need. With the administration’s decision that the Literary Reference Center from EBSCO was too costly, the purchasing of Masterplots would give high school students the supplemental materials they need to help with their assignments. The online resources has the added benefit that it can be accessed anywhere, anytime online, for a one time cost.
MLA handbook for writers of research papers (7th ed.). (2009). New York: Modern Language Association of America.
Pages: xxi, 292
Price: $22.00
ISBN: 978-1-60329-024-1
The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers is a standard reference book that belongs in high school libraries. It includes information on how to research, write, and cite papers. The 7th edition includes extensive information on how to cite digital resources. In an era rift with plagiarism the MLA Handbook is a tool that needs to be in the hands of high school students, so that they know how to write and document sources honestly. Although, the Library Journal review of the book was not glamorous, it is a resource that is a must in the ICSB library, since MLA was chosen as the documentation type for the entire middle school and high school.
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