Perkins Library Has Done it Again

Last year, I griped about American Libraries Direct’s habit of extolling the virtues of library promotions and projects that are creative and fun, but do little to engage the patrons they’re meant to reach out to.  I took out my frustration on Perkins Library of Hasting College and their National Library Week YouTube video contest, [...]

Read Full Post »

The kind of reference question for which it is hard to find patience

I’m a recent MLS graduate and I’m looking for some online job finding resources.
Let me Google that for you.

Read Full Post »

Your Library Instruction Session (beta)

This is the week when my library instruction session season really kicks in. From yesterday through till Thanksgiving break, I have 50-minute Speech 1110 classes, 2-hour Study Skills classes and ESL sessions, plus a random collection of SOS Workshops and a 3 hour hands-on workshop on Facebook for faculty and staff. Of all [...]

Read Full Post »

Chat Reference Question of the Day

three test tubes contain white crystalline organic solids. a b and c each of which melts at 149-150 degree C. a 50-50 mixture of A and B melts at 130-139 degree C. a 50-50 mixture of A and C melts at 149-150 degree C. in what range would a 50-50 mixture of B and C [...]

Read Full Post »

Winning Reference Question of the Day

You’ve heard of Ernest Hemingway, right?

Read Full Post »

Winning Chat Reference Question of the Day

how long is the bookthing that we can give book back?
Excellent question.

Read Full Post »

I’m supposed to touch my elbow to my nose, or I’ll totally fail

I never know who to blame when a student comes to the reference desk with a question like this… He needs to find information on various psychological concepts, mostly about visual perception. He can’t, however, use any books or encyclopedias or, it seems, any reputable source whatsoever. Essentially, then, the assignment seems [...]

Read Full Post »

An open letter to all you lazy brats out there

Dear lazy brats,
I’m not going to do your homework for you. Your instructor told you to find an article on “something you talked about in class”. I’m going to show you how to use the databases to find an article. I’m not going to pick your topic for you, because you know [...]

Read Full Post »

Nothing like a domestic squabble to put smiles on your patrons’ faces

Five minutes ago three of our armed security guards entered the library to quash the shoutin’ hittin’ and spittin’ match (okay, no spittin’) that erupted in our computer lab when a couple began openly debating the common law system of personal property (ie. “it’s my damn cellphone!”).
All witnesses are terribly amused and the library’s suddenly [...]

Read Full Post »

question, reference, confusing, “kids these days”

Have you noticed that students ask reference questions in keywords? I’d say 90% of the most frustrating reference interviews I have are the result of the student trying to piece together a question using words they kinda sorta remember hearing their instructors mention.
“Can you help me find abstract, article, periodical, peer and information?”
Huh?
“Um, I [...]

Read Full Post »