Knowledge Base

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Alcoholic beverages

  1. Sources on alcohol consumption:

    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

    FAQ - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

    UNR Library catalog search on Drinking of alcoholic beverages
     

Basques

  1. U.S. population of Basques (top 3 states in the U.S.)

    California
    19,122 (1990)
    20,868 (2000)

    Idaho
    5,587 (1990)
    6,637 (2000)

    Nevada
    4,840 (1990)

    6,096 (2000)

    Source: 1990 & 2000 U.S. Census data
     

Biographical information

  1. Some references for 1931 in the Personal name index to "The New York Times index." (Main Ref = AI21 .N442) are invalid.

    For example, the entry for Heinrich Schliemann is given as "1931 - 2219," Our copy of the NY Times Index for 1931 has no page 2219. The reason is that in 1931, UNR did not purchase the annual cumulation of the index, which would have consecutive page numbering throughout the volume. Instead, that year the library bound 1931's quarterly issues. This appears to be a problem only with 1931 citations. We have the annual cumulations (and hence, the Personal Name Index references are valid) for all other years from 1930 to the present.

    This problem does not exist for the digital edition of the New York Times, licensed by UNR.
    A search for 1931 references to Heinrich Schliemann yielded 2 matches.
     

Books & publishing

  1. Source for Book binding/restoration:

    Roswell Bookbinding
    2614 N. 29th Ave.
    Phoenix, AZ 85009
    602-272-9338

    Roswell has a trained bookbinder/conservator on their staff who can do restoration work. This person will evaluate the book and give a recommendation, along with prices.
     
  2. Floriated & historiated initial letters

    Letters with flowers decorating them are called "floriated initial letters" and the ones with various figures like gargoyles are called "historiated initial letters."

    An initial letter is a large capital or decorated letter used to begin a chapter section and sometimes a paragraph.

    Source: THE BOOKMAN'S GLOSSARY, 6th ed. (1983) p.113.

    See also: GLAISTER'S GLOSSARY OF THE BOOK
     
  3. What is a scholarly or peer reviewed journal?
     

Calendar

  1. General links on the Chinese New Year

    1.) Year of the (what?) specified in WORLD ALMANAC by year.
    Also, in WEBSTER'S NEW ENCYCLOPEDIC DICTIONARY (1993)
    Ref. AG 5 W3853 1992
    Chart covers 1900-2031 AD (p.1700) & Includes discussion of Chinese calendar.

    2.) Exact dates of Chinese New Year (through 1999) in Facts on File BOOK OF CALENDARS, Ref. CE11.B66 1982, page 263.

    3.) Exact date of current year's Chinese New Year in CHASE'S ANNUAL EVENTS, Ref. D11.5.C48.

    4.) How is date computed?

    "The four day Chinese New Year, Hsin Nien...begins at the first new moon after the sun enters Aquarius." WORLD ALMANAC

    "Traditional Chinese New Year begins at sunset on day of second New Moon following the winter solstice." CHASE'S ANNUAL EVENTS.
     
  2. Here is a Google search for Perpetual Calendars
     
  3. Explanation of eras desgnated B.C.; A.D.; B.C.E.; C.E.:

    C.E. stands for "Common Era." It is a new term that is eventually expected to replace A.D. The latter is an acronym for "Anno Domini" in Latin or "the year of the Lord" in English. The latter refers to the approximate birth year of Yeshua ben Nazareth (a.k.a. Jesus Christ). C.E. and A.D. have the same definition and value. 2000 CE = 2000 AD.

    B.C.E. stands for "Before the common era." It is expected to replace B.C., which means "Before Christ." BC and BCE are also identical in value. Most theologians and religious historians believe that the approximate birth date of Yeshua of Nazareth (Jesus) was in the fall, sometime between 4 and 7 B.C.E.
     

California

  1. Link to a Google search for History of Golden Gate Park
     

Canada

  1. Canadian postal codes
     

Census/Demographics

  1. When asked for US Census information, determine if the user needs statistical counts (avail. In Census pubs) or personal names (in Census microfilmed records from National Archives).

    To find available census microfilms, go to the guide, MICROFORMS IN THE BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT INFORMATION CENTER and use the browser's Find function for the word Census.

    The National Archives has a useful genealogy guide for researchers and others who need information recorded in the Census about individuals and families.

    Census statistical publications are in the BGIC stacks - see the call number guide on BGIC Range 314:
    - 1790=I 2.: and C 3.11
    - 1800-1900= I 3.: through I 13:
    - 1910= C 3.15: and C 3.16:
    - 1920= C 3.28/5:
    - 1930= C 3.37/5:
    - 1940= C 3.940-5:
    - 1950= C 3.950-8:
    - 1960= C 3.223/9:960
    - 1970= C 3.223/9:970
    - 1980= C 3.223/9:980
    - 1990= C 3.223/7: .

    Also, 1990 and 2000 decennial census data is on the Census Bureau website.
     
  2. A report based on 2000 Census data and mentioning Reno's population growth is from the Brookings Institution; City growth and the 2000 Census: which places grew, and why."
     
  3. The U.S. Census Bureau has a Guide to State Statistical Abstracts. The guide provides addresses, contact information and links to the appropriate state-level departments.
     
  4. Adherents.com is a growing collection of over 41,000 adherent statistics and religious geography citations -- references to published membership/adherent statistics and congregation statistics for over 4,200 religions, churches, denominations, religious bodies, faith groups, tribes, cultures, movements, ultimate concerns, etc. The site is worldwide in scope.

    Mormon demographic statistics from Adherents.com
     

Company Info.

  1. Annual reports are often available on a company's website, e.g. Microsoft. . The NEON database Mergent Online also has many annual reports. Yahoo's Finance site is another good place to find these (search by company ticker symbol).
     
  2. Insider trade information is available on Yahoo's Finance site. Search a company by its ticker symbol; On the resulting page of company data, "Insider" is one of the available links. The data presented are from Insider & Form 144 Filings.
     
  3. Beta is the overall risk in investing in a large market, like the New York Stock Exchange. Beta, by definition equals 1.0000. 1 exactly. Each company also has a beta. You can find a company's beta at the Yahoo!! Stock quote page (search by a company's ticker symbol, then click on the link for Profile). A company's beta is that company's risk compared to the risk of the overall market. If the company has a beta of 3.0, then it is said to be 3 times more risky than the overall market.
     
  4. When students are asked to compare a company to others in the same industry (e.g., to find companies with similar net sales or income), some useful sources are:

    1. The Industry Surveys in Standard & Poors' Net Advantage

    2. D&B Business Rankings (HG4057.A237 = 1997- to present; Latest edition in Reference on Table 7).

    3. Hoovers Handbooks on Reference Table 7 also list competitors for each company.
     
  5. BigCharts is a possible source for stock history for individual companies. Other licensed sources with similar information are Mergent Online and Standard & Poors' Net Advantage.
     
  6. The Annual Report Gallery is a free Web source that provides access to the annual reports of many companies.
     
  7. Not all documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission by public companies will be available on EDGAR. Companies were phased in to EDGAR filing over a three-year period, ending May 6, 1996.

    As of November 4, 2002, the SEC required all foreign companies and foreign governments to file their documents on EDGAR. Prior to that time, electronic filing by foreign companies also was voluntary.
     

