For University first years of the past, finding a phone number for a late-night pizza delivery or a place to get a haircut required some digging.
For 2004's first years, finding their way around was no problem, thanks to the early release of the Hook Book.
The comprehensive Charlottesville and University resource guide, published by Student Council, was handed out earlier than ever this year.
In the past, the Hook Book has been passed out as late as two months after the start of classes.
New students received this year's version at orientation meetings during their first week at the University.
"We wanted to get it out as soon as possible to have it available for first years and transfer students," said Kimberly Jones, co-chair of a newly formed Council committee focused on the Hook Book. "This was our summer project. We really wanted residence staff to be able to have it early so they could distribute it to everybody."
Council Vice President for Administration Gregory Jackson said having a group of people focused on producing the book was the main reason it was available so early.
"It also helped that the design and the cover were done in the building this year, it made things more efficient," Jackson said. "We got started planning in early May this year."
The Hook Book contains information about almost everything related to life on Grounds in alphabetical order, from the academic calendar to a map of Grounds.
Council Office Manager Jyoti Daryanani said she thought the local business listings in the back of the Hook Book are its best resource.
"First years and transfers are new to the Charlottesville area, so the outside business listings are important, whereas most U.Va. information is available on the Web," Daryanani said.
The Hook Book also provides coupons for area businesses, a perk students could not fully appreciate last year because the publication came out so late that the coupons had already expired when students received the guide.
"We had a hard time getting coupons from businesses this year because they didn't see any benefit from it last year," Jackson said.
This year's Hook Book contains coupons for five local businesses.
Some students said they have already put the publication to good use.
First-year Engineering student Michael White said the book came in handy the first night he had it.
"The Hook Book hooked me up with some late-night pizza," White said. "I got back to my dorm and I was starving, so I opened it up and I found the pizza place's number."
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