Jane, if you can get a copy, i would really recommend the beekeeping book by JG Digges which i loaned out to a friend somtime ago and never had returned and for that reason i cannot remember just what the title is.
This book although old is an invaluable reference on the life of the honey bee, hives equipment and just about everything else. JG Digges was an Irish Reverend and the way the book is written is a real joy to read, poetic and the way he describes the life of the honey bee just has to be read, he had a way with words that i don't think can be beaten.
I use this book every year for something and really wish it would be returned to me. It is the turn of the century publication but is still invaluable being that beekeeping does not really change much.
Update
I have just looked up on the net and am fairly certain the book is called The Practical Bee Guide - A Manual Of Modern Beekeeping, the site which still has it listed is here--
http://www.flipkart.com/j-g-digges/
Another book you may be interested in is called Beekeeping at Buckfast Abbey by Brother Adam, very technical reference on the way the bees at Buckfast are kept, heavy going but interesting in places.
Ian