A blue book or bluebook is an
almanac
An almanac (also spelled ''almanack'' and ''almanach'') is an annual publication listing a set of current information about one or multiple subjects. It includes information like weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, tide tables, and other ...
, buyer's guide or other compilation of
statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ''wikt:Statistik#German, Statistik'', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that concerns the collection, organization, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of ...
and information. The term dates back to the 15th century, when large blue velvet-covered books were used for record-keeping by the Parliament of England. The ''
Oxford English Dictionary
The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the first and foundational historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP). It traces the historical development of the English language, providing a com ...
'' first records such a usage in 1633. The term has a variety of other meanings.
Academia and education
* The
Yale College
Yale College is the undergraduate college of Yale University. Founded in 1701, it is the original school of the university. Although other Yale schools were founded as early as 1810, all of Yale was officially known as Yale College until 1887, ...
Programs of Study, referred to as the Blue Book
*
Blue book exam
A blue book exam is a type of test administered at many post-secondary schools in the United States. Blue book exams typically include one or more essays or short-answer questions. Sometimes the instructor will provide students with a list of po ...
, a type of test involving writing an essay, typically into a pamphlet – traditionally blue colored – called a "blue book"
*
Blue and Brown Books
The ''Blue and Brown Books'' are two sets of notes taken during lectures conducted by Ludwig Wittgenstein from 1933 to 1935. They were Mimeograph, mimeographed as two separate books, and a few copies were circulated in a restricted circle during W ...
, the Blue Book of Lecture Notes for 1933-1934 for Ludwig Wittgenstein lectures
Construction
* The Blue Book of Building and Construction, was a
yellow pages
The yellow pages are telephone directories of businesses, organized by category rather than alphabetically by business name, in which advertising is sold. The directories were originally printed on yellow paper, as opposed to white pages for ...
-like buyers guide of company information targeted towards commercial construction, first published in 1913. The guide contains information on architects, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, vendors, and other companies relevant to the commercial bidding and build process. The hardbound book was retired in 2016 and subsequently replaced by a bi-annual regional magazine called the ''
Who's Who
''Who's Who'' (or ''Who is Who'') is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biography, biographical information on the prominent people of a country. The title has been adopted as an expression meaning a gr ...
in Building and Construction.'' The prior content of the hard bound book is now completely online and called The Blue Book Network. The company which publishes the information is
Jefferson Valley, New York
Jefferson Valley-Yorktown, commonly known as Jefferson Valley, is a census-designated place (CDP) located in the town of Yorktown in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 14,142 at the 2010 census. It is a hot spot for l ...
-based Contractor's Register.
Computing and technology
*
Blue Book (CD standard)
The Blue Book is a compact disc standard developed in 1995 by Philips and Sony. It defines the Enhanced Music CD format (E-CD, also known as CD-Extra, CD-Plus and CD+), which combines audio tracks and data tracks on the same disc. The format was ...
, the name of one format from the Rainbow Book standards for compact discs, defining the Enhanced CD standard
*
Blue Book (CCITT), a set of telecommunications recommendations issued by the
International Telecommunication Union
The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for many matters related to information and communication technologies. It was established on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Unio ...
Standardisation Sector in 1988
*A common name of the book ''Smalltalk-80: The Language and its Implementation'', and any virtual machine implementation based on
Smalltalk
Smalltalk is an object-oriented, dynamically typed reflective programming language. It was designed and created in part for educational use, specifically for constructionist learning, at the Learning Research Group (LRG) of Xerox PARC by Alan Ka ...
*Blue Book protocol, the file transfer protocol of the
Coloured Book protocols
The Coloured Book protocols were a set of communication protocols for computer networks developed in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. The name originated with each protocol being identified by the colour of the cover of its specification document. ...
*The
Java Virtual Machine
A Java virtual machine (JVM) is a virtual machine that enables a computer to run Java programs as well as programs written in other languages that are also compiled to Java bytecode. The JVM is detailed by a specification that formally describes ...
specification
*Blue Books, spacecraft data and telemetry recommendations made by the
Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems
The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) was founded in 1982 for governmental and quasi-governmental space agencies to discuss and develop standards for space data and information systems. Currently composed of "eleven member agenc ...
*
Ingo Wegener
Ingo Wegener (December 4, 1950 in Bremen – November 26, 2008 in Bielefeld) was an influential German computer scientist working in the field of theoretical computer science.
Education and career
Wegener was educated at the Bielefeld University. ...
's ''Blue Book'', an influential textbook in
circuit complexity
In theoretical computer science, circuit complexity is a branch of computational complexity theory in which Boolean functions are classified according to the size or depth of the Boolean circuits that compute them. A related notion is the circui ...
formally titled ''The Complexity of Boolean Functions'' (1987)
Government and finance
*In the
Traineeship scheme of the European Commission The official traineeship scheme of the European Commission is a traineeship programme providing official in-service training with the European Commission.
