Week of Mar. 16, 2014 - Almanacs

By Joan Whetzel

 

At my dad’s funeral, my brother referred to my dad as the original “Google” meister because he loved to find the answer to every question we could pose. His best reference was the Almanac which he used to “Google”  information of all kinds.

Almanacs are annually published reference books, containing calendars, weather forecasts, astronomical information, statistical data, timelines, tide tables, and other information (biographical, geographical, historical, political)  posted either in table or list formats or written up into brief articles.

Almanacs cover just about any topic you could think of including: agriculture, awards and prizes, business, demographics, economics, geography, government, health and medicine, mass media, religion, science, sports, technology, and transportation. Finding the facts you’re seeking is made easier though the table of contents and the index. My dad went to the almanac so much that he knew where to find just about any piece of information blindfolded. But for those of who don’t use it regularly, using the index and table of contents is a bit like entering the right search terms or keywords. Once you get a handle on the book’s layout, it’s easier to figure out which keywords and search terms “Google” into your information search.

Yes, you can virtually find all of this information online these days. But for those days when you just feel like sitting in your armchair and “Googling” old school, pull that almanac off the shelf and “Google” away.