Reference Questions, 12/21/2010

I'm here at the reference desk for the lunch shift. There are actually a couple of people in here. I don't know who they are or why they are here. Maybe they'll ask me a question.

1. One of our regulars jammed the stapler

Yep another yawner of a shift. So glad tomorrow is the last day.

Reference Questions, 12/20/2010

Well, it's Christmas week, and here I am on the reference desk. Graduation was Saturday and there is no one here. I wonder about days like these sometimes.

1. Wanted to know what time we closed today and if we were open on Wednesday

I'm surprised I got one question. ;) I'll be back at 3.

And here we go again.

1. Looking for the PR 1100s

Got 1 question right before my shift was up. (Shocking I know.)

Reference Questions, 12/14/2010

Tuesday night on the reference desk. Exam week is in full swing. Let's see how things go.

1. (Chat) APA question
2. Having trouble printing
3. Having trouble printing
4. Wanted to know where the printouts go when you print
5. (Chat) Drive by chatting; typed in a ;) and then left

It was a very slow shift. And I'm tired and hungry. Time to go home.

Reference Questions, 12/13/2010

It's the first day of exam week here at the reference desk. This is the first shift of the day, and there are more students than normal here in library for this time of day. Students are running out of time to procrastinate.

While the library had more traffic, that traffic was not coming to the reference desk. I guess it's too early to ask questions.

Reference Questions, 12/8/2010

Today is the library's Christmas party for the student workers. I've spent most of the morning at the party monitoring the food and telling the students how much we appreciate all of their hard work. What a lovely job to have. Now it's time for shift #1 of the 2 shifts I have today.

1. Student had lost the ppt she had been working on. She opened it from her email so it was saving to a temp folder that then got erased when she closed the program. So the file was lost. I always feel so bad for the student when this happens.
2. (Chat) Wanted to know how to cite an article in APA that didn't have an issue number
3. Needed help formatting a picture that she was trying to upload to her RU portfolio
4. Had a question about capitalization in references he'd created using APA
5. Wanted to know how to cite a journal article in APA
6. Wanted to know how to cite a journal article in APA
7. Wanted a paper clip
8. Wanted to know how to cite a journal article in APA

This was a busy shift. I saw several of the ESHE students that I taught last week. (Their assignment is due today at 1.)

Now onto the 2 hour shift.

1. Wanted to know where they could print in color
2. Wanted to know if the color prints came out of the RU Express account
3. Looking for the journal Genomics
4. Someone had stolen her coat; I sent her to lost and found, hopefully someone had just picked it up and turned it in there
   
5. Looking for a photocopier
6. Wanted to know where they could print in color
7. Wanted help using the scanner
   
8. Looking for the archivist's office
9. Looking for his color print outs
10. Wanted to know where print outs went if you are printing in a classroom
11. Professor needed help creating formulas in Excel; I'm glad I have so much experience with spreadsheets
12. Needed help finding a book on the shelves
13. Looking for the bathroom
14. Word froze up on a student when he tried to print; I used my magical powers to get it to un-freeze
    
15. Wanted to know how to get to the center of the page on a Word doc
16. Looking for the DVD Race: The power of illusion
17. Having trouble printing double sided on the Macs
18. Paper jam in one of the printers

A record shift. Friday is the last day of classes, and students are rushing to get all of their last minute projects completed.

Reference Questions, 12/7/2010

This is the last week of classes. Exams start next week and we have a full house people. Let's see what this shift might bring.

1. (Chat) Wanted to know how to cite an online market research report in APA
2. Wanted to know where they could go to put money in to there RU Express account
3. Wanted to know if they could print if they had money in their RU Express account
4. Wanted to know how to use the scanner
5. Wanted help finding a research article for an Exercise Science class. (I believe this student was from the class I taught last week, and considering the questions he was asking, he didn't pay attention when I was going over this!! But that's what I'm here for.:])
6. Looking for a textbook
7. Wanted to know how to print in color

It was a nice steady (but not too crazy) shift. I'm so glad to see the end of the semester.

Reference Questions, 12/6/2010

It's the last week of classes, and it's 8:00 a.m. on the reference desk. I see 2 students in the library right now. Should be a rocking shift. ;)

No questions again. Well, this is much what I expected. It's too early for students to be asking questions. :) I have 2 shifts today.I'm sure the second one will be a little bit more lively.

