Serendipitous Findings No More

As a librarian, I have absolutely no qualms about patrons aimlessly browsing the stacks, waiting for some interesting book spine to call out to them saying, "please take me home". I have personally stumbled upon many great books over the years in the very same way, just perusing the shelves of a library or admittedly, even a book store for that matter. In fact, one such book that really stands out in my memory was, The Big Bang Never Happened, by Eric Lerner. With a provocative title like that, I simply couldn’t resist pulling it off the shelf to find out how to refute the leading cosmological theory on the origins of the universe.

However, there is certainly an enormous difference between the casual, carefree browser inquisitively scanning through the aisles and the person who actually comes to a library looking for something very specific, some subject matter or even a particular book, but for one reason of the other, chooses to employ this directionless, needle-in-the-haystack approach to attempt finding what they're looking for. To my continued amazement, every so often I do spot one of these individuals come into the library.

To explain this peculiar phenomenon, it is possible to imagine that some people are still expecting to find a traditional card catalog in the library. In the absence of the beast of old, I assume they don't make the connection that many of the computer terminals sprinkled around the library have in fact become the card catalog's modern replacement and that it could even be accessed outside the library via an Internet connection. This is understandable though as there are many adults who have not entered a library in twenty-something years. However, this explanation does not adequately explain the same behavior being exhibited by patrons old enough to have never even seen a card catalog. In both instances, I'm confused as to why they then don't simply seek out assistance but of course, herein lies the reference question that's just waiting to be asked.

Some might rightfully wonder, how could a librarian accurately distinguish between these two types of browsers. In truth, it doesn't really matter as it's still worthwhile to ask either patron if they might need help finding whatever it may be that they're searching for. Although, the person with the confused, disoriented, or even hopeless expression on their face might be the one in need of a crash course in the advancement of library technologies.

Twittered: A Year Later

About a year ago, I posted a column about launching a Twitter site for one of the libraries at which I'm employed. My expressed feelings toward Twitter have not really changed to any degree but as promised, I stated that I would return to the issue one full year later and review the results.

So here we are, exactly a year and two days later and after some moderate but continuous marketing of this electronic social networking/marketing device, the library has about 45 followers to show for it, most of whom appear to be legitimate and not spammers. Whether or not these figures are typical for a library is hard to say, though I must admit to not being particularly impressed.

On a positive note, the library does have a frequently updated presence on a popular social networking site, one that also proved to be rather easy to administrate and is of course, cost free. Furthermore, I've received no negative feedback and have even overheard some minor positive reactions to it. Whether or not anyone is actaully paying attention to what's posted there, even the 45 known followers, is another question.

Waxing Biographical

So, another reference call was transferred to me from downstairs this evening. Upon hearing the patron's question on the other end, I once again realized that you really never know what people are going to ask you. It also reminded me what it is that I like about being a librarian.

In any case, the gentleman asked me to provide him with the real birth names of both the famous actor, Kirk Douglas and the well-known political leader and writer, Leon Trotsky. Like many, I had previously assumed in error that these were their actual given names. But evidently no...

To answer the question, I resisted that amateurish, reflexive temptation to just access Wikipedia and instead, decided to look in one of the library's many online databases, Biographic Resource Center. Within only a few quick clicks and keystrokes, it was revealed to me from a reliable and authoritative source, a fact I also mentioned to the caller, that our familiar Mr. Kirk Douglas is otherwise known as "Issur Danielovitch", "Isadore Demsky", and "Issur Danielovitch Demsky". Trotsky's birth name provided yet another mouthful, being otherwise known as "Lev Davidovich Bronstein" and "Lev Davidovitch Bronstein".

The lesson learned: as a librarian, you don't exactly have to know everything, though you should possess sufficient knowledge and expertise to be able to find the answer to most questions.

Helpful Health Links

In the May, 2010 issue of Choice, I happened to come across four particularly useful open-access health-related websites that had been rather favorably reviewed in that publication. If you're a fellow librarian, you might consider adding these to the health and medicine section of your suggested websites list, if your library site has such a feature, and or update your reference bookmarks accordingly. For the general reader here, I would imagine these sites are equally relevant, perhaps especially, Hospital Compare.

Comsumer Health Ratings
http://consumerhealthratings.com

Hospital Compare
http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

PSNet: Patient Safety Network
http://psnet.ahrq.gov

ToxLearn
http://toxlearn.nlm.nih.gov

The Nonsectarian Librarian Turns 1

Well, it’s now official. The Nonsectarian Librarian turns 1 today and already, it can walk, talk, and discuss various aspects of the field of librarianship with a reasonable degree of authority. Impressive indeed. At times, I wasn’t really sure if I’d stick it out and continue posting in this forum, but in the end, I’m glad I did having recently received some rather encouraging feedback from a friend about it.

In any case, the coming year begins with a semi-solemn resolution to post more frequently and on a more routine basis. We shall see if those aims come to fruition. However, a few blog ideas, including some controversial ones I’ve been holding off on, are already beginning to take shape in the free range mind of the Nonsectarian Librarian. Check back here to see what happens.

Island Hopping

Block Island, Rhode Island is quite easily one of my favorite places on earth for a whole number of peculiar reasons I won't exactly ramble on about in this post. Likewise, Block Island is known world wide for its many incredible sites, attractions, and so on. Interestingly enough though, one of those prime attrractions now officially includes their one and only, Island Free Library. In fact, Library Journal has once again ranked this tiny, unsuspecting library, located literally on a small speck of porkchop-shaped land out in the Atlantic Ocean, with their prestigious 5-Star rating (click here to read the article).

Congratulations to the Island Free Library and its staff for making their remote institution such a distinguished and recognized success in the library world. Moreover, since Block Island is one of my favorite locales, then by extention, so too is its award-winning library! In any case, next time you decide to "rock the Block", make sure to stop by the Island Free Library and definitely check out their special Block Island collection.

P.S. - Last time I checked, the Island Free Library offers non-resident library cards for a fee.

Signing Off..

I can't tell you how many times I've sat down at a library computer during a break to check my email, only to discover that the last person using the terminal had failed to log out of their email or some other usually sensitive personal account(s). In fact, I find this sort of thing happening with alarming frequency and wonder to myself if these people really understand the potential risk they are taking by not clicking on that little old "sign out" button.

Leaving personal accounts open on public computers is the equivalent of offering identity thieves free and open access to your entire life story. Basically, you are not only leaving the front door wide open when you're gone, you're leaving a whole set of keys in the door as well for future entry. People have all kinds of private data stored in emails, attachments, photographs, saved passwords and the list goes on. An open account is an information goldmine that in the wrong hands can easily result in some very negative and lingering consequences.

Though they are the most typical finds, I'm not only referring here to open email accounts, but unclosed PayPal, bank, and credit card accounts as well. Even an open social networking account like Myspace or Facebook can pose significant threats to one's privacy and personal data security.

The question is, with so much personal information already made accessible on the web, why make it any easier for the unscrupulous to get a hold of any more of your data? Actually more to the point, why put yourself at such an unnecessary risk when the alternative is usually as easy as just clicking on that log out tab?