[Publib] 50 things...

[Lisa Richland]

While it is important to assist a patron with an extensive reference
question, ignoring those with what the reference librarian considers less
important is counter-productive.  If you would take a moment to inquire of
the waiting patron exactly what their need is, you will demonstrate to all
concerned that every patron has valid needs. At least acknowledge them with
a smile and a time frame (I'll be with you in five minutes) You can then
dole out change, send jobs to the printer, while still engaging the
reference questioner in further discussion.  Those people you've ignored in
favor of the questioner won't come back to you when they have a reference
need, since you ignored them. Each one of them deserves respect. Think about
the grand scheme of things.


...and that's MY opinion

Lisa Richland, Director
Floyd Memorial Library
Greenport, NY (the last library before Portugal)


On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 10:50 AM, Mark Hudson <hudsonme at mac.com> wrote:

> I agree completely. But what about the patron standing at the reference
> desk, while the one librarian at the desk is engaged in a reference
> interview and doing searches, who wants to be placed on a waiting list for a
> computer, or wants to have their printouts sent to the printer and pay for
> them (rarely with exact change), or who just wants change for the vending
> machines? And what about the computer users frantically waving at us to come
> over and help them with their technical problems? I think the answer is
> obvious. The person receiving reference help is the first priority.
>
>   --
> Mark Hudson
> Head of Adult Services
> Monroeville Public Library
> 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd.
> Monroeville, PA 15146
> 412-372-0500x13
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Kevin Okelly" <KOkelly at minlib.net>
> Subject: Re: [Publib] 50 things...
> To: "Gair Helfrich" <ghelfrich at aclsys.org>, "Vicki Marsh"
>  <vmarsh at oldhampl.org>, publib at webjunction.org
> Message-ID: <WorldClient-F200911042119.AA19566392 at minlib.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
> When I work the reference desk a person physically standing in front of me
> always has priority. They took the time and made the effort to come into
> the library, therefore they come first.
>
> Kevin O'Kelly
> Reference and Community Languages Librarian
> Somerville Public Library
> 79 Highland Ave.
> Somerville, MA 02143
> (617)-623-5000
>
>
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>
> ,
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