[Publib] How do you correct a coworker givingincorrectinformation?

[Robert L. Balliot]

Greetings,

 

I may be wrong about this, but I believe that it is possible for

any librarian to give a wrong answer.  It may be an incomplete

answer, an unqualified answer without a source, partially

erroneous or completely incorrect.  

 

I expect that wrong answers of all sorts will be given by people

throughout the course of their careers.  Research has shown

that even under the best of circumstances, we may

only be at a 90% accuracy rate.  Richardson,
<http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleId=CA206407>
2002

 

So, if one in ten answers is wrong, and librarians

know that they are wrong, why would there be a stigma attached

to correcting through collaboration?  In fact, it should be a matter

of policy to expect to be corrected in a collegial environment.

Reference supervisors should determine the best tact and

decorum to follow in an environment where mistakes are 

probable.  Our professional credibility is built on truth and

accuracy.  Who does it help if we allow quality to be

compromised through inaction?

 

If you were selling hamburgers and veggie-burgers to the public

and one of your co-workers gave a hamburger to a vegan

by mistake,  would you let the person know before they

took a bite? 

 

Of course, I may be wrong.

 

*************************************************

Robert L. Balliot

1-401-441-5763

Skype: RBalliot

Bristol, Rhode Island

http://oceanstatelibrarian.com/contact.htm

*************************************************

  _____  

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of Jim Sanderson
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 3:56 PM
To: 'Valerie Doyle'; 'Media Center'; publib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Publib] How do you correct a coworker
givingincorrectinformation?

 

Often the response is "I'd talk to the staffer later and not embarass them"
When I get this type of response I always follow up with "What if the patron
is leaving the building then?"  I need to hear them assure me that getting
the patron the right information is a priority.

 

James W. Sanderson 
Supervising Librarian 
West Avenue Library 
Newport News Public Library 



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