Computer applications

  1. There is an explanation of streaming video at: Webmonkey

    It starts out: "There are two main types of streaming: progressive streaming (on demand) and real-time streaming (live or in real-time). Progressive streaming takes a compressed video file and downloads it to your hard drive via HTTP over the Internet. Real-time streaming is usually broadcast to your browser directly from a server. Real-time streaming uses RTSP (real time streaming protocol) so you'll need access to a special video streaming server."

    "Unlike progressive streaming, real-time streaming requires a special streaming server. This can be a QuickTime Streaming Server (RTSP), a Real Networks Server or a Windows Media Server.

    Video streamed for real-time plays automatically. You don't need to download the entire video before playing. You can jump to any location in the video clip. And the clip always resides on the server. Video encoded for real-time streaming generally tries to keep pace with the user's connection speed in order to minimize interruptions and stalling. There's nothing you can do about general Net congestion, but the streaming server at least tries to compensate by maintaining a constant connection."

    SEE ALSO the following article from Academic Search Elite (EBSCOHost): DELIVERING STREAMING VIDEO, PC Magazine, 10/03/2000, Vol. 19 Issue 17, p179, 7p, by Kaven, Oliver; Carroll, Sean.
     

Copyright

  1. Determining the copyright status of a work is explained in How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work (Circular 22). Users may search the LOCIS database includes copyright registrations since 1978, although it is not an exhaustive source for copyright ownership.
     

Country Information

  1. Country information is available in a variety of government information sources, including STAT-USA's GLOBUS & NTDB section & the OECD Economic Surveys. The Libraries' online catalog is another excellent source for information about countries. Also see the Encyclopedia Americana.
     
  2. Where can I find the National Statistical Compendiums? These are in the pink cabinet on the south end of Row 216.
     
  3. The Library of Congress has a portal to country information.
     
  4. Political maps of regions and countries are available on the CIA's website for the World Factbook. Some simple political maps are available at Readex/Newsbank's Web site . Also try the National Geographic site. The site lets the user resize, zoom, display for printing, etc. Finally, outline maps at Eduplace . These display as pdf files.
     
  5. The U.S. State Dept. has a useful page of links titled Background Notes.
     
  6. GeoHive is an excellent free source for statistics on countries, including political, economic and demographic topics.
     

Crime

  1. Source for U.S. law enforcement officers killed:

    Uniform Crime Reports: Crime in the United States
     

Economic Data

  1. Sales of products and services in the United States and most other countries is available in the NEON database, World Consumer Markets. Data can be displayed in units sold, and in local or U.S. currencies. Trends can be tracked beginning in 1996 in most cases. Data sets may be printed or saved in Excel format.
     
  2. Where are the current issues of ACCRA Cost of Living Index? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  3. Click here for Federal Reserve Statistical Releases.
     
  4. This link connects to a daily listing of Federal Reserve Statistical Releases , including selected interest rates, plus interest rates on T-bills.

    There is also a Table of Contents of Federal Reserve Statistical Releases.
     
  5. The Gross State Product is published in the Aug. issue of Survey of Current Business. C 59:11:81/8; current year on the Periodical Display unit (Aug. 2002 Issue: Gross State Product, 1992-1999; also includes the Annual Revision of the National Income and Product Accounts, 1998:1-2001:1).
     
  6. The Macroeconomic Time Series Data Source Locater enhances access to historical macroeconomic statistics. This database provides a list of sources by date, geographic area and economic data category. It will tell you how far back a particular source covers subjects such as balance of payments, GDP, etc.
     

Education, Higher

  1. A list of historically Black colleges and universities posted by Educational On-line

    A similar list posted by Yahoo
     
  2. The Land Grant institutions established by the Morrill Act of 1862 are listed in the ENCYCLOPEDIA of EDUCATION under "Land-Grant Colleges," along with a 4-page article on the subject.
    (ENCYCOPEDIA OF EDUCATION, vol. 5, pp.318-322.)

    More information is available at a Web site, Land-Grant Act: History and Institutions.
     
  3. Sources of information on accreditation.

    North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission

    Scope of recognition: The Association is one of six regional institutional accrediting associations in the United States. Through its Commissions it accredits, and thereby grants membership to educational institutions in the nineteen-state North Central region: Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

    Information on accreditation from the U. S. Dept. of Education Web site.
     

English Literature

  1. Research guide to Beowulf
     

ERIC

  1. Status of the ERIC system:

    The Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education, produces the world’s premier database of journal and non-journal education literature. The new ERIC online system, released September 2004, provides the public with a centralized ERIC Web site for searching the ERIC bibliographic database of more than 1.1 million citations going back to 1966. Effective October 1, more than 107,000 full-text non-journal documents (issued 1993-2004), previously available through fee-based services only, will be available for free.

    From GPO Access:
    ...reports on federally funded education research topics from the U.S. Department of Education's Educational Resources Information Center. Reports on GPO Access begin with those received in October 2002. Prior reports are available from select Federal depository libraries nationwide in microfiche. A larger selection of ERIC reports is available from the ERIC program. Files are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) only.

    The ERIC program makes available a wide variety of research on topics in education. Not all reports in the ERIC program are eligible for distribution in the FDLP because they are not produced solely at government expense.

    The subset is approximately 10% of the total body of reports available from ERIC. The complete collection of ERIC reports is available from the ERIC program.
     

Exercise

  1. UNR Library catalog search for Exercise Handbooks Manuals Etc.
     

Gaming

  1. Gaming revenues in Nevada are reported in the monthly GAMING REVENUE REPORT (BGIC 29-G14 14: ).the NEVADA GAMING ABSTRACT is a useful annual compilation (BGIC 29-G14 12:yr.). The GAMING REVENUE NEWS reproduces much of the same information, but includes some unique charts and trend data (Shelved in Main Current Periodicals).
     
  2. Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas Library's Gaming Studies Collection has a useful FAQ covering business, governmental and legal aspects of gambling.
     
  3. The World Casino Directory has information about types of games, hotels and entertainment for casinos around the world, accessible from an interactive map.
     

Geography & travel

  1. How Far is It? calculates direct distances. Search results also show related links for airfares, driving directions, hotels, etc.
     

Holidays

  1. Holidays and Days of Observance in Nevada are defined in Nevada Revised Statutes 236.015
     

Horticulture

  1. UNR Library Catalog search for information on pruning
     
  2. Why do leaves change color in the fall?

    Explanations from:
    Science Made Simple
    Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
    North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
     

IGOs

  1. I went to the UN stacks but could not find OEA/Ser.D/III.48. Where are the OEA/ documents? This is an OAS publication, shelved on Row 228B. The call number systems for the League of Nations, UN, and OAS are very similar. Check the citation carefully to determine the issuing body.
     
  2. Explanation of International and foreign collection call numbers. The call number system used for these collections was devised by BGIC to sort publications alphabetically by agency and then by title. Example: 1/O20 C639 T2I5. 1/ stands for the International collection. 1/O20 stands for OECD. C639 T2I5 stands for the title, "Climate Technology Initiative." The foreign collection is similarly alphabetized by country and title. Foreign publications begin with 3/ …
     
  3. Explanation of League of Nations call numbers. The League of Nations collection begins with its Official Journal, which is unnumbered and filed by date. The other official records are filed by date and document number. Look for the date first to find the right area. The League call numbers consist of a letter for the main issuing body, followed by numbers and letters separated by periods. The parts of the call number represent the various sub-agencies and document types. Example: C.122.M.45.1934.IX.
     
