[Publib] Best Reference Question Ever

[Margaret Neill]

I have a couple:

 

The ubiquitous "I'm looking for a book, it's white." 

A man who called me at the reference desk wanting the number to the
local Petsmart because he was in the woods and he lost his gerbil. (He
also warned me never to get married because it ruined the other
reference librarian) 

A man who wanted the phone numbers to escort services in Amsterdam,
Miami and San Antonio. (I got them, although I feared for days
afterwards that I'd have a hell of a lot of explaining to do if IT
looked at the website visited logs)

A woman looking for the "Masturbator's Singing Club" (Master Butcher's
Singing Club) - she didn't want it when I corrected her on the title! 

And, in a final "kooky title" entry, a patron looking for "Killing
Babies at the Piggly Wiggly" (Kissing Babies at the Piggly Wiggly) - who
also decided she didn't want the book after being corrected on the
title. 

 

Margaret M. Neill

Library Manager, Technical Services and Systems

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library

200 E. Picacho Ave. 

Las Cruces, NM 88001

Office: (575) 528-4043

Fax: (575) 528-4030

mneill at las-cruces.org

 

"Everyone who knows how to read has it in their power to magnify
themselves, multiple the ways in which they exist, to make their life
full, significant, and interesting."
- Aldous Huxley 

________________________________

From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org
[mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Justine Shaffner
Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 9:21 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Best Reference Question Ever

 

Mine was a real stumper from a five year old - What's the steepest
mountain in the world?  (I explained about Everest and how K-2 was
considered more dangerous...., but surely there are mountains in the
world with multiple overhangs that beat out K-2 for this honor...)

 

Justine Shaffner, MLS

Public Library Market Coordinator

BCR

14394 E. Evans Ave.

Aurora, CO 80014-1408
p: 303.751.6277 x140
800.397.1552
f:  303.751.9787
e: jshaffner at bcr.org <mailto:jshaffner at bcr.org> 
www.BCR.org

 

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