New Reference Book:

Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine: An Encyclopedia
Thomas Glick, Steven J. Livesey, Faith Wallis, eds.
New York, NY: Routledge, 2005
Call# Ref Q124.97 M43 2005

From Routledge:

“The popular image of medieval science remains one of a “dark age,” when scholasticism and the Catholic Church stifled the achievements of classical thought until the great cultural flowering of the Renaissance. Research in the last few decades has revealed a far different picture. As Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine demonstrates, the millennium from the fall of the Roman Empire to the flowering of the Renaissance was a period of great intellectual and practical achievement and innovation. In Europe, the Islamic world, South and East Asia, and the Americas, individuals built on earlier achievements and introduced sometimes radical refinements. Some of the individuals are still known today; many more are lost to history. Their achievements remain, however, and far from marking a reversal in human knowledge, laid the foundations for its modern development. They applied not only in well-known fields such as construction and transportation, but also in anesthetics, mechanics, optics, and math.

Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine details the whole scope of scientific knowledge in the medieval period in more than 300 A to Z entries. This resource discusses the research, application of knowledge, cultural and technology exchanges, experimentation, and achievements in the many disciplines related to science and technology. Coverage includes inventions, discoveries, concepts, places and fields of study, regions, and significant contributors to various fields of science. There are also entries on South-Central and East Asian science. This reference work provides an examination of medieval scientific tradition as well as an appreciation for the relationship between medieval science and the traditions it supplanted and those that replaced it.

Written by a select group of international scholars, Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine explores the fascinating scientific achievements of the Middle Ages. This reference work will be of great use to scholars, students, and general readers researching topics in many fields of study, including medieval studies, world history, history of science, history of technology, history of medicine, and cultural studies.”

New Reference Book:

Dictionary of Parasitology
Peter J. Gosling
Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2005
Call# Ref QL757 .G76 2005

From CRC Press:

“Although many books have been published on various aspects of human, animal, and plant parasitology, as well as the public health problems associated with parasites, none to date has offered a comprehensive glossary for those confronted with the discipline’s exceptionally extensive terminology. To meet this need requires a dedicated text that can house the myriad entries that define all the basic principles and advanced nomenclature of parasitology.

The Dictionary of Parasitology reflects current practice in all aspects of parasitology and includes spellings, punctuation, abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, nomenclature, prefixes, and suffixes. It covers the field of modern parasitology with concise, clear, and authoritative precision. The dictionary assigns entries of parasites to the primary divisions of parasitology: human, veterinary, plant, insect, or fish; although in many instances the area of interest may be wide-ranging.

The dictionary provides the depth and breadth of knowledge that makes it both an informative and useful volume for beginners and experts in the field, as well as for writers and editors of scientific texts. Entries cover control measures, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, etc., and each are labeled according to the most appropriate area to which they relate.”

New Reference Book:

The New Walford Guide to Reference Resources, Volume 1: Science, Technology, and Medicine
Ray Lester, Ed.
London, UK: Facet Publishing, 2005
Call# Ref Z1035.1 .N49

From Facet Publishing:

“Published in a 3 volume cycle, TNW will form the most substantial work of its kind in the English language. This book provides a pathway through the huge quantity of information now accessible via the web. The types of material
cited have been greatly widened to reflect the revolution brought about by the use of networked information; but we have made sure that print resources are not ignored where these are still valuable.

If you are approaching a subject for the first time, TNW will get you on your way, guiding you to the best starting points for your query. For the information professional, TNW’s new way of categorizing resources reflects the
fundamental changes that have taken place in the scientific, business, political and social information landscapes.”

New Reference Book:

The Firefly Encyclopedia of Trees
Steve Cafferty, ed.
Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books 2005
Call# Ref QK474.87 F57 2005

From Firefly Books:

“The Firefly Encyclopedia of Trees covers the entire world of trees with outstanding text and abundant illustrations and photography. Forests and woods cover 30% of the world’s land surface. This book describes the forest ecosystem and the four major forest types of the world: boreal, temperate, subtropical, tropical.

The main part of the encyclopedia is the A-Z directory of the world’s trees:

• Species identification tables, fact boxes, and thumbnail maps show the distribution of native trees.
• Information for each tree includes a concise taxonomic description and explains where the tree grows naturally.
• Color photographs and illustrations depict each family in summer and fall, bark texture, leaves, seeds and nuts, and where applicable, blossoms.
• Captions describe the dimensions and characteristics of each tree in exacting detail.

Other interesting features of the encyclopedia include:

• Detailed descriptions of tree structures: shapes, trunk structure, root systems, leaf shapes and functions, flowers and fruit
• Notable forests around the world
• Effect of trees on economies and societies
• Further reading section
• Extensive glossary
• Comprehensive indexes of common and scientific names.

The Firefly Encyclopedia of Trees features the familiar as well as the exotic. The Baobab, for instance, can store tens of thousands of gallons in water in its light, fleshy wood, remains leafy during droughts, and provides a natural source of water for people and animals alike.”