The 900’s in the Dewey Decimal System is a diverse collection ranging from world civilizations to history to historical figures, and also travel. The 900’s 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 940’s—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 900’s 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.