Comments on: Reference Question of the Week - 10/28/07 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/11/03/reference-question-of-the-week-102807 or, The Hitchhiker's Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:01:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/11/03/reference-question-of-the-week-102807#comment-34831 Brian Herzog Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:23:22 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=213#comment-34831 Although it sounds like a cop-out to me, this really does seem to need to be decided on a case-by-case basis (regardless of the library). I'm generally in favor of having policies and procedures to handle most situation, but also in giving library staff enough freedom to make intelligent decisions base on what a situation dictates. Our flexibility is one thing that sets our service above that of general internet searching. Although it sounds like a cop-out to me, this really does seem to need to be decided on a case-by-case basis (regardless of the library). I’m generally in favor of having policies and procedures to handle most situation, but also in giving library staff enough freedom to make intelligent decisions base on what a situation dictates.

Our flexibility is one thing that sets our service above that of general internet searching.

]]> By: Robin http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/11/03/reference-question-of-the-week-102807#comment-34783 Robin Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:52:17 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=213#comment-34783 Yes, Buzzy, you are right, I should have specified in a public library. I think an academic library would be very different, and students would be expected to do their own research. Yes, Buzzy, you are right, I should have specified in a public library. I think an academic library would be very different, and students would be expected to do their own research.

]]> By: Lichen http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/11/03/reference-question-of-the-week-102807#comment-34726 Lichen Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:03:38 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=213#comment-34726 Yum, manwitches. Yum, manwitches.

]]> By: Buzzy http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/11/03/reference-question-of-the-week-102807#comment-34435 Buzzy Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:09:40 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=213#comment-34435 I agree with you here, too. I find I'm a LOT more lenient in what I'll do for patrons in my public library job. In my academic library job, though, things get a bit thornier. The line's definitely different there, but at what point do you go from being helpful & empowering to enabling? I agree with you here, too. I find I’m a LOT more lenient in what I’ll do for patrons in my public library job.

In my academic library job, though, things get a bit thornier. The line’s definitely different there, but at what point do you go from being helpful & empowering to enabling?

]]> By: Robin http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2007/11/03/reference-question-of-the-week-102807#comment-34316 Robin Sun, 04 Nov 2007 08:22:57 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=213#comment-34316 I agree with you man - user educations doesn't have to be worked into every reference query. Now I gotta get back to my user education assignment (sigh). I agree with you man - user educations doesn’t have to be worked into every reference query.

Now I gotta get back to my user education assignment (sigh).

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