[WEB4LIB] ESOTERIC LIBRARY FAQs

[Carole Leita]

I don't know about any academic ones, but in public libraries we call them 
fugitive fact, tickler, ready reference, etc. files, and here are three we 
have in the Librarians' Index to the Internet.

Fugitive Fact File - http://www.hennepin.lib.mn.us/catalog/fff_public.html
         Locate hard-to-find and elusive information on thousands of topics 
using this database. All
         of the data and resources collected here have been used by library 
staff to answer reference
         questions. Results include answer, source, date, and Web site, if 
pertinent. Since it's
         maintained and regularly updated by Hennepin County Library (MN) 
staff, many of the files
         are Minnesota specific, but there are plenty of answers to 
questions asked in all libraries.
         Most libraries maintain a fugitive facts file but not many have 
put it on-line for
         world-wide access!

Ready Reference Files - http://www.santacruzpl.org/readyref/
         With a database subtitled Tricky-to-Find Information, Santa Cruz 
Public Library joins the
         growing list of libraries converting their "fugitive fact" or 
"tickler" card files to electronic
         databases. Searchable or browsable, and containing lots that's 
useful to all, this is
         definitely the place to start for that elusive California 
information such as what E Clampus
         Vitus is, a list of all the state librarians, and what Filoli 
stands for. Links to pertinent Web
         sites, when available, are included.

Reference Department Rolodex - 
http://www.ci.clearwater.fl.us/intra/rolodex.html
         Reference "tickler" or "fugitive facts" file done by the 
Clearwater Public Library (Florida).
         Sources and dates of update given. Some information specific to 
Florida, but enough
         general information to be useful for browsing or a specific search.

Best,

Carole

At 08:57 AM 8/5/99 -0700, Gerry Mckiernan wrote:

>    I am greatly interested in learning about examples of College or
>University LIBRARY FAQs that provide answers to commonly-asked or esoteric 
>(or exotic) questions.
>
>    I  am *NOT* particulary interested in those FAQs that provide answers 
> to basic (or advanced) _library  instruction_ questions (How do I find  a 
> journal at XYZ library?) What is of interest are FAQs that provide 
> significant coverage of questions are commonly-asked, were difficult to 
> answer and/or of a unusual  nature (e.g., the Iowa curve)..

_____________________________
Carole Leita, leita at wenet.net