  4. Explanation of Organization of American States call numbers. OAS document numbers follow the same general organizing principles as UN call numbers. The parts of the call numbers represent the issuing body and type of document, with the parts separated by slashes. Example: OEA/Ser.A/50. OEA stands for OAS (Organizacion de Los Estados Americanos), Series A is their treaty series, and this example is the 50th document in the series.
     
  5. Where are the current issues of Europe? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  6. Where are the current issues of Americas? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  7. Where are the current issues of Finance & Development? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  8. Where are the current issues of Main Economic Indicators? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  9. Where are the current issues of OECD Observer? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  10. Where are the current issues of World of Work? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  11. Where is "International Financial Statistics"? International Financial Statistics and other long runs of IMF and OECD statistical series are shelved on Row 212B.
     
  12. Where are call numbers beginning with 1/ shelved? These are part of the International Collection, shelved on Rows 223A through 234B. Note that the 1/ numbers are not continuous; they are broken up by sections of publications in document number order, e.g., Rows 229 through 233 are in UN document numbers.
     
  13. Where are the publications beginning with 1/W92 shelved? These are in the Patent Section, at the east end of the range facing the microfilm cabinets.
     
  14. Where can I find the IIS microfiche? These are in the pink cabinets opposite the door to Room 208B on the south side of the BGIC area.
     
  15. There is a website for the League of Nations Photo Archive. .
     
  16. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a web page of press releases on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
     

Industry Info.

  1. Students often need to compare the financial performance of a single company to others in the same industry. Print sources with industry information are INDUSTRY NORMS AND KEY BUSINESS RATIOS (HF5681.R25 I53) and ANNUAL STATEMENT STUDIES (HF5681 .B2 R6 ) - both shelved in Business Ready Reference. Such comparisons may be done online using the Advanced Search feature of the NEON database Mergent Online. First, d o Basic Search to determine the SIC number used for the company by Mergent. Then go to Advanced Search, input the SIC, and execute the search (other limiters are available, such as revenues and profit margins). From the Results screen, choose either Standard Peer Group Analysis or Custom Peer Group Analysis and build the report. The Peer Group Analysis report will display as a spreadsheet, which may be printed or saved in Excel format.
     
  2. I want to compare sales of sporting goods by discounters like Wal-Mart and sporting goods stores like Gart. Company annual reports may not be a good source for this question because the reports do not usually separate out statistics for specific product lines in the discount stores. Search the periodical literature in databases such as "Business & Industry" and "Lexis-Nexis." The Statistical Universe database may also help; search the abstracts in SRI for trade association data.
     

International Business

  1. Guides to doing business in other countries. Some of the best current publications of this type are the Country Commercial Guides, available in the NEON database STAT-USA. Connect to STAT-USA, then click on GLOBUS/NTDB, then select the Country Commercial Guides. The Exporter's Encyclopaedia in Business Ready Reference is another good source (HF3011 .E9). The Price Waterhouse/Coopers DOING BUSINESS IN… guides are mostly outdated.
     
  2. Currency exchange rates are available daily in the WALL STREET JOURNAL, in its Money & Investing section. Rates are also available in available in the NEON database STAT-USA. Connect to STAT-USA, then click on GLOBUS/NTDB, then select one of the links for Foreign Exchange Rates (10 am midpoint, noon, weekly, monthly & annual rates are included).
     
  3. I need the real gross domestic product for Israel back to 1970. The IMF has various historical economic data in Excel tables. Click here to go to the tables for gross domestic product.
     
  4. Tariff duties for foreign countries are available at the TIC (Trade information Center) from the International Trade Administration.
     
  5. TradePort is a good free source of information related to international business. It is similar in some ways to the GLOBUS/NTDB section of Stat-USA, a licensed database.
     
  6. The Association for International Business has several web pages of links related to international business.
     
  7. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has Web sites for Importing and Exporting. Categories of information include Current Trade Issues, Commercial Enforcement, Information for Travelers, Antidumping/Countervailing Duties, Duty Rates, Regulations & Rulings, International Agreements, Informed Compliance, Regulatory Audit Program Information, Textiles and Quota, Carriers, Cargo Control & Summary, Operations Support and Communications to Trade.
     

Jobs & careers

  1. The Occupational Outlook Handbook has useful information about occupations and careers. Here is a sample entry from the Handbook about radiologists.

    Here is related information from a professional association: Careers in Radiology: Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (RSNA)
     

Law

  1. Why U.S. juries have 12 members:

    Source: "Do you swear that you will well and truly try...?" Smithsonian, March 1995, Vol. 25 Issue 12, p108+.

    Excerpts:

    "...the Scandinavians were gathering regularly in tribunals, called Things, dating back further than anyone remembered. Groups of delegates met to represent their districts, and committees of 12 or of multiples of 12 were picked to administer or invent the laws.

    Twelve is the solemn number. When Morgan of Glamorgan, Prince of Wales, established trial by jury in A.D. 725, he wrote, "For as Christ and his Twelve Apostles were finally to judge the world, so human tribunals should be composed of the king and twelve wise men." Maybe, though apparently Christ was following an older tradition. The number 12 crops up all over. The zodiac has 12 signs, based on 12 constellations; we divide our days into twice-12 hours; 12 midnight rings in the witching hour. We buy our eggs by the dozen and undertake semimystical cures in 12 steps. Scandinavian folktales offer us 12 princesses, trolls with 12 heads, and 12 princes changed into 12 wild swans by a troll.

    Maybe 12 has ancient powers. After all, the opinion of 11 jurors is merely an opinion, but the opinion of 12 is magic, transforming the presumed innocent into the guilty like a prince turned into a frog.

    So the Scandinavians gathered and chose up groups of 12. (Then as now, the parties could object if they spotted their archenemy or their victim's glowering father among the 12.) They swore to vote justly and then decided the matter according to what seemed to them to be natural rightness."
     

Laws/Regulations

  1. Transportation Security Administration, was created in Nov. 2001. The Sudoc number is TD 1.202: . A new section in the Code of Federal Regulations was created for this agency: 49 CFR 1500-1699 (as of 7/31/02, not yet published or online). We expect to receive it with the 2002 edition of the CFR.
     
  2. I need to find NRS (Nevada Revised Statutes) annotations on my topic. Annotations are court cases or Attorney General opinions that affect the interpretation of NRS sections. They are easier to spot in the printed NRS on Reference Index Table 8 because the beginning of the annotations, such as the phrase, "Nevada Cases," will be set off in bold print; but students can also use Lexis-Nexis if they prefer an online source. The annotations, if any, will come at the end of the NRS section. The assignment goes more quickly if the student defines his topic broadly (e.g., water quality in general, instead of mercury levels in water) since only some points of law will have been adjudicated.
     
