Some of the things that I like best about the profession are the ways in which I can help the students and connect with them. Just today I had a very productive training session for our OPAC in which the students were interested, asked intelligent questions, and made connections with what I was covering.
I also like it when I help a patron and they are appreciative. I love the look on someone's face when I help him or her to get what is needed. These are the parts of the profession that I like the most.
Finally, I want to share with you a story that took place before I came to Hamline. At the time I was the assistant branch librarian for a neigborhood branch of the New York Public Library located in the Bronx (luckily in a good neigborhood). A somewhat bored high school student came in to write a paper on Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee." While showing him where to find the poem, I asked him if he understood what it referred to. I explained that the poem referred to Poe losing his wife, and mentioned that they lived in the Bronx. Upon hearing that, the student became interested.
I explained to the patron that the poem had been composed in the Bronx, the wife died in the Bronx, and the Poe cottage was still in existence. I told him where the cottage was and showed him a picture of it. The student excitedly went about writing his paper, and became very interested in the poems of Edgar Allen Poe. With that one patron I feel like I made a difference, and that is the real reward for being in this profession.
Reference Desk
Hamline University Law Library
MS-D2010
1536 Hewitt Avenue
St Paul, Minnesota 55104-1284
Phone: 651-523-2937
Fax: 651-523-2435 / 2236
*********************************************************************
"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves,
or we know where we can find information upon it."
--Samuel Johnson
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All opinions expressed are my own and not my employer's.
All original content (c) 1998 Bryan M. Carson. All rights
reserved.
>>> Mary Whisner <whisner@u.washington.edu> 8/27/98 2:45:05 PM >>>
I've enjoyed reading people's pet peeves (and I sent one of my own to
Fritz). I also liked the amusing suggestion of a peeve-a-day calendar,
listing 365 of them.
Then I thought about something more upbeat. What if we also shared some of
the things that bring us pleasure? Let's call them pet ... well, "pets"
(for lack of a ready antonym for peeve). I'm not talking about my actual
pet, Bradwell, the wonder beagle -- but what about the people, things,
events that keep us coming back for more professional challenges (and
occasional peeves)?
Consider the professor who uses the library's services heavily and also
brings a plate of cookies and writes a gracious thank you in a footnote.
Or the law students who stop by the Reference Office to say good morning
in the hallway, whether or not they have a reference question. Or the
colleague who figures out a smooth solution to a vexing technical problem.
Or a listserv that keeps us up-to-date and helps us do our work. Or ...
gee, there must be a bunch, right?
Send your pet "pets" to me and I'll gladly summarize for the list.
Mary Whisner, Head of Reference
Gallagher Law Library, University of Washington
whisner@u.washington.edu
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