Some of our reference titles don't fit easily into a single subject category. Instead of background information, they are useful for quick questions, like what's the population of Norway? Or What is the definition of "plethora"? Or, what are the seven deadly sins?

You may be able to find these answers with a Google search, but most times it is quicker and more accurate to head to the reference shelves.

Whether you are preparing for a trivia show, or just satisfying your curosity, the follow examples are resources that provide answers to those "quick and dirty" questions.

A-Z of Countries of the World                                                                 R 910.3 S782a, 2004

Provides basic stats for countries throughout the world.

American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language                         R 423 A512, 2000

Need a defition of a world? Paper dictionaries are still often the best way to go.

Cambridge Gazetteer of the United States and Canada: A Dictionary of Places R 910.3 C178, 1995

Need to know the exact coordinaces for Hell, Michigan? Covers places in the US and Canada big and small.

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations                                                                 R 808.882 B289f 2002

Need to know who said what? Or need a funny Yogi Berra quote? Here's the place you should go.

Dictionary of Symbols                                                                            R 302.222 L786d 1991

United a sign or symbol with its meaning.

Enciclopedia Hispánica                                                                          R 036.1 E558, 1991-92

Produced by Encyclopedia Britannica, a general encyclopedia in Spanish.

Encyclopedia of Science and Technology                                             R 503 M147e, 2002

Covers almost all the topics related to science and technology: from the Sun's composition to DNA.

Hammond World Atlas                                                                           R 912 H226h 2008

Political, topographical, thematic maps, oh my!

Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary               R 394.26 T476h 1994

If it's celebrated, it's probably outline here.

New Encyclopaedia Britannica                                                              R 031 N5318, 1998

Classic in the reference field. If you need to know about something, I'd bet there's an article about it in Britannica. Plus, you can be guaranteed that the editors of Britannica know what they are talking about.

New Manners for New Times                                                                 R 395 B178l 2003

What you should (or should do) at a party, dinner table, or at the keyboard.

New York Public Library Desk Reference                                              R 031 N567, 1993 

The New York Public Library kept track of their patrons' questions, and compiled the answers in this handy little book. If you have a question about something, someone else probably has too.

The Order of Things                                                                              R 031.02 K57o 1998

Covers heiarchies, classifications, and any other way people try to organize things.

Statistical Yearbook                                                                              R 310 S7978

World statistics from the United Nations.

World Almanac                                                                                     R 031 W9268

Updated every year. Another classic in the reference world. Includes all important facts from the year that was, like sports scores, election results, and more.

World Book Encyclopedia                                                                    R 031 W927, 2003

Another option in the world of general encyclopedia.