  3. Legislative intent of Nevada laws. Finding legislative intent involves reading the minutes of the committees that reported on the bill. Minutes of the standing committees of the Nevada Legislature, Microfiche G0041, are located in the small fiche cabinet opposite Row 210. There is a handout, Research on Nevada Legislation, next to the cabinet. Briefly, the process of finding the minutes is as following: Use the bill histories on Row 210 to find which committees heard the bill, locate the first fiche for that committee in the appropriate legislative session to find the dates of the hearings, and then look through the committee fiche for those dates. Prior to 1973, the committees were not required to keep minutes. For older bills, we have the comments contained in the Journals of the Senate and Assembly, located on Row 210B, to help determine the intent of the bills. Contact the a href="http://www.leg.state.nv.us/lcb/research/library/index.cfm">Legislative Counsel Bureau Research Library for further assistance.
     
  4. Where are older Codes of Federal Regulations? These are on microfiche in the BGIC Legal Alcove.
     
  5. Where are older issues of the Federal Register? These are on microfiche in the BGIC Legal Alcove.
     
  6. Web access is available to segments of the United States Statutes at Large (Public Laws)

    1.     Statutes at Large, Vols. I through XVII (1789-1873) are available on American Memory.

    2. Public Laws from 1973 to present (vols. 87-present) are available on LC Thomas. Note that on Thomas the full text is the final passed version of the Congressional bill, rather than the slip law or final print of the Statute.

    3. Public Laws from 1995-present are available on GPO Access.
     
  7. The full text of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) laws and regulations (both federal and state implementation) are available on the CCH Research Network under Pension/Benefits. The CCH analysis (CCH Explanations) are also available, along with a US Master Pension Guide, news letters analyzing pending legislation, etc. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) laws and regulations, along with CCH analyses (editorial commentary on the laws and regulations), is on the CCH site under the Health Law tab. All HCFA manuals are also there, along with a complete section on Medicaid and Medicare. IRS Publications and Dept of Labor Decision Letters are also available on the CCH Research Network under the Pension/Benefits tab, Primary Sources section.
     

Legal Info.

  1. The default interest rate for financial transactions in NV, unless otherwise specified in the contract's terms, is the current prime interest rate at the largest bank in Nevada, plus 2 percent. NRS 99.040
     
  2. The Federal Judicial Center Web site includes biographies of judges dating back to 1789, links to current class action notices, and more.
     

Marketing

  1. Nevada Chambers of Commerce. A listing of chambers of commerce and visitors' authorities is available online. Link to website
     
  2. Sporting Goods Business has data that may not be available in journal articles or other information sources that report sales trends, particularly for specific types of products.
     

Mathematics

  1. This link performs a Google search for Roman numeral to Arabic convertors.
     
  2. TABLES of SQUARE ROOTS and CUBE ROOTS of numbers up to 1,000:
    CRC HANDBOOK OF TABLES FOR PROBABILITY and STATISTICS (1966), pp.394-410.
     

Motion pictures

  1. The following sources describe the MPAA movie rating system, including definition of letter ratings, and procedures:

    1. Movie Ratings

    2. THE PRODUCER'S MASTERGUIDE, 1993-94, 13th ed., pp. 20-21. [UNR Ref. PN 1993 .P76 1993/94]
     

Music

  1. MUSICACHE on Microfiche # C-17
    Includes actual scores of music. Somewhat erratic, e.g. a half-dozen complete Wagner operas' scores are included, but no operas of Verdi's; nothing under Puccini, but pages of works by Schubert.
     

Nevada

  1. PRONUNCIATION OF NEVADA

    Pronunciation of Nevada

    Don't Call it Nuh-va-duh!

    Nobody seems to know how the custom got started, but it's a state institution now. Nevada is a Spanish word meaning "snow-covered." We took our name from the Sierra Nevada mountains that run like a backbone between California and our Silver State. The Spanish pronunciation may be Nuh-va-Duh, but us locals say "Ne-vaa-Da."

    Nevada rhymes with Havana.
    The "a" in Nevada rhymes with "apple"
    Nevada rhymes with Moana (Lane)

     
  2. "HOME MEANS NEVADA"
    Lyrics to the Official Nevada State Song

    'Way out in the land of the setting sun,
    Where the wind blows wild and free,
    There's a lovely spot, just the only one
    That means home sweet home to me.
    If you follow the old Kit Carson trail,
    Until the desert meets the hills,
    Oh, you certainly will agree with me,
    It's the place of a thousand thrills.

    "Home," means Nevada, "Home," means the hills,
    "Home," means the sage and the pines.
    Out by the Truckee's silvery rills,
    Out where the sun always shines,
    There is a land that I love the best,
    Fairer than all I can see.
    Right in the heart of the golden west
    "Home" means Nevada to me.

    Whenever the sun at the close of the day
    Colors all the western sky,
    Oh, my heart returns to the desert grey
    And the mountains tow'ring high.
    Where the moon beams play in shadowed glen
    With the spotted fawn and doe
    All the livelong night until morning light
    Is the loveliest place I know.

    Composed by Mrs. Bertha Raffetto of Reno, Nevada. Adopted by the Nevada State Legislature as the Official Nevada State Song on 6 February 1933.
    [William D. Swackhamer, Secretary of State, POLITICAL HISTORY OF NEVADA 1973, 6th ed. Carson City, NV: State Printing Office, 1974, p.15. UNR Ref. JK 8516 A5 1974 c.2]

    Lyrics and related links on the Web site of the Nevada State Library and Archives

    Vocal/piano score

    Wav file of "Home Means Nevada"

    How and Why "Home Means Nevada" Came To Be Written

    "Home Means Nevada" was established by the Legislature as the State Song on 6 February 1933, per NRS 235.030.
     
  3. Nevada State Symbols

    Nevada State Emblems are established by the Legislature, as specified in the Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 235, "State Emblems."

    "State Emblems" include the state flag, symbol, fish, fossil, bird, tree, motto, grass, rock, etc. While these are described in many sources, it's best to consult the latest NRS for information.
     
  4. Origin of the name "Great Basin":

    According to Frommer's National Parks of the American West that the Great Basin is so named because the rainwater that falls here has no outlet to the sea.

    In the entry on "Nevada" in the Encyclopedia of the American West, William Rowley refers to the Great Basin as "an area of interior drainage."
     
  5. Nevada statehood:

    Link to " Why did Nevada become a state?" by Dennis Myers & Guy Rocha
     
  6. Nevada's state flower, Artemisia

    The plant artemesia was named after the Greek goddess of the hunt, Artemis (Roman, Diana). It was revered as the "mother of herbs", and is still used as a medicinal and culinary herb. The "tridentata" derives from the triple-lobed, serrated or "toothed" leaf ("dent" is literally "tooth" in French, from the original Latin).

    More information on the state flower and other Nevada state symbols
     

NV Local Govt.

  1. The RETRAC (Reno transportation rail access corridor, aka, railroad trench) project has its own web space on the City of Reno's site. An online public reading room is included. Several reports are housed in BGIC at Ci 29-R29 9:XR(nos.).
     
  2. The Reno Municipal Code is online.
     
  3. The Sparks Municipal Code is online.
     
  4. The UNR Libraries is not a repository for public records (e.g., birth, marriage, divorce, death, business lisences, motor vehicle registrations).
     
  5. Do you have city/county publications? Our collection of Nevada documents is more complete for state agencies than for city and county governments. City and county documents are located on Rows 221B through 222B. The main branch of Washoe County Library has a more extensive collection of documents for our area.
     
  6. The Washoe County Assesor's office has a Web Site. The site has property maps for Washoe county parcels.
     

NV State Govt.