Shift #2: 2:00 p.m.

1. Wanted to borrow some scissors
2. Wanted to borrow some scissors
3. (Chat) Looking for the APA LibGuide
4. Looking for glue and white out
5. Having problems printing from a Mac
6. Question about how to use the scanners
7. (Chat) APA question about creating a reference for a website.

Things were a little more lively in the second shift. Of course that chat came with 3 minutes left in my shift and lasted for another 10 minutes.

Reference Questions, 12/2/10

Winter has arrived. We have a chance of snow for the rest of the week. It basically snowed all day yesterday with no accumulation. Did I mention it is absolutely freezing outside? Well at least I'm at the reference desk and not out there, and I'm off tomorrow since I worked last Sunday. WooHoo! 3 day weekend!

1. Wanted to borrow some scissors
2. Paper jam in a printer
   

A very slow shift. There are not too many people here int he library yet. It's too cold outside!

Reference Questions, 12/1/10

I just can't get away from this reference desk. Here I am again 11 hours after I left. Sigh. Today at 1:00 I have to trek across campus in the snow and wind (yes it is snowing) to teach an instruction class to 56 students. Yay me! Oh, and I'm going to the dentist this afternoon for a crown. Can this day get any better?

1. Looking for a book; had the call number just needed to know what floor it was on
2. Wanted to know where the Special Collections are; she was looking for a book that was located there; I explained to her that she needed to contact the archivist to gain access to that book
3. Looking for change for a dollar
4. Could not get her paper to print
5. Wanted to know how to get upstairs
6. Looking for books on farming in Southern CA
7. Student had a question about the plagiarism checker SAFE that is on WebCT; I told her she needed to email her professor
   

The first hour passed with only 1 question. Got a few more questions in the second hour. Oh, I am so tired.

Reference Questions, 11/30/10

It's Tuesday which means I am working until 10:oo p.m. tonight. I've been on campus since 10:00 a.m. this morning because I had to attend Conduct Board training. So yay! I'm now a member of the University Conduct Board. Anyway, I'm here in my office monitoring chat until my shift on the desk starts at 8:00 p.m. My office mate has the 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. shift this week.

1. (Chat) Needed to know which database would be best for searching for journals on pet therapy
2. Wanted to know where to return a reference book
3. (Phone) Wanted to know how to format a title page and a running header in APA
4. Wanted to borrow a pencil
5. Wanted to know how to present a quotation in a paper using APA style; If the quote is less than 40 words it can remain in text, if it's more you need to separate it out by indenting it
   

The last shift of the day was slow. The library was pretty full, but I guess no one needed help. Oh well. :)

Reference Questions, 11/29/10

Here we are again.

1. Needed to know how to find a book here in the library, specifically The Afterlife of Poe by Scott Peebles.
2. Having problems with the scanner; had her move to the other scanner
   
3. (Chat) Asked a question about APA then disappeared for 13 minutes, then returned; wanted to know about citing a paraphrase
   
4. Having problems with the scanner; same one as before; had her restart the computer since the other scanner was taken; hopefully that will work
   

Slow shift. It will probably amp back up later in the week.

Reference Questions, 11/28/10

Regular hours resume today at the library. It's a Sunday, my first Sunday on the reference desk, and I am on for 7 hours. A 7 hour desk shift; this should be fun.

1. Question about printing in color; was having trouble printing a brochure
2. Question about formatting footnotes in Word
3. Wanted to know how to use the scanner
4. Another scanner question
5. Need a guest login
   
6. (Chat) APA style question, in-text citations
7. Looking for a pair of headphones
8. Looking for a pair of headphones
9. Printing question; wanted to put RU Express money into his printing account
   
10. APA question; needed help formatting his bibliography
11. Having trouble printing a brochure in color
    
12. (Chat) Wanted to know how to cite a textbook in APA; this chat took a lot longer than it should have
13. (Chat) Wanted to know how to do an in-text citation for a book
14. Looking for 3 different books; we had one of them
15. (Chat) Needed to know how to create an in-text citation for a scholarly article with multiple authors; lost the chat before I could answer her
    
16. Having trouble printing; the print window would not finish calculating; had her move to another computer
17. Looking for marketing data on a local chain restaurant
    
18. Needed to know how to switch to RU Express in the print assist window
19. Looking for 2 movies she had to watch for a nursing class: A Beautiful Mind and Rain Man
20. Wanted to know where to check out
21. Student had opened a file out of his email and was working on it. He closed it, then realized he didn't know where it saved. Wanted me to help him find it. I wish students would designate where to save their files instead of just clicking save and then not know where it is. We need to make some signage for this.
22. Question about citing a paraphrase using APA style; wanted to know if it was different from a direct quote

Not too busy tonight, just steady. The library was a little over half full throughout my shift. The final run tot he end of the semester has begun.

