[Publib] Reference Questions

[Sanderson, James W.]

Its not just home schoolers.  I once had a mother come to the desk and try to explain her son's assignment.  It was a while ago and I do not recall the topic, however she was not able to articulate it very well.  I explained that it was often best if we could work with the student directly as they would know their assignment better and it would be easier for us to ask questions about what their class was working on if we needed more information.  Her reply was her son was much to busy doing important things to bother with his assignments, he was after all on the basketball team.

James W. Sanderson
Supervising Librarian
West Avenue Library
Newport News Public Library
2907 West Avenue
Newport News, Virginia. 23607
(757) 247-8505
(757) 247-2344
www.nngov.com/library
-----Original Message-----
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Lorie J. O'Donnell
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 2:56 PM
To: PUBLIB
Subject: Re: [Publib] Reference Questions

It can be truly terrifying to think of some of the people home-
schooling their children.  I had a mom in just yesterday looking for
materials for her 4th grade home-schooled son.  She wanted DVDs that
listed all the different kinds of bridges with brief descriptions,
charts, etc.  I explained that we had all of that information in
several books, that it was information more likely found in books.
She was quite adamant that her son not have to read to do his
reports, he didn't have the time, and she wasn't going to make him
read.  *sigh*
It's not often I tell a patron a resounding *NO*, but I did in this
case.  She was not happy. And this is the woman raising the future of
the world (I know, that's dramatic, but t happens too often these days).

Lorie


On Dec 3, 2008, at 1:06 PM, DGunckel at ci.sierra-vista.az.us wrote:

> A parent homeschooling her 10 and 11 year old came into the library
> asking
> for information about animals for her children's biology reports.
> I took
> her to a section of the reference collection and explained here are
> resources discussing animals including mammals, insects, retiles,
> birds,
> etc. and even one-celled animals. She exclaimed, "NO, I want just
> information on animals. You know, rabbits, bears, squirrels and
> that kind
> of thing."
>
> David Gunckel
> Sierra Vista Public Library
>
>
>
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Lorie J. O'Donnell, MLS
Chief Librarian for Children's Services

Jervis Public Library
613 N. Washington St.
Rome, NY   13440

315-336-4570 ext. 226






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