  1. Campaign finance reports for state and local office candidates in Nevada are available on the NV Secretary of State website.
     
  2. Annual/biennial reports of state agencies. Sources: Appendices to Journals of Senate and Assembly, 29-A5/4:(1864-1977), Nevada Legal Section, Row 210B; Biennial Report of Nevada State Agencies, 29-G74P/13:1978-1986 and 29-Ec72/11:1988; Perspectives : A Biennial Report of Nevada State Agencies, 29-Ad6/6:1990- to present; State Documents Microfilm Series, various agencies and years up to 1930, Microfilm G289, Row 603B; Scattered annual reports within the Nevada Publications collection, Rows 216B-221B-- Agencies are arranged roughly alphabetically in this collection, with the annual reports at the beginning of each agency's documents.
     
  3. Do you have study guides for state employment examinations? No, the state does not produce study guides. We suggest looking at study guides produced commercially for federal exams, available at bookstores and public libraries.
     
  4. How do I find Nevada government publications on my topic? Click here. The Nevada State & Local Publications Database lists items received in BGIC from January 1995 to September 2003. Choose CLAN to find older Nevada publications. If BGIC received the publication, it will usually have the same call number as the Nevada State Library uses. The UNR Library Catalog also lists many Nevada government publications. Many Nevada documents are held in the main stacks, Special Collections, and the science libraries.
     
  5. Explanation of Nevada call numbers. State and local documents are in a system called Swank, which arranges documents by agency and type. Example: 29-At8/1:1954. In this system, 29- stands for Nevada. 29-At8 stands for Nevada Attorney General's Office. 1: stands for annual reports. City and county publications have Ci or Co preceding the 29. For example, City of Reno publications are shelved at Ci 29-R29. Washoe County publications are shelved at Co 29-W27.
     
  6. Where are the current issues of Nevada Magazine? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  7. Where are Nevada publications shelved? Rows 216B through 222B. Note: some Nevada legal materials are shelved in the Nevada Legal Section, Row 210.
     
  8. Where are the Minutes of the Standing Committees of the Nevada Legislature? These microfiche are in the small cabinet on top of the gray filing cabinets across from Row 210.
     
  9. The Nevada Legislature has made this information available on its website at the following url: How a Bill Becomes a Law in Nevada.
     
  10. Recent Nevada Legislative Committee Minutes are available on the NV Legislature's Web Site under Session Information. BGIC has the older Minutes from Nevada Legislative Committee meetings. Legislative minutes are often the only materials that may provide insights into legislative intent for Nevada Laws. These have content similar to U.S. Congressional Committee reports.
     

Other

  1. For difficult reference questions of all kinds, the Stumpers-L listserv has a searchable archive.
     

Patents

  1. Patent-related questions are answered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Frequently Asked Questions about Patents page. There are common misconceptions about patents, e.g., patrons sometimes assume that if a patent has expired, then anyone can get a patent on it once again; that is incorrect - once a patent's term has expired, it goes permanently into the public domain.
     
  2. How to Pay Fees includes links to fee schedules for patents, instructions related to fee payment, etc.
     
  3. Follow this link for a Basic Guide to Patent Searching.
     
  4. Can you recommend a patent attorney? A directory of registered patent attorneys is available in BGIC's patent section and on the Patent Office website. We cannot recommend specific attorneys. We suggest contacting the Nevada Inventors Association at 775 829-9000. Click here to visit the Association's website.
     
  5. The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office has created a database of patent documents from Central and Latin American countries. It's called LATIPAT. When last checked, coverage extended back to the 1980s. The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (Mexico's official intellectual property agency) might also have some information.
     

Plays

  1. Drama Anthologies are shelved in the UNR Library under PN 6112
     

Primary sources

  1. Many term paper assignments these days include a specification that the student use "primary sources." A good short cut for finding these things is to combine the LC subject heading for the topic of interest (e.g., "United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865"; "Trail of Tears, 1838") with a second set composed of one of these three elements:

    (Diaries or Personal narratives or Sources). All three are standard subdivisions in LCSH, and they work very well in isolating sets of primary sources. ("Sources" by itself sometimes turns up bibliographies rather than compilations of primary documents; but it also works for compilations). (Tom Mann, Library of Congress)
     

Quotations

  1. ORIGIN OF QUOTE, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

    Source: Saturday Evening Post, Dec 1988 v260 n9 p22(1).
    Title: Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa. (Virginia O'Hanlon's 1897 letter to the New York Sun newspaper)
    Author: Francis P. Church
     

RAND

  1. I'm looking for Rand studies from the 70's on the Soviet Union and don't see any in Neon. Rand publications prior to 1980 are largely uncataloged at this time. If the Rand number is known, look for the publication on Row 311B or 312. If an index to Rand publications is needed, click here. A print index, Selected Rand Abstracts, is available on BGIC Index Table 3A; but it is yearly, not cumulative. Some titles found in the indexes are not included in our subscription. We do not usually receive books, reprints, or drafts.
     
  2. Explanation of Rand call numbers. The Rand collection is filed by the Rand number on the item, usually found on the back cover. This is a simple letter-number system, with the letters standing for types of publications, e.g., R stands for reports, P stands for papers. Example: R-3201/REPC
     

Reno, Nevada

  1. Reno area business and service organizations

    Generally the best sources for info. about Reno area business and service organizations are:

    Associations Unlimited (licensed for UNR users on & off-campus)

    Reference USA (licensed for use only in UNR Libraries)

    Web Sources:

    Directory of Business, Trade, Professional & Non-profit Associations in Nevada

    American Marketing Association

    State Bar of Nevada

    Local service clubs:

    Rotary

    Rotary Club of Reno Sunrise

    Kiwanis

    Kiwanis Club of Reno, Sunrisers
     
  2. Reno's first electric company was the Reno Electric Light company, owned by J. L. Stevenson.

    Source: John M. Townley, Tough Little Town on the Truckee (Great Basin Studies Center, 1983, p. 159)

    Townley cited articles in the Reno Evening Gazette on March 3, 1887 and June 13, 1887. The March 3rd article states that power was first delivered to the town on February 21, 1887.
     

Small Business

  1. The General Services Administration (GSA) serves as a central collector of each agency's list of debarred contractors. This is known as the Excluded Parties Listing System.
     
  2. The first place to look for contracting opportunities with the federal government is the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps.gov).
     
  3. The Central Contractor Registration (CCR) is the primary vendor database for the U.S. Federal Government. The CCR collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions.

    Both current and potential government vendors are required to register in CCR in order to do be awarded contracts by the government.
     

Spelling

  1. The Naval Historical Center has phonetic alphabets and signal flags used from 1913 to the present

    Another list from the NASA/Glenn Research Center shows a phonetic alphabet used in radio communications since around 1957 - this corroborates the latest list posted by the Naval Historical Center.

