I used to bead a few years back... still have three big boxes (with about 18 subsections in each) with different coloured beads. If at all, I only use them to bead patterns on costumes though nowadays.
A good book that was given to me is "The Best Little Beading Book" by Wendy Simpson Conner - got it from that beading shop in Chatswood. Most of the patterns in there are hugely out-dated, but it's got good information and how-to's on different types of beads, how to tell good beads from cheap ones, different names of beading styles, and lots of basic techniques. There's also a lovely section at the back dedicated to colour and stone meanings, chakras etc - if you're into that sort of thing in relation to beading (some people are)