[WEB4LIB] Re: In defense of stupid users

[Nina McHale]

...and then we go racing up or down to the area of the stacks where the 
patron just *might* be looking for books, using LoC call numbers of the 
subject of their inquiry to track them. My desk used to be in an area of 
non-librarian staffers.  It became a joke that someone would ask a 
question out loud, just wondering something, and within a minute or two, 
I'd provide the answer. 

Well, Bernie, even though your original post didn't get a true 
back-and-forth discussion of the issue going, this sure has been fun! :)

-- 
Nina McHale
Reference Librarian/Web Services Coordinator
Lauinger Library
Georgetown University
Washington, DC 20057
nlm25 at georgetown.edu
202-687-6818



Chen, Shu Sue wrote:

>Here is an anecdote:
>
>A patron asked for a piece of information that was somewhat challenging
>to find. (Forgot what it was.)  I had to ask my fellow librarians for
>help.  A couple of us were really turned on after checking some obvious
>sources and failed to locate the information.  We all dived feverishly
>and thoughtfully into the reference shelves and web resources.  When we
>finally found the answer, the patron was long gone. We were sorry that
>he left without having his question answered, but we felt nonetheless
>pleased with our work. 
>
>Has it ever happened to you? 
>
>
>************************************************************************
>Sue Chen
>Public Service Librarian
>Sacramento City College Library
>(916) 650-2760
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: web4lib at webjunction.org
>[mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Carver, Blake
>Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 10:19 AM
>To: Multiple recipients of list
>Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: In defense of stupid users
>
>
>
>Only librarians enjoy searching, everyone else enjoys finding.- Roy
>Tennant, Access 2004.
>
>::::::::::::::::::::::::
>Blake Carver
>Technical Librarian
>New York Power Authority
>Niagara Project 
>
>  
>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>Subject: [WEB4LIB] Re: In defense of stupid users
>>>
>>>
>>>Somewhere I read/heard a comment that I have tried to keep in mind. 
>>>
>>>Only librarians enjoy looking for information.  Everyone else 
>>>just wants to be able to use the information and would really 
>>>prefer that it was just handed to them.
>>>
>>>I can't tell you the source or even the exact quote but it is 
>>>something we need to remember.
>>>
>>>Mary 
>>>hesterm at bartonccc.edu
>>>      
>>>
>
>
>
>
>  
>