    Letter Pronunciation
    A: Alpha (AL fah)
    B: Bravo (BRAH VOH)
    C: Charlie (CHAR lee)
    D: Delta (DELL tah)
    E: Echo (ECK oh)
    F: Foxtrot (FOKS trot)
    G: Golf (GOLF)
    H: Hotel (hoh TELL)
    I: India (IN dee ah)
    J: Juliett (JEW lee ETT)
    K: Kilo (KEY loh)
    L: Lima (LEE mah)
    M: Mike (MIKE)
    N: November (no VEM ber)
    O: Oscar (OSS cah)
    P: Papa (pah PAH)
    Q: Quebec (keh BECK)
    R: Romeo (ROW me oh)
    S: Sierra (see AIR rah)
    T: Tango (TANG go)
    U: Uniform (YOU nee form)
    V: Victor (VIK tah)
    W: Whiskey (WISS key)
    X: X Ray (ECKS RAY)
    Y: Yankee (YANG key)
    Z: Zulu (ZOO loo)

     

State & Local Govt. (outside NV)

  1. State and Local government on the Net is a good source for state, county, city and similar government web sites.
     
  2. Project Vote Smart's website has information about recent ballot measures. The list is organized by state.
     

Taxation

  1. Sales tax rates in Nevada Counties

    Washoe County Code. Chapter 20. Revenue and Taxation
     

Technical Reports

  1. If produced with federal funding, most technical reports since 1964 are listed in NTIS.. WorldCat also lists many of these. Reports with numbers such as such as SAND-87-1572C may be in the Energy Dept. fiche filed near the back of the 200 ranges in BGIC or the online DOE Information Bridge. Others may be searched with a complete SUDOC number or an NTIS order number beginning with PB or AD. See Alisa Huckle or another member of the BGIC staff for more assistance.
     
  2. Energy Citations (1948-present) contains bibliographic records for energy and energy-related scientific and technical information from the Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies, the Energy Research & Development Administration (ERDA) and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The Database provides access to DOE publicly available citations from 1948 through the present, with continued growth through regular updates.
     

Time

  1. In the United States, Daylight Saving Time is in effect from the First Sunday in April through the Last Sunday in October.

    Daylight Saving Time is NOT observed in:
    1.) Arizona
    2.) Hawaii
    3.) Puerto Rice
    4.) Virgin Islands
    5.) part of Indiana

    Countries and territories operating Daylight Saving Time

    Information on Daylight Saving Time from Yahoo

    "Adjusting clock time to be able to use the added daylight on summer evenings is common throughout the world... e.g. Western Europe: Last Sunday in March to last Sunday in September U.K.: continues until last Sunday in October. [dates for Russia, China, etc. are given]" [source: World Almanac 1995, p.290]
     

Trademarks

  1. How to Pay Fees includes links to fee schedules for trademarks, instructions related to fee payment, etc.
     

Translation services

  1. Referral to translators is available from:

    Language Bank of Northern Nevada
    c/o Northern Nevada International Center
    821 North Center Street
    Reno, Nevada 89501
    USA

    Ph. 775-784-7515
     

U.S. Congress

  1. Campaign contributions. Information about individual contributors to the campaigns of Members of Congress is available in Lexis-Nexis' Congressional Universe. Once connected to the database, click on Members, then select Campaign Contributions. Other campaign finance info, such as financial disclosures and reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, is also included in Congressional Universe.
     
  2. Where are older Congressional Hearings (not found in our print collection)? These are on microfiche in the gray cabinets between Room 208A and 208B on the south side of the BGIC area.
     
  3. Where are older Congressional Prints (not found in our print collection)? These are on microfiche in the pink cabinet between Room 208B and 209A on the south side of the BGIC area.
     
  4. Where are the Senate Executive Documents microfiche? These are in the pink cabinet outside Room 209B on the south side of the BGIC area.
     
  5. Where are the Serial Set microfiche? These are in the cabinets with red labels outside Rooms 209A and 209B on the south side of the BGIC area.
     
  6. Where are the Unpublished Hearings (House and Senate) microfiche? These are in the pink cabinet on the south end of Row 211.
     
  7. Congressional Aid Salaries are published in the Report of the Secretary of the Senate: SuDoc: Y1.1/3:105-15 (not the most current, bust listed here as an example). Statistical Universe Abstract: Semiannual report of the Senate Secretary to the Senate President on the receipts and expenditures of the Senate, 2nd half FY97. Report shows detailed expense items; ... Salaries: for officers and employees of the Senate and each Senator's office; for inquiries and investigations, by committee; and for Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Joint Economic Committee, Joint Committee on Printing, miscellaneous committees and programs, Capitol Police... etc.
     
  8. The Executive Sessions of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Government Operations (McCarthy Hearings 1953-54) are available on the Web at the GPO Access site.
     

U.S. Executive Branch

  1. Environmental impact statements - EIS documents - many are not listed in UNR's online catalog nor in online Monthly Catalog of US Govt. Pubs. Check UNR online catalog and Monthly Catalog of US Govt. Pubs. first, then check the blue binders of info about UNR's EIS docs - binders are in Ready Reference.
     
  2. How much does the federal government spend on (defense, energy, education, etc.)? This is published in the BUDGET OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, for example, in the Historical Tables volume, Section 3, titled Federal Government Outlays by Function , PREX 2.8/8:2003 p 44-ff , for Fiscal Year 2003. This type of data may be found easily using FirstGov.
     
  3. A glossary with definitions of federal budget terms is included in the BUDGET OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. This volume of the budget for Fiscal Year 2003 is assigned the SUDOC number Y 1.1/7:107-159/V.1 (Glossary begins on p. 419).
     
  4. Do you have the Dawes Commission? This is usually a genealogy/historical research question, and we have what is usually wanted: Final rolls of citizens and freedmen of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory, Microfilm G286, located on Row 603B. For background information on the Dawes Commission, see "The Dawes Commission and the Allotment of the Five Civilized Tribes, 1893-1914," Main Reference E78 .I5 C37 1999.
     
  5. Where can I find the National Security Archive microfiche? These are in the pink cabinet on the south end of Row 216.
     
  6. Where can I find Presidential executive orders? These are on microfiche in the pink cabinet on the south end of Row 211. The accompanying indexes are on BGIC index table 2.
     
  7. Where are the U.S. Executive Branch Documents microfiche? These are in the pink cabinets on the south ends of Rows 212 and 213. Note that there are two separate sets here. One set, in the top half of the cabinet at Row 213, covers 1789-1909. The other set, covering 1910-1932, follows.
     
  8. Where are the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents microfiche? These are in the bottom drawer of the third pink cabinet next to the door of Room 210, on the south side of the BGIC area.
     
  9. Information on land patents (land grants): 1) CDs for the eastern states(AL,AR,FL,LA,MI,MN,MS,WI). These CDs lists the information concerning the land patent. They are not the certified copy. The call number for the Alabama CD is I 53.57:AL 1 B. 2) Special Collections Dept has at least 7 land patents(see neon catalog for the specific titles). Search title and enter "land patent" Click here to run this search in the library catalog. To obtain a certified copy or information about Nevada land patents: 1) Contact the BLM Office 861-6500 (7:30am-4:30pm) This BLM office can provide a certified copy of land patent. Give them the name of land patent owner or whatever information you have. A certified copy cost $1.10 a page plus 25 cents to certify per patent. There is no charge for postage unless BLM needs to send a mail tube for the order. 2) There is an Official Federal Land Patent Records Web Site. You can search for the land patent and there is a good explanation of what a land patent is in the FAQ section. 3) Nevada State Library has Nevada Land Patents on microfilm (24 rolls). You need the patent number to use them. These are available at NSL under the microfiche call no. 29-Se2/19:(volume).
     
