Collegiality is unchanged; ditto the reference interview

[Frank Bridge]

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