Solving the Puzzle
17 January 2008 23:24 library dazeWhat does it mean to be a reference librarian? When someone asks you a question, what do you do?
Do you find information for that patron? Do you suggest a few select books from the catalog or point out articles that seem to be on topic? Even as you perform such a consultation do you act as a readers’ advisory?
Or do you instruct the patron on how to find the information for him or herself? Do you explain the theory behind searching and do example searches? Do you teach the mechanics of manipulating data?
Do you do both? If you do both, why? Why do you simply find information for one patron, but chose to instruct the other one?
The library instruction librarian in me wants to teach everyone that comes into the library how to find information for him or herself. She wants every boy and girl that enters the library to know how to tell a good source from a bad one. She wants them to know how to use the good source when they find it and do so responsibly. She wants them to be independent researchers and find it rewarding.
Many requests are relatively straight-forward and, if properly educated, the patron can easily find the information for him or herself. Therefore, a little instruction can go a long way in answering the question.
But when that gem of a question, that rare nugget of authentic reference work is presented, the rouge reference librarian in me emerges and suppresses that naive instruction librarian. The reference librarian wants the thrill of finding the answer all to herself. She doesn’t care if all the good boys and girls learn how to find the answer or not.
It isn’t about guarding the secrets of the library or being lazy. It isn’t about purposely finding the information so the patron doesn’t have to or influencing the information the patron receives.
It’s all about solving the puzzle.
18 January 2008 at 20:15
I soooo understand where you’re coming from! I think we all love to solve a good mystery!
19 January 2008 at 15:56
Yup, sometimes the question just captures your interest and it does become all about finding the answer.
In your earlier post you talk about audio books, I love those. I started listening a number of years ago as I have a 45 min. commute each way to work (bad weather days it can be much longer). The radio can get awful tiring to listen to that much. I love to read, but have a hard time finding time. This works so well. I haven’t done much of it when I’m home, but it seems it would work equally well. Normally I’ll put on a DVD of a movie I’ve seen enough I don’t normally need to “watch” constantly to keep up with the story. Long movies like The Lord of the Rings are my favorites.
28 January 2008 at 20:14
Oooooh, I’ll bet rouge librarians are scary!