My venture to the library today to ask a reference question came off swimmingly. I was a little worried since several of my classmates had reported very bad experiences. And when I asked my question the librarian just started typing on her computer without saying anything–something that is typically a bad sign.
I had no idea what to ask. Until last quarter when I had to ask an online reference question for class, I had never asked anything at a library, always preferring to find things myself because the librarians always seemed so busy. And today the librarian was busy. I was surprised how many people were at my little branch library in the middle of the afternoon. I walked up to the reference desk and told the librarian I had bugs on some plants and was wondering if she could help me find information I could use to identify them. And then she started typing.
Just when I thought that she wasn’t going to ask me what kind of plants the bugs were on, she looked up and asked if the plants were indoor or outdoor. I told her outdoors in the garden. She started typing again, then began chatting, telling me why she had a big coffee stain down the middle of her white shirt. She was suddenly very friendly and chatty but never once told me what she was searching for.
Then she said I needed to look at the SBs and she got up and walked me over to the shelf, pulled a book off that had color photos of garden pests, and pointed out other titles on the shelf that might also be useful. I was surprised and delighted she walked me over to the shelf and put a book in my hands. That’s great service even if she didn’t tell me her search terms or offer to assist me further if the book she gave me didn’t prove useful. And did I mention the library was busy? She took time and didn’t even give the impression of being rushed.
I felt rather proud of my little library and will definitely not hesitate to ask a question in the future if I ever need assistance.
I like the question you chose, because I’ve been trying to figure out what these intrusive plants are growing in my yard- and online searches are no help. I’m going to visit my local branch tomorrow, and ask for assistance. Maybe they can put a book in my hands!
Jeane, thanks. Do ask your librarian for help. I’ll bet s/he will be able to find you a fantastic plant identification book. Good luck!
I think it’s rarer than you might expect for library patrons to want to understand search terms or the “how to” behind the answer to their request. I’m always thrilled when someone actually appreciates me turning the screen around so that she can follow what I’m doing and learn how to do it on her own.
Dude, your classmates are full of it. Reference librarians want to help you. That’s what they got in the profession for. If your classmates had bad experiences, it was because they acted like jackasses and pissed off the librarian.
Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.
– Lady Bird Johnson –
Terrific blog posting. I LOVE the Library.
One of the things I love most about living in a fairly big city [4th largest Canadian city] is that the Library system is really great. I can order books from my computer and have them DELIVERED to the branch nearest me. And it is so nice, as you mention, when the Librarian takes an interest in finding what you need. Countless times I have phoned, trying to locate a book, and I have always found the librarians to be helpful and courteous.
I like to envision an Afterlife that has this MASSIVE Library… with eternal lending-privileges.
Glad it went well — it wouldn’t be any fun to have to report a bad experience. I would have been a little stumped for a question — I’m used to looking things up myself too!
Good question and that’s definitely great service - on a busy day no less! I don’t typically ask the librarians questions either but one time I did ask online - we chatted real time and she was able to find the poem I was looking for. I only had a snippet of it and she was able to find it!
I love libraries and librarians and they are always so helpful at our little Alameda library (which is an awesome “green” building insulated with shredded denim and has solar power!). I should come up with a question just for the fun of it. They are always very helpful when I need to request a book outside our system.
Thanks for posting this. I almost never want to ask for help, so this is inspiring.
Susan, really? The literature and the professor have been making it seem like is our librarian duty to show the patron our searches so as to teach them how to do it themselves. But I guess I am not that surprised. I mean, unless I ask to be shown how to search, I jut want the answer.
Derek, I respectfully disagree with you. My class is made up of people who all want to be librarians and none of them have any reason to act stupid and make the librarian mad.
Cipriano, that’s great that you have had such wonderful service from your library. I can have books delivered to my nearest branch too. It’s a fantastic thing isn’t it? Love the quote. And yeah, an afterlife in a library with eternal lending privileges, that would be heaven!
Dorothy, I’m glad I had a good experience too. Those of my classmates who didn’t were rather upset by their ordeal.
Iliana, I was impressed how much time she took when it was so busy. Totally unexpected. And it sounds like you had a great reference experience too. And I think you have given me a good idea for the next time I have to ask a reference question!
Daphne, your green library sound fabulous. I found it hard to come up with a question, not that I didn’t have any, but that I never ask them of a librarian so it was hard to change my mindset.
Andi, I never want to ask for help either, but that’s what the librarian is there for. I’m learning to get over my impression that I am bothering them.
I used to be afraid to ask questions, too, but now I don’t mind it so much. The last time I had to ask was about composting and the librarian also walked me over to the shelves. The books weren’t all in the same place and she took the time to find all the various call numbers. It was funny as she had just started composting, too, so was all into it and chatty. Glad to hear your experience was a good one!
I usually never ask questions either because I like finding the answers myself, but not too long ago, I’d returned a book without finishing it, couldn’t quite remember the call numbers or where it had been shelved, couldn’t get to the computer catalog (because of the mass of people) and the librarian not only helpfully knew the numbers but went to the stacks with me to find the book.
Maybe she assumed you knew the parameters of the search you’d asked about?