Next month I start some machine shop training at the local vo-tech school. I've heard the following are good reference materials to have:
Machinery's Handbook
(many editions on Ebay...which one should I get?)
The American Machinist's Handbook (also on Ebay)
The Machinist's Bedside Readers
What are your opinions on these books? Thanks!

Clerk, The machinist course is a great idea. I would check with your instructor to see if Machinery's Handbook is used in theory classes. If so, you will want the same one they use, because information is listed on different pages from one edition to the next. You will also want a Harig Speed and Feed Calculator. Both of these items may be available thru the school.

I got one of the bedside readers and wasn't impressed. I won't buy another. I don't recognize the others you mention, but I do recommend the Brownell's "Gunsmith Kinks" books and "The Gunsmith Machinist" by Steve Acker (pricey though).

Clerk (or Kirk?)

Try these sites. These guys are a great source of information

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/ubbs/Ultimate.cgi?action=intro&BypassCookie=true

http://www.chaski.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php

Roger