Library Blog's "Question of the Month" Answers

January 2010

Question: What whimsical holiday is celebrated in a poem that has vaccinations in its first line?

Answer: April Fool's Day

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7. (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under Electronic Resources by Subject, click on: Literature
In Literature E-Resources, click on: Granger's World of Poetry.

Click on advanced search, and then enter "vaccinations" into the search field Words in first line. The result given will be the poem "Oh Have You Heard" by poet Shel Silverstein. Click on the title of the poem to find the answer.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

December 2009

Question: Where can you locate a wiring diagram for a 1976 Ford Bronco?

Answer: Auto Repair Reference Center

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7. (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under Electronic Resources by Subject, click on: Automotive.

In Automotive E-Resources, click on: Auto Repair Reference Center.

Click on the year 1976, click on FORD, click on BRONCO. The only link listed under repair topics is "repair procedures," click on that link. Click on "chassis electrical" to find wiring diagrams. "Fig. 3: 1976-78 F-series, section one" and "Fig. 4: 1976-78 F-series, section two" should be the correct diagrams.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

November 2009

Question: What was the traditional color of mail stagecoaches?

Answer: Shiny red was the color of mail stagecoaches. (History Resource Center)

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7. (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under Electronic Resources by Subject, click on: History & Social Sciences.

In History & Social Sciences, click on: History Resource Center.

Search for stagecoaches. Stagecoach Lines (1815-1850). Wagon Maker's Art.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

October 2009

Question: Who is John Billington?

Answer: A pilgrim who arrived on the Mayflower. The first murderer in the U.S. (Biography Resource Center)

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7. (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under Electronic Resources by Subject, click on: Biography.

In Biography, click on: Biography Resource Center.

Search for Billington, John.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

September 2009

Question: Is there anything fishy about Tuvalu's Mea Ota Fakalolo?

Answer: Yes, Mea Ota Fakalolo is raw fish served in a coconut cream. The recipe, which is popular in Tuvalu, is given in the recipes section of CultureGrams Online.

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7. (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under Electronic Resources by Subject, click on: History & Social Sciences.

In History & Social Sciences, click on: CultureGrams.

In CultureGrams, click on World Edition.

Search on Tuvalu. Once you’re on Tuvalu’s page, click on Recipes. You will see the recipe for Mea Ota Fakalolo along with other Tuvalu favorites.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

August 2009

Question: What is the Welsh word for "librarian?"

Answer: Llyfrgellydd.

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7 (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under Electronic Resources by Subject, click on: Encyclopedias & Dictionaries.

In Encyclopedias & Dictionaries, scroll down nearly to the end, and click on: Oxford Reference Online.

In Oxford Reference Online, click on Bilingual Dictionaries.

At this point, you could either do a Quick Search on Librarian (and find how to say it in seven languages, including Welsh) or click on The Pocket Modern Welsh Dictionary (English-Welsh) and search from there.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

July 2009

Question: When and where did Agoston Haraszthy first appear in a U.S. Census?

Answer: In 1850, in California.

To find this answer:
This question is best answered using Ancestry Library, one of our few electronic resources which can only be accessed from within the library. So, the first step is to go to one of our libraries.

When you’re at a library computer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7

Under Genealogy, click on Ancestry Library.

Enter Agoston in the “First & Middle Name(s)” box, enter Haraszthy in the “Last Name” box, and then click on “Search.”

Narrow your search by “Census & Voter Lists.”

Look for the earliest census entry. Your answers are there. To find out more information, you can click on “View Image” to see a scan of the original census record.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

June 2009

Question: What instrument did Curley Wright play on the 1961 Daddy Hotcakes album?

Answer: The washboard.

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7 (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under Music, click on American Song.

Enter Curley Wright in the “Search” box and click on “Go.”

Your results will all be from “The Blues in St. Louis: Daddy Hotcakes” album.

            Click on the name of the album to get more details.

            Click on the image of the album cover, and you will see the answer.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

May 2009

Question:  What is a mukwerea ceremony?

Answer: A mukwerea ceremony is a rainmaking ceremony of the Shona people of Southern Africa.

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7 (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under History & Social Sciences, click on Daily Life Online.

In Daily Life Online, enter Mukwerea in the Quick Search box.

Your results should include an entry on the Shona people from The Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Folklore and Folklife.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

April 2009

Question: Was Mertle Berger murdered? (Hint: 1901)

Answer: No, Mertle Berger was not murdered - though she "mysteriously disappeared" from Pueblo, Colorado in 1901, the teacher ended up in San Francisco, saying that she left Colorado wanting rest, was tired of the notoriety following her, and that no one in Pueblo had a right to know about her comings and goings.

To find this answer:
Go to Electronic Library 24/7 (http://www.santaclaracountylib.org/electronic_library/)

Under Newspapers, click on San Jose Mercury News (Current & Historical).

Click on: San Jose Mercury News Historical Archive (1886-1922).

Enter Mertle Berger in the “For” box and click on “Search.”

Your results should include articles from the June 5th and June 6th, 1901, San Jose Mercury News.

Need more assistance? Contact your local library.

Researched in March 2009.