Reference Questions, 11/24/2010

It's the day before Thanksgiving and I am on the reference desk yet again. There is not a single student in the library. This is going to be a slow 2 hours. At least I get to leave at noon.

1. (Email) A professor's electronic access had been suspended. He needed it to be reactivated. The problem was (probably) that each faculty member/student is allowed 75 MB of downloading per hour and he probably reached his, so if that happens the account gets suspended for 60 minutes.
2. A staff member wanted to know how to print an email
3. Looking for scholarly articles on the origins of the theories of inequality
   
4. Looking for 2 occupational therapy journals

Of course those last 2 questions came with 10 minutes on the desk, and made me extend my shift by 5 minutes. That's how it always is though. No one wants to talk to you until you are ready to leave. I hope all my fellow librarians have a great Thanksgiving! :)

Reference Questions, 11/23/2010

Here at the reference desk, it's Thanksgiving break and I see 4 students on this floor. Whoa.

1. Looking for books on cassette to take with him on a road trip; all we had were children's books and a few other things that he was not interested in
2. Looking for the over-sized books
3. (Phone) Wanted to know how to create a reference and an in-text citation for the USCourts.gov website; also needed to know how to cite a Supreme Court case; I had to use the Bluebook :(
   

OK I thought this ref shift was going to be dull, well I was wrong. While sitting at the ref desk I overheard a conversation between a student and a faculty member. When the faculty member came up she said she was in the process of applying to grad schools. First she said "I didn't apply to any grad schools in FL because I didn't want to die from a hurricane." She went on to say that was the same reason she didn't apply at any Gulf Coast schools. Also she didn't apply to any grad schools in FL because of the snakes and gators, they freak her out. She also added that she didn't apply to any grad schools in CA because she was afraid that the state was going to fall in the ocean. (He told her that those were all interesting concerns to have.) After that she said that she just applied to grad schools she thought she could get into. Oh brother, after that first line I almost busted out laughing, so I had to act like I was coughing since she was sitting 8 feet away from me.

Reference Questions, 11/22/2010

It's Thanksgiving week, and I'm here on the reference desk for 2 hours today. I expect it to be a slow couple of hours. I believe there are only 3 students on this entire floor.

1. Looking for a DVD Theories in Social Work Practice
   
2. Looking for the book Modern Social Work Theory

Yep, 2 questions in 2 hours. :)

Reference Questions, 11/19/2010

Last reference shift of the week. Next week should be slow. Classes are not in session and we are only open 2 and a half days. The library looks pretty empty right now. Most people probably got a jump start on the Thanksgiving holiday.

1. (Chat) Looking for articles on Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and dystopia (this was one of those wonderful 30+ min chats)
   
2. Looking for DVDs in French

It was slow, however that chat took up half of my shift. To make it worse this student was in one of the ENGL 300 classes I taught with another librarian earlier in the semester, and it was obvious they were not paying attention in that class. [Virtual smack up side the head]

Reference Questions, 11/18/2010

Thanksgiving is a week away. This semester has flown by. I must admit I'm glad to have my first semester as a librarian nearly complete. Now for the 8:00 a.m. reference questions.

1. Needed me to help someone with the copier; I told her she could go to the Front Desk for help with the copier; she said I am from the Front Desk; OK
2. Looking for audio books on CD; we do not have books on CD, seriously; WOW
3. Could not get a lab to open up in WebCT; she said she was using IE so I told her to switch to Firefox
   

Well this is typical of an 8:00 a.m. shift. I expect it will be much busier later in the day. Tomorrow is the last day of class before Thanksgiving break.

Well, I forgot I had a second shift on the desk today. So let's do this again.

