For a limited time, people who visit the library can view a page of Irish writer Temple Henry Croker’s “Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences” that depicts North America as it was understood when Croker edited the three-volume set of encyclopedias in the 1760s — with modern-day Alaska labeled as “parts unknown.”

The “Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences” is notable for being the first English encyclopedia published outside London, McConnell said.

Thomas Williams and Samuel Clark also contributed articles to the encyclopedias, which were largely a plagiarization of Ephraim Chambers’ “Cyclopaedia, or a Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences,” according to McConnell.

The publishing date varies depending where you look, McConnell said.

The Altoona Area Public Library owns Temple Henry Croker’s “Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences,” which are the oldest books in the facility. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

According to the book’s Wikipedia page, which McConnell supplied a copy of for additional information, publication began in April 1765 with the issuance of 150 three-page sheets that were collected into a folio dated 1764-66.

The encyclopedias are enclosed in a glass display case on the library’s first floor, beside the elevator.

One book depicts the map of North America and a blank page. Sitting on top of the blank page is an illegible fragment of another page written in cursive, which McConnell said someone found in the encyclopedia while completing research.

A second book is closed and sits underneath the third book, which doesn’t have a cover and features a full-page encyclopedia entry labeled “ear.”

While completing his internship at the library in 2013, McConnell found the encyclopedias in a storage area on the library’s second floor, which is now part of CareerLink, he said.

Temple Henry Croker’s “Complete Dictionary of Arts and Sciences” will remain on display at the Altoona Area Public Library for a couple months. The three- volume set of encyclopedias were edited by Croker in the 1760s. Mirror photo by Matt Churella

“They were in locked metal boxes, and we didn’t really know what was in them,” McConnell said, adding he tried a bunch of keys before finding one that unlocked the box containing the encyclopedias.

“We didn’t know what they were, so we did a little research and found out what they were,” he said.

Because ultraviolet radiation lighting can damage the pages on display, McConnell said the encyclopedias will only be on display “for a couple of months or so.”

The library owns the encyclopedias, which are the oldest books in the facility, McConnell said, noting the library owns older books but they are stored at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg.

Jennifer Knisely, the library’s executive director, said the set of encyclopedias is the first in a series of displays that will be shown at the library throughout the year in honor of the United States Semiquincentennial.

Knisely said she asked McConnell to come up with something promoting “community awareness” for each quarter of the year.

When asked what will be featured in future displays, McConnell said he doesn’t know yet.

“I haven’t gotten there yet,” he said of the library’s plans for the 250th anniversary.

McConnell said he encourages people to visit the library and check out some of its other displays.

On the other side of the library’s elevator, four clay tablets — each about 3,000 years old — depicting cuneiform writing are also on display.

The tablets were used by the Babylonians as receipts for sacrificial animals and other business transactions, according to a sign in the display.

A letter accompanying the sign states that American diplomat Edgar James Banks acquired the tablets from Arabs while exploring Babylonia for the University of Chicago and sold them to the Altoona Area School District.

“I think they’re just … interesting to see,” McConnell said of the displays.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.