When I was a kid I loved reference books. My dictionary (a Merriam-Webster’s, of course) was a constant companion. When I came across a word I didn’t know when reading a book or short story, I’d immediately look it up. I also put checkmarks next to each word I researched.
But I was also a big fan of my thesaurus. Not just because it sounds like a cool dinosaur. When I got into writing poetry, it was a lifesaver on too many occasions to count. Later, as I began writing short fiction, it helped to expand my vocabulary.
There was also the trusty encyclopedia. We didn’t have a fancy set, but it was good enough to help me write papers for school. Also, to prove just how nerdy I was (and, arguably, still am), I’ll admit that I enjoyed reading the encyclopedia for fun. There were many afternoons where I’d pick up a random volume and flip through the pages until an entry caught my eye.
It was actually Wikipedia before the internet in that the entries referenced other entries, and it was easy for me to “go down the rabbit hole” and end up spending an hour flipping from one entry to another, following reference after reference.
While I still have a shelf dedicated to reference books – minus the encyclopedia- it’s rare that I actually open one to look up a word or when some event occurred. It’s so much quicker to pop open a browser on my desktop for a look, then get right back to whatever I’m writing. I can also ask Siri to define a word for me while I’m reading.
Still, I won’t get rid of my reference shelf. They are like old friends who I haven’t seen in a while, but I still think about them. Besides, if there’s ever an extended power outage or internet interruption, they’ll come in handy. I might end up being the only person on the street with physical reference books and everyone will have to come to me for definitions. Well, probably not, but that might make a good story!
Do you still have a dictionary or thesaurus on your bookshelf, or have they been relegated to a used bookstore?
RB
I have mine as well. The Secretarial Handbook occasionally comes in particularly handy.
Oh, that’s one I haven’t seen in a long while. I think reference books – physical copies – will always be good to have on hand. Thanks for stopping by!
I still have the dictionary that my father gave me before I went to college. However, since I usually look words up while I am online, I use Google. As a librarian, I love reference books. In my first library (which was to support a contractor working on a type of Navy ships), I had ordered a dictionary, which one of the contractor’s kept removing from the library and keeping it at her desk as if it were her personal copy. As soon as I saw it, I would return it to the library where she would once again take it back to her desk. Fortunately I got another job and have no idea what became of the dictionary.
LOL…that’s a great story, Pat. Now I’m curious as to what became of that dictionary.
I know you’re a book lover, as well, and I thought this post might appeal to you. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Oh man! You bring me right back to the time before internet.
Who even owns an atlas these days? I remember saving up for one for ages because they were so expensive. Yet so magical. Like traveling all over the world 🤩
Then one day, I got an encyclopedia CD rom. Typing my topic into a “search engine” and getting a result within seconds… pure magic.
Not sure if I feel old or young now I am remembering this, but it is good feeling either way. Thanks for this post. I needed it 😄
LOL…I forgot to mention the Atlas! I had one, as well, and would spend hours traveling the world. Maybe we bumped into one another at some point. 🙂
But I can’t argue with the speed of looking up things online.
Glad you enjoyed the post, my friend.
I have lots of reference books and like you, loved them as a kid. A great-aunt gave me an Encyclopedia Britannica from 1956 which was exceptionally handy for schoolwork, particularly school projects. That’s the one reference book that didn’t survive. The rest are on a shelf in my home-office and while I probably don’t refer to them as much as I did, I’m not getting rid of them.
I sounds like we have a similar view on these treasures! Glad to know I’m not the only one. Thanks for commenting, Sheree.
You’re very welcome