Aimed at young university graduates, it has been running since 1960 and is the biggest traine ...
, internship candidates who pass a preselection are added to a ''Blue Book'', from which the final successful candidates are chosen
* The publications of the
European Central Bank
The European Central Bank (ECB) is the prime component of the monetary Eurosystem and the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) as well as one of seven institutions of the European Union. It is one of the world's Big Four (banking)#Intern ...
describing the main payment and securities settlement systems in the EU Member States.
* A publication of the United Nations Protocol and Liaison Service containing listings relating to
Permanent Missions to the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and international security, security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be ...
.
*
Blue pages
Blue pages are a telephone directory listing of American and Canadian state agencies, government agencies, federal government and other official entities, along with specific offices, departments, or bureaus located wherein.
Canada
Canadian yell ...
, a government telephone directory, published either as part of books for white pages or yellow pages, or separately in a ''blue book''
United Kingdom
*
British Blue Book
In diplomatic history, a colour book is an officially sanctioned collection of diplomatic correspondence and other documents published by a government for educational or political reasons, or to promote the government position on current or pas ...
s, collections of diplomatic correspondence and government and documents for informing or influencing the public or Parliament
* Colonial Blue Books, yearly collection of details wide range of matters from each colonial governor in the British Empire beginning in 1822
*
''Blue Book'' (Office for National Statistics), published annually by the Office for National Statistics; contains the estimates of the domestic and national product, income and expenditure for the United Kingdom
* Any official report in the UK of
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
or the
Privy Council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
, which in the 19th and early 20th centuries were standardly issued in a dark blue paper cover
*
United Kingdom National Accounts – "The Blue Book", of economic activity in the United Kingdom
* "Treason of the Blue Books", "Treachery of the Blue Books" or simply the "Blue Books" - names used for the 1847
* A weekly digest of
signals intelligence
Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence-gathering by interception of ''signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication ( ...
reports by the British intelligence agency GCHQ
* "The Blue Book", genocide scholars' nickname for ''
The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
The Blue Book, officially titled ''The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-1916'', was an official report commissioned by the British Parliament and presented in 1916 by James Bryce, 1st Viscount Bryce, Viscount Bryce and Arnold J. T ...
, 1915–1916''
:*''
The Blue Book, Political Truth or Historical Fact
''The Blue Book, Political Truth or Historical Fact'' is a 2009 documentary film by Gagik Karagheuzian about the Armenian genocide denial.
Synopsis
In 2005 the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) sent a petition, signed by all its members, ...
'', a 2009 documentary film about this report
United States
*
Blue Book (FCC)
Public Service Responsibility of Broadcast Licensees was a report published in 1946 by the (U.S.) Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which sought to require radio broadcasters in the United States to abide by a number of public service requir ...
, a nickname for a report on ''Public Service Responsibility of Broadcast Licensees'' issued on March 7, 1946 by the Federal Communications Commission of the United States
*
''Blue Book'' (United States Marine Corps), a bulletin listing the lineal precedence and seniority of Marine Corps officers
* ''
Project Blue Book
Project Blue Book was the code name for the systematic study of unidentified flying objects by the United States Air Force from March 1952 to its termination on December 17, 1969. The project, headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, O ...
'', a U.S. Air Force study on UFOs
* ''
'', a Revolutionary War drill manual written by Baron von Steuben for the Continental Army, colloquially referred to as the Blue Book
* Various information registers from U.S. state governments:
**
Official Manual State of Missouri right
The ''Official Manual - State of Missouri'' (often referred to simply as ''The Missouri Blue Book'') is a biennial publication from the Missouri Secretary of State. The Blue Book was first published in 1889. It contains historical, political, ...
("Missouri Blue Book")
**
Oregon Blue Book
The ''Oregon Blue Book'' is the official directory and fact book for the U.S. state of Oregon prepared by the Oregon Secretary of State and published by the Office of the Secretary's Archives Division.
The ''Blue Book'' comes in both print and on ...
**
Tennessee Blue Book The ''Tennessee Blue Book'' is an official government manual for the U.S. state of Tennessee, published by the Secretary of State of Tennessee.
The ''Blue Book'' is typically published on a biennial basis. Its contents include details on the organ ...
**
Wisconsin Blue Book
The ''Wisconsin Blue Book'' is a biennial publication of the Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau. The ''Blue Book'' is an almanac containing information on the government, economics, demographics, geography and history of the state of Wisc ...
* ''Blue Book'' of Denver society, first called the ''Who's Who in Denver Society'' by
Louise Sneed Hill
Louise Sneed Hill (ca. June 30, 1862 – March 28, 1955) was a society leader in Denver, Colorado in the 19th century. She was the wife of Crawford Hill and daughter-in-law of senator and mining executive Nathaniel P. Hill. She created the first li ...
