Allison Peyton

AKSPL has a variety of book collections. One that is sometimes forgotten about is the Oversized Collection. Oversized materials are literally just that. To be cataloged into that specific collection it depends if the book will fit on the shelf according to its Dewey number and shelf space available. Titles in this collection can cover art, countries, travel, dinosaurs, and movies.

Oversized materials are thought of as conversation pieces. They are perfect to check out and put on one’s coffee table. They also can be used to decorate one’s living room or study. They are highly detailed and have beautiful photographs. Many times, teachers will use them for art or history lessons. Other times they are just fun items to read and look at the pictures.

Three titles that can be found in this collection are 85 Years of the Oscar: the Official History of the Academy Awards, The Prehistoric World of the Dinosaur, and Monet. They are reviewed below.

85 Years of the Oscar: the Official History of the Academy Awards by Robert Osborne is a gorgeous book with a year-by-year history of the Oscars. There are many photographs of stars along with a description of the Oscars for a specific year. It is a source of boundless information for movie lovers!

The Prehistoric World of the Dinosaur by Dr. David Norman is a descriptive and colorful book of the history of dinosaurs, and the fossils that have been discovered. It is a great book for anyone (young and old) interested in paleontology.

Monet by Frank Milner gives the life and art history of one of France’s greatest impressionists, Claude Monet. It gives a brief background on Monet and then references some of his most famous paintings and where they are located. This would be helpful for art lovers who would want to go to those museums to see that artwork.

All in all, the Oversized Collection is one that everyone should see–come in and we’ll be happy to show your where it lives!

The 900s in the Dewey Decimal System is a diverse collection ranging from world civilizations to history to historical figures, and also travel. The 900s as a whole is a gigantic collection here at the library, but they offer a wealth of information for those who brave the stacks to find what they are looking for.

One of those areas that people are wanting information about is travel. Even though more and more travel information is online—there is still something about having an actual travel book on hand. Several countries that are always on travel lists are Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. The call number for travel books on these countries are the 940s—specifically 945.5, 946, and 949.4. These are three travel books that will be highlighted in this article.

Let’s start with sunny Spain. A good choice for a travel book is Fodor’s Travel: Essential Spain. It is small and compact and will fit nicely in a suitcase. It lists a variety of travel options for the budget-conscious traveler to the traveler where money is no object. There are maps of towns such as Granada and Toledo. There are also lists of sights to see such as the Alhambra, the Prado, and the Sagrada Familia basilica. It even includes a list of helpful Spanish phrases.

Moving from Spain to Italy (always a popular tourist spot) we have Rick Steves: Florence and Tuscany. Again, this is the perfect sized book to pack in a suitcase or backpack. Some of the highlights listed are the Palazzo Vecchio tour, sights to see while traveling with children, and the Duomo museum tour for art lovers. For Tuscany there is a chapter on Pisa (compete with the famous Leaning Tower) and the island of Elba known for its most famous resident, Napoleon Bonaparte. It is very easy to find things to do for every type of price range, and there are helpful tips on how to travel to and from the different areas. Again, there is a list of basic Italian words in the back of the book.

For Switzerland we again go to Fodor’s Travel: Essential Switzerland. This book would not take up much room in a suitcase. Zurich is one of the main highlights in the book. There are lists of festivals throughout the year. These would help someone plan what time of the year they would want to visit. There are also lists of hotels priced from high to low. Outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing are also highlighted. Included are lists of useful German, French, and Italian sayings. The Bernese Alps are also detailed. There are cable-car and train rides one can take to see the beauty of the mountains–all you need to plan a trip to the majestic Swiss Alps!

All in all, the 900s have a little bit of something for everyone. Come and check them out!

Allison Peyton is principal librarian at A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands, CA.