  10. The POMS manual is available on the Social Security Administration: SSA Publications CD. This manual has information on Use of Social Security numbers by Government Agencies (GN 03325.005; reproduced below).,

    1. Executive Order 9397 (1943) mandates that whenever a Federal agency establishes a system of numerical personal identifiers, the agency should use the SSN.

    2. Section 7 of the Privacy Act (1974) Section 7 of the Privacy Act states that it is unlawful for any Federal, State or local government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit or privilege provided by law because the individual refuses to disclose his/her SSN, unless disclosure was required by statute or regulation prior to January 1, 1975, or is required by Federal statute. Any government agency that asks an individual to furnish his/her SSN must inform the individual:
    - whether furnishing the information is mandatory or voluntary,
    - by what law or other authority the agency is requesting the number, and
    - the uses that will be made of the information.

    SSA complies with this statement by including a "Privacy Act Statement" on all SSA standard forms. Other government agencies and States who question how the Privacy Act affects their use of the SSN should be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice or the appropriate State's Attorney General's office.

    3. Social Security Act, Section 1137 (1984). Social Security Act, Section 1137, requires that certain federally funded welfare programs must request and use the SSN to administer their programs. These programs include:
    - Aid to Families with Dependent Children
    - Medicaid
    - Unemployment compensation
    - Food stamps
    - State adult assistance programs (Social Security titles I, X, XIV, and XVI which apply to Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa).

    4. Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)(B)(i) Auxiliary/Survivor Claims. The Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)(B)(i) requires each Social Security auxiliary/survivor beneficiary to have an SSN beginning June 1989. (See RS 00203.032 for further details on auxiliary/survivor claims.)

    5. Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)©(i)(I) State Uses of SSNs. The Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)©(i)(I) provides that State agencies may use the SSN to verify the identification of an individual, and require any individual to furnish their SSN for identification purposes for:
    - administration of taxes,
    - general public assistance,
    - driver's license, or
    - motor vehicle registration laws within their jurisdiction.

    NOTE: Even though the Social Security Act permits State agencies to require the use of the SSN for the above purposes, with the exception of the administration of public assistance programs, SSA can verify SSN's for the other agencies only with the consent of the individual.

    6. Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)©(i)(II) Parent's SSN (CSE). The Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)©(i)(II) provides that each State require parents to furnish their SSN when applying for a child's birth certificate.

    NOTE: The parent's SSN will not appear on the child's birth certificate and can only be used for child support enforcement (CSE).

    7. Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)©(iii) Food Stamps. The Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)©(iii) allows the Secretary of Agriculture to require participants in the food stamp program (i.e., retailers and wholesalers) to furnish their SSN and to use the SSN for other administrative purposes or enforcement of the Food Stamp Act of 1977.

    NOTE: Questions concerning this section of the Act should be referred to the Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services.

    8. Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)©(vii) New Government Programs (10/90).

    The Social Security Act, Section 205 ©(2)©(vii) requires that SSNs and related records that are obtained or maintained by authorized persons pursuant to any provision of law enacted on or after October 1, 1990, shall be confidential, and no authorized person shall disclose any such SSN or related records.

    NOTE: This provision of law does not have any impact on Social Security Act programs. It may affect other new government programs enacted after September 1990. Any questions concerning this section should be referred to the Office of Policy.

    9. Social Security Act, Section 208 (g),(h). The Social Security Act, Section 208 (g),(h) addresses misuse of the SSN. (See GN 04110.015ff to develop issues in suspected or alleged violations concerning Social Security numbers.)

    10. 1986 Commissioner's Decision on Correspondence: The 1986 Social Security Commissioner's Decision on correspondence governs display of SSNs on correspondence. (see GN 03325.020 for instructions concerning SSA's correspondence procedures).
     
  11. This link is for the U.S. State Dept's International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
     
  12. Two documents with info. about military insignia - not in online catalog as of 12/30/02:

    Army insignia: Armies, Corps, Divisions, and Separate Brigades (D 114.11:Ar 5/2)

    Air Force insignia: Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, WWII (D 301.26/6:C 73/2)
     
  13. Information about pollution in local areas is available at Scorecard. This site may be searched by zip code.

    Scorecard also has an "About" page, which includes information to assist site visitors in evaluating the reliability of its sources.
     
  14. The Army's Center for Military History has a Web Site.
     
  15. Information on nuclear tests:

    1. United States Nuclear Tests, July 1945 thru Sep 1992. SUDOC no: E 1.28:DOE/NV-209-rev.15 (DeLaMare has a copy also) (pub. Dec. 2000)

    2. For the 1980's pubs on many of these tests, see BGIC stacks, SUDOC nos: D 15.10: (or the GPO Monthly Catalog).
     
  16. The Black Rock Desert – High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area and Associated Wilderness Areas Web site links to environmental impact statements on the area.
     
  17. DOSFAN is the US Dept. of State's public information service. Use it for questions related to foreign policy, the State Dept. and information on ambassadors & diplomats. Click the Reference Desk link to submit a question.
     

UN

  1. When was my (model UN) country last represented on the Security Council? The Global Policy Forum is a good source for UN information. Click here to go to Security Council membership tables.
     
  2. How do I find UN voting records? UNBISNET has General Assembly (1983- forward) and Security Council (1946- forward) voting records. For earlier General Assembly records, consult the Yearbook of the United Nations (1/U53 Y39) on Row 234A; if not found, ask the BGIC staff for assistance in using the "Resolutions and Decisions" supplements in the General Assembly Official Records on Row 229.
     
  3. Explanation of United Nations document call numbers. UN document numbers begin with a letter or letters which stand for the main issuing body, followed by other elements which represent the sub-agency, session or year, or type of document. For example, publications beginning with A/ are issued by the General Assembly. A/50/527 is the 527th document issued by the General Assembly during the 50th session. Click here to see a guide to UN document numbers by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.
     
  4. Where are the current issues of UN Chronicle? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  5. Where are the UN publications shelved? Those UN publications with UN document numbers are shelved on Rows 229 through 233. Note that the Official Records of the main UN bodies are shelved together on Row 229. UN publications with BGIC assigned numbers beginning with 1/U53 are shelved Rows 233 and 234.
     
  6. How do I find UN publications on my topic? Many of BGIC's UN publications are cataloged and can be found by searching NEON; but much of the collection is not cataloged, especially serials and Official Records. The following databases searchable on Neon can serve as indexes to our UN publications: UNBisNet; WorldCat; and, for publications containing statistics, Statistical Universe (Go to "Search Abstracts" and limit to IIS publications; we subscribe to the accompanying IIS microfiche and may also have the publications in paper). Ask BGIC staff for assistance in determining whether we own the titles of interest.
     
  7. Where are the UN publications on fiche? These are in the gray cabinets outside Room 210 on the south side of the BGIC area.
     
  8. Do you have United Nations treaties? United Nations Treaty Series microfiche are shelved in green boxes on top of the fiche cabinets outside Room 210, on the south side of the BGIC area. Current UN treaties are in paper on Row 228A. BGIC does not subscribe to the UNTS online at this time.
     