* ''The Blue Book of the John Birch Society'', a transcript of the founding meeting of the
John Birch Society
The John Birch Society (JBS) is an American right-wing political advocacy group. Founded in 1958, it is anti-communist, supports social conservatism, and is associated with ultraconservative, radical right, far-right, or libertarian ideas.
T ...
Transportation
*
Aircraft bluebook, a digest that covers the price and condition of used general aviation aircraft in the U.S; the Aircraft Bluebook Rating Scale (or "Bluebook scale") is used in the aviation industry to rate the condition of used aircraft.
*
Automobile Blue Book
The ''Automobile Blue Book'' was an American Book series, series of road Guide book, guides for driving, motoring travelers in the United States and Canada published between 1901 and 1929. It was best known for its point-to-point road directions ...
, a route guide to American intercity transportation published between 1901 and 1929.
*
Kelley Blue Book
Kelley Blue Book is an Irvine, California-based vehicle valuation and automotive research company that is recognized by both consumers and the automotive industry. The company is owned by the Cox Automotive subsidiary of Cox Enterprises.
Histor ...
, an automotive appraisal guide from the company of the same name; it is the United States' largest automotive vehicle valuation company.
Other publications
* ''The
Bluebook
''The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation'' is a style guide that prescribes the most widely used legal citation system in the United States. It is taught and used at a majority of U.S. law schools and is also used in a majority of federal ...
: A Uniform System of Citation'', a style guide that prescribes the most widely used legal citation system in the United States
* One of the
Blue and Brown Books
The ''Blue and Brown Books'' are two sets of notes taken during lectures conducted by Ludwig Wittgenstein from 1933 to 1935. They were Mimeograph, mimeographed as two separate books, and a few copies were circulated in a restricted circle during W ...
, sets of notes taken during lectures conducted by the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein between 1933 and 1935 also called ''Preliminary Studies for the "Philosophical Investigations"''
*
''Blue Book'' (magazine), published from 1905 to 1975
*
''Blue Book'' (racing), a publication of The Jockey Club
*
Little Blue Book
Little Blue Books are a series of small staple-bound books published from 1919 through 1978 by the Haldeman-Julius Publishing Company of Girard, Kansas. They were extremely popular, and achieved a total of 300-500 million booklets sold over the se ...
s and
Big Blue Book
Big Blue Books are a series of small staple-bound books published from 1925 to 1950 by the Haldeman-Julius Publishing Company of Girard, Kansas (1919–1978), larger than the Little Blue Books. The series included both reprints and first publica ...
s, a series of 20th century paperback books by the Haldeman-Julius Publishing Company
*
The Wee Blue Book
''The Wee Blue Book'' was a multi-format publication published in 2014 and written by Stuart Campbell, editor of pro-independence blog Wings Over Scotland. It set out an economic case for Scottish independence as part of the pro-independence campa ...
, a Scottish political pro-independence publication
* In medicine, the WHO/IARC Classification of Tumors blue book series, published by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC; french: Centre International de Recherche sur le Cancer, CIRC) is an intergovernmental agency forming part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations.
Its role is to conduct and ...
and the
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...
* The Yearbook of the
Motor Sports Association
Motorsport UK, formerly known as the Motor Sports Association (MSA), is a national membership organisation and governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the United Kingdom. Legally, it is a not-for-profit private company limited by guarantee.
...
, contains rules for motor sports run under the MSA.
*
IUPAC Blue Book
''Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry'', commonly referred to by chemists as the ''Blue Book'', is a collection of recommendations on organic chemical nomenclature published at irregular intervals by the International Union of Pure and Applied C ...
, Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry
See also
*
Black Book (disambiguation)
Black Book, Black book or Blackbook may refer to:
Film
* ''Black Book'' (film), a 2006 Dutch thriller film by director Paul Verhoeven
** ''Black Book'' (soundtrack), soundtrack of the 2006 film
* ''The Black Book'' (serial), a 1929 American ...
*
Blue booking, a term from role-playing games for events which happen away from the game itself
*
Green Book (disambiguation)
*
Green paper
In the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth countries, Hong Kong, the United States and the European Union, a green paper is a tentative government report and consultation document of policy proposals for debate and discussion. A green paper represen ...
*
Grey literature
Grey literature (or gray literature) is materials and research produced by organizations outside of the traditional commercial or academic publishing and distribution channels. Common grey literature publication types include reports (annual, rese ...
*
Persuasive writing
Persuasive writing is any written communication with the intention to convince or influence readers to believe in an idea or opinion and to do an action. Many writings such as criticisms, reviews, reaction papers, editorials, proposals, advertiseme ...
*
Red Book (disambiguation)
*
White paper
A white paper is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. A white paper ...
References
{{reflist
External links
State Blue Books American Library Association's Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT)
Almanacs
Grey literature