Comments on: Reference Question of the Week - 4/19/09 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2009/04/25/reference-question-of-the-week-41909 or, The Hitchhiker's Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:29:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Brian Herzog http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2009/04/25/reference-question-of-the-week-41909#comment-51657 Brian Herzog Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:45:49 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=641#comment-51657 @Aaron: I love the idea, and wonder the same thing myself. I think bookstores might be a bit closer to this than libraries. The problem I keep coming back to is that we just don't have enough floor space to spread the collection out to make things easier to find, so I think the solution has more to do with library layout than anything else. I'd also like to experiment with this by just turning off all the opacs in the library. That would let us test how patrons respond to other wayfinding prompts, specially-designed handouts at the opac stations, if they come to a desk or just leave empty-handed. @Auntie: I'll have to invoke my favorite librarian saying: I don't know all the answers, I just know where to find them. @Aaron: I love the idea, and wonder the same thing myself. I think bookstores might be a bit closer to this than libraries. The problem I keep coming back to is that we just don’t have enough floor space to spread the collection out to make things easier to find, so I think the solution has more to do with library layout than anything else.

I’d also like to experiment with this by just turning off all the opacs in the library. That would let us test how patrons respond to other wayfinding prompts, specially-designed handouts at the opac stations, if they come to a desk or just leave empty-handed.

@Auntie: I’ll have to invoke my favorite librarian saying: I don’t know all the answers, I just know where to find them.

]]> By: Auntie Nanuuq http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2009/04/25/reference-question-of-the-week-41909#comment-51640 Auntie Nanuuq Sat, 25 Apr 2009 15:38:48 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=641#comment-51640 "Some patrons think I have every book in the library memorized." But you do don't you? Come on & admit it, we all do! “Some patrons think I have every book in the library memorized.” But you do don’t you? Come on & admit it, we all do!

]]> By: Aaron http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2009/04/25/reference-question-of-the-week-41909#comment-51639 Aaron Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:31:59 +0000 http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/?p=641#comment-51639 Taking your comment about signs directing people to the right resources to the extreme, I've often wondered if a library's design, layout, and wayfinding could be so well done that a library member would never have to use an OPAC to find the items they're after. I don't know if the answer is yes, but it is an idea I'd like to explore further. Taking your comment about signs directing people to the right resources to the extreme, I’ve often wondered if a library’s design, layout, and wayfinding could be so well done that a library member would never have to use an OPAC to find the items they’re after.

I don’t know if the answer is yes, but it is an idea I’d like to explore further.

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