  9. Web Sites with info. on the United Nations' financial crisis and the United States' debt to the United Nations:

    1.    Tables and Charts on UN Finance

    2.United Nations Financial Crisis
     

University of Nevada, Reno

  1. Information on student financial aid, employment and scholarship services at UNR
     
  2. Origin of the name for UNR's "Wolf Pack":

    Before 1922 Nevada's teams were known as the Sagebrushers or the Sagehens. According to an article in the student newspaper The Sagebrush on February 16, 1922, however, Sagebrushers was too long and cumbersome, and Sagehens had been in use for several years as the nickname for the Pomona College teams. A call for suggestions for a new name elicited a large response, and Desert Wolves, "which immediately resolves into Wolves for short," was selected. The 1922 yearbook refers to the teams as the Wolf Pack.
     
  3. Student enrollment is reported in the UNR Databook
     
  4. Directions to UNR
     
  5. ASUN Legal Referral Services: 784-6132
     

University of Nevada, Reno Libraries

  1. The Libraries' course-related web pages link to both subscription databases and Web sites pertinent to specific courses.
     
  2. Follow this link for information about the Libraries' fee-based information service.
     
  3. Where are the current issues of Foreign Policy Bulletin? BGIC Periodicals Display.
     
  4. Where is National Journal? BGIC Legal Alcove.
     
  5. Where are call numbers beginning with 2/ shelved? These are the publications of the Western States Water Conference. They are shelved at the south end of Row 222B in BGIC.
     
  6. Where are call numbers beginning with 3/ shelved? These are publications of foreign governments. They are shelved on Row 223A in BGIC.
     
  7. How do I get a libary card?

    See the Library Circulation FAQ Web page.
     

Water

  1. Does UNR offer a testing program for drinking water?

    The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory, located on campus, across from the Medical School, does water testing. The cost is $12 to test for biological pollutants or $100 to test for mineral content. Their phone number is 688-1335 (press 0 for receptionist).

    Drinking Water Testing for Private Well Owners (UNR Cooperative Extension Publication FS-99-24)
     
  2. Information about water use in the Reno area (Truckee Meadows) from Truckee Meadows Water Authority.

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ground Water and Drinking Water
     

Weather

  1. Weather data for Nevada:

    Climatological data, Nevada,
    SUDOC no.: C 55.214/25:(v./no.).

    Check the summary issue (which is issue number 13 for each year) to find high/low temperatures. This publication is available in many libraries around the country, including all regional federal depository libraries.

    Online access to this publication for 1894-present is available through UNR's online library catalog.
     
  2. DEFINITION OF FAIR WEATHER:

    "Fair weather" is a subjective description. It may be considered as pleasant weather conditions with regard to the time of year and the physical location.

    Source: the Weather Channel Web site weather glossary
     

Weights & measures

  1. International unit (IU)

    From the Encyclopedia & dictionary of medicine, nursing, & allied health, 1992:

    1. a unit of enzyme activity equal to the amount of enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of one micromole of substrate or coenzyme per minute under specified conditions (temperature, pH, and substrate concentration) of the assay method. Abbreviated U. 2. any of several arbitrary units that have been adopted by international bodies to express the quantities of certain vitamins (A, C, D, and thiamine hydrochloride), hormones (androgen, chorionic gonadotropin, estradiol benzoate, estrone, insulin, progesterone, and prolactin), and drugs (digitalis and penicillin).
     

Wild horses

  1. Teaching resources on wild horses

    UNR Library Catalog search for information on Wild horses
     

Word origins

  1. Homeland

    The following is from the Oxford English Dictionary Online:

    a. The land which is one's home or where one's home is; one's native land. In earliest use attrib. = HOME n. 15d. 1670 R. BLOME Treat. Trav. & Traff. 53 Another sort of Merchants, which may be termed Homeland-Traders..who drive a trade to Scotland and Ireland. 1833 I. TAYLOR Fanat. v. 139 A homeland densely peopled. 1874 GREEN Short Hist. i. §I. 4 The gods whom our English fathers worshipped in their English home-land. 1887 Home Missionary (N.Y.) Feb. 385 [Nebraska] was the native home~land of the buffalo. 1941 W. S. CHURCHILL in Second World War (1950) III. 583 We should therefore face now the problems..of driving Japan back to her homelands and regaining undisputed mastery in the Pacific. 1963 Ann. Reg. 1962 314 A series of ‘independent’ Bantu ‘homelands’, where each ethnic group would have a vote. 1968 G. JONES Hist. Vikings III. i. 145 The political and dynastic history of the Scandinavian homelands. 1970 Caribbean Studies July 90 With such chronological spacing for Homeland English..it is not surprising that..English usage in colonised places also had its period of graduation before being lexicographically chronicled, and..that such chronicles should be..modest imitations of the recognised Homeland product. 1970 Nature 24 Oct. 311/2 One of the regions of South Africa now set aside as a ‘homeland’ for the native population.

    b. = HOME n.1 6. c1892 C. BINGHAM Song, The Dear Home-Land. 1899 Daily News 26 Oct. 7/ 1 Looking..at the old Home~land through the eyes of Young Australia. 1905 Daily Chron. 22 June 6/6 We are here to-night..a body of Canadian business men, chiefly in order that we may learn to know the people of the homeland. 1907 SCOTT & WALLAS (title) The call of the Homeland: a collection of English verse.
     

World War II

  1. Origin of "D-Day"

    D-Day (noun). [D (for "day") + DAY; the same pattern as "H-Hour"] 1.) (military) The day, usually unspecified, for the beginning of a planned attack.
    2.) June 6, 1944, the day of the invasion of Western Europe by Allied forces in World War II.
    3.) (informal) Any day of special significance, as one marking an important event or goal.
    RANDOM HOUSE DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, 2nd edn. Unabridged (1987), p.511.

    D-Day (also D Day, D-day) [D for "day] noun. The military code name for a particular day fixed for the beginning of an operation; specifically, the day (6 June 1944) of the invasion of the Atlantic Coase of German-occupied France by Allied forces. (1918) Filed Order No. 8, First Army, A.E.F. 7 Sep. "The First Army will attack at H-Hour on D-Day with the object of forcing the evacuation of St. Mihiel salient.
    OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY, 2nd edn. (1989), v.4, p.279.

    "For those who may be curious about the designation "D-Day," there is an amusing footnote in the book, indicating that the "D" stands for nothing more than "day" in the military jargon, just as "H" stands only for "hour," and that both formulas date from World War I. the note quotes the issue of TIME magazine that appeared a week after the invasion as saying the American Army traced the first use of both D-Day and H-Hour to a single field order issued in 1918."
    Raleigh Trevelyan, book review of Stephen E. Ambrose, D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944: THE CLIMACTIC BATTLE OF WORLD WAR II, in THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, 29 May 1994, p.21.

    Library catalog search on the LC Subject heading, World War, 1939-1945--Campaigns--France--Normandy

    Library catalog search on the LC Subject heading, Operation Overlord
     

Yucca Mountain

  1. Yucca Mountain reports and related publications are in BGIC, currently in the 200 ranges behind the Nevada Legal Reference Section. An Index of Yucca Mountain Technical Reports is available. Other pertinent websites are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Yucca Mountain Home Page and the U.S. Dept. of Energy Yucca Mountain Home Page.
     
  2. Do you have publications from the State's point of view on Yucca Mountain? Publications of the Nuclear Waste Project Office are shelved at the following call numbers: 29-N88 (1985-1993, Row 220A); 29-C76N (1993-1995, Row 217A) ; and 29-G74N (1995- to present, Row 218A).