[WEB4LIB] Re: Collegiality is unchanged; ditto the reference interview

[Nancy Sosna Bohm]

It is interesting that the 2 immediate responses to the newbie's question
spanned the spectrum of electronic list replies in general, with one being
nurturing, patient, and generous to the nth degree, and the other perhaps
voicing what most others who didn't reply actually thought.
;)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joyce M. Latham" <latham1 at students.uiuc.edu>
To: "Multiple recipients of list" <web4lib at webjunction.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2002 1:21 PM
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: Collegiality is unchanged; ditto the reference
interview


> But what if you, as a digital resource, are part of the research?  As I
> pointed out to Mr. Drew, we often seek clarification of those posing
> questions about the scope of their project.  If he had not identified
> himself as a student, what would the response have been?
>
> Joyce Latham
> GSLIS -- UofI
>
> Frank Bridge wrote:
> >
> > I saw the student's posting in the same way as Mr. Drew--it was
> > difficult to determine what the student wanted.    His posting suffered
> > from the same problem as any other reference question we receive daily
> > on the floors of our libraries--determining the exact nature of the
> > inquiry, and the lengths to which the answerer is expected to go in
> > order to provide a satisfactory response.
> >
> > This is particularly interesting to untangle when the asker is a student
> > who is expected to gain educational experience from performing the
> > research and completing the assignment himself.
> >
> > "Joyce M. Latham" wrote:
> > >
> > > My students are also doing a Web4Lib assignment ... although you may
not
> > > be aware of them.  They have been monitoring the contents of the site
> > > all semester, and we discuss what topics emerge on the list every
> > > Friday.  I have also occasionally encouraged students to post a query
to
> > > the list ... usually because I don't know the answer to the question.
> > >
> > > The point is to investigate what avenues are available to assist with
> > > the diffusion of IT knowledge.  I don't know about anyone else, but
when
> > > I got started with IT in libraries the collegiality within the
> > > profession was critical to the successful (most of the time) adoption
of
> > > technology -- especially in my libraries.  I was often just a step or
> > > two ahead of everyone else in the library, so got the IT management
> > > job.  It was challenging -- and often scary.  We needed to help each
> > > other.
> > >
> > >   While I was in NC, we started a microcomputers users group
> > > for libraries that sponsored a computer camp for librarians every
summer
> > > -- ran for a week and cost $100.  You could learn how to take a pc
apart
> > > and put it back together, or you could learn dBASE III+, or Lotus ...
> > > those of us who knew something, sponsored a track ... those of us who
> > > didn't, took the classes in the track ... too bad we've commercialized
> > > so much of what we know ...
> > >
> > > We cared about enabling our colleagues ... I hope we still do.  As far
> > > as I'm concerned, my students -- any students -- are as much my
> > > colleagues as any practicing librarian who already knows it all and
> > > doesn't need any help.  We have an opportunity here to continue the
> > > supportive environment that can promote best practice and network the
> > > lonely techies out there in libraries all over the country ...
> > >
> > > Joyce Latham
> > > Graduate School of Library and Information Science
> > > University of Illinois
> > >
> > > "Drew, Bill" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Are we now doing homework for LIS students?  What does "Bill" want
from us?
> > > >
> > > > Bill Drew
> > >
> > > --
> > > Joyce M. Latham
> > > GSLIS -- University of Illinois
> >
> > --
> > Frank R. Bridge,
> > Technology Management Administrator
> > Chesterfield County Public Library
> > 9501 Lori Rd.
> > PO Box 297
> > Chesterfield, VA  23832-0297
> > Voice:  804-748-1980
> > Fax:            804-751-4679
>
> --
> Joyce M. Latham
> GSLIS -- University of Illinois
>