finding info on the Web

[Robert Wagers]

     I never thought about it before, but the availability of online 
catalogs makes it possible for "virtual consulting": helping people at a 
distance to find information in their own collections.  Since many of the 
OPAC lists are organized geographically, you could also refer them to 
nearby sources for their information.  Not earthshaking, but interesting.

r wagers

On Tue, 5 Dec 1995, Ilene Frank (REF) wrote:

> Rebecca, I have a story for you (and other readers.) I met up with a very
> helpful HELP-NET participant last year.  After watching him answer lots of
> questions for others, he finally asked for the group for help concerning a
> research paper of his own.  The stuff HAD to be at his library - which
> turned out to be at the University of New Mexico(!!!!  See Rebecca's
> address below) 
> 
> After some email interchanges and me telnetting to UNM to
> check out my hunch - lo and behold - everything he needed was right down
> the street!  It turned out he had NO IDEA there were so many cool
> resources at his home institution.  I've been doing long-distance
> reference service with him ever since.  And he's become a great fan of
> libraries.  Do you want him?  He's finishing up a 20 page paper for a 
> german history class this week.
> 
> The moral of the story?  Sometimes people act on their own because they 
> haven't got a clue?  
> 
> Ilene Frank, ifrank at lib.usf.edu
> Tampa Campus Library, Reference Dept.
> University of South Florida
>       
>                     ********************************
> On Tue, 5 Dec 1995, Rebecca Bauerschmidt wrote:
> 
> > On Mon, 4 Dec 1995 TravLib1 at aol.com wrote:
> > > I recently attended a 2-day workshop sponsored by Ameritech on the Web. One
> > > of the presenters related the time he was trying to find the cititation of a
> > > certain poem. He posted the question to the Web (site unknown), and, within
> > > an hour he had his citiation.
> > > 
> > > I was not too shy to suggest that if he had called his local public library,
> >                                               ******
> > > he could have had that answer within a few minutes, or less.
> > > 
> > > Ever heard of Granger's (and *not* the one on-line).
> > > The Web's a miraculous place. However ...
> > > Use what's best and what's quickest. This is our job.
> > 
> > Not always.  I feel it is also our job to empower our clientele and let
> > them know the myriad of options they have.  If one option doesn't pan out
> > try another. 
> > 
> > Perhaps the individuals are working when the library is closed or when the
> > reference desk is not available. Thankfully most/many Internet sources
> > don't have a closed sign hanging on the door.  Patrons may prefer to find
> > the answer without direct (human) assistance from others in the comfort of 
> > their home or office.  If it takes an hour or a day that is okay.
> > 
> > I previously worked for our campus computing center help desk, and I now
> > work for our library.  As a help desk person, we were always amazed how
> > many people would call when they could easily find the information they
> > needed locally if they were only willing to look. With three phone lines
> > coming in, most of them busy, we felt it important to teach people how to
> > help themselves especially when a human is not available to assist.
> > 
> > Please do not condone someone trying to find information in the best way
> > they know how, but suggest other sources they may find helpful and convenient. 
> > 
> > Rebecca Bauerschmidt                            ...no matter where you go
> > University of New Mexico General Library                there you are ...
> > Library Technology Development Dept
> > rebs at unm.edu           505/277-2587
> > 
>