1. Looking for articles on homelessness
2. Looking for the DVDs
3. Wanted to borrow some tape and scissors
4. Copier is out of paper; sent her to the Front Desk
5. Looking for the movies Momento and Thank You For Smoking
6. Looking for a book on Zen Buddhism
7. Strange printing question; wanted to know if she could print from Word in the library; a friend told her you couldn't
   

This shift was a little more lively. I've got one more shift this week and that's tomorrow at 9:00 a.m.

Kraybill Releases Two New Books

Dr. Donald Kraybill, a noted Anabaptist scholar, has just released two new books: The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World, co-authored with Steven Nolt and David Weaver-Zercher, and the Concise Encyclopedia of Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites. For more information on these two books visit Amish America's blog at http://amishamerica.com/concise-encyclopedia-of-amish-brethren-hutterites-and-mennonites-5-book-giveaway-and-interview-with-donald-kraybill/comment-page-2/#comment-8668

Reference Questions, 11/16/10

My Tuesday night on the reference desk is here again. You can smell the fear in the air as the semester comes to a close...

1. (Phone) Looking for a database to find info on Ralph Waldo Emerson and his works; LRC to the rescue!
   
2. Looking for the bathroom
3. Looking for a book, the APPA National Pet Owners Survey, we didn't have it
4. Looking for a DVD, The Sandlot
5. Looking for a general encyclopedia
6. Wanted to know if there was a limit to the number of books you can check out at once
7. Having trouble with the copier; that's a Front Desk problem
8. Wanted to know how to print to the color printer
9. Had a question about APA citation styles and the research award
10. Had a question about citing a manual in APA
11. Looking for the copier
12. Wanted to borrow a highlighter
13. Looking for the copier
14. Had several questions about APA style
15. Wanted to borrow a pair of scissors
16. Looking for the SRDS books
17. Had a question about the age of a source and if it would be a good idea to use it because of it's age; I asked her why she wanted to use the source (it was from 1977) and she said she wanted to compare how alcohol use has changed since then on college campuses. I told her that it would be a good source to use for that purpose.
    
18. Wanted to know of the copier takes RU Express
19. Looking for a book on reserve

It was a busy night. I am so glad that Thanksgiving is next week. :)

Reference Questions, 11/11/10

On the reference desk at 8:00 a.m. This will be my third straight hour on the reference desk. Early mornings are always slow. Yawn...

1. Wanted some 3x5 note cards
2. (Chat) Had question about how to cite a chart APA style

Slow as I predicted. However, it's not a shift without an APA question.

Reference Desk, 11/10/2010

Now time for more fun at the reference desk.

1. (Email) Professor having trouble accessing an article online; he couldn't access it because we only have the print version of it available
2. Looking for the children's book section
   
3. Looking for books on jewelery, specifically rings
4. Question about in-text citations in APA
5. Question about how to create reference and cite in APA
   
6. Found a flash drive at a computer
7. Was looking for a flash drive sh had left at a computer
8. Looking for a book on stem cell research
9. Wanted to know where to check a book out
10. Looking for a book by a RU author

Steady still, and I'm glad to be getting some real reference questions. :)

1. 
   

Reference Questions, 11/9/10

My night on the reference desk. And yes, I'm missing Glee for this.

1. Wanted to know how to look for peer reviewed articles in Academic Search Complete
2. Looking for a printer to print from; had been on 4th floor and that one isn't working
   
3. Bathroom
4. Wanted to know if he had saved something on the desktop of a reference computer yesterday, would it still be there today; sadly no
5. Copier was asking for a password; went to front desk to get help; when came back it had fixed itself
6. Wanted to know how to cite a handbook in MLA
7. Question about how to cite an article in MLA style
8. Wanted to know how you could print if you are not a RU student; she was from VT, really???
9. Wanted to know where the Pay for Print printer is located
10. Wanted to know if we had binder clips
11. Looking for the Encyclopedia of Philosophy
12. Looking for sources on Renaissance Humanism and Platonism
    
13. Wanted to know where the print outs went after you printed them; to the great printer in the sky ;)
14. Computer froze while trying to print a pdf
15. Having trouble printing; had the wrong size paper selected

Things are really picking up now that the end is nigh.

Reference Questions, 11/8/2010

The crunch is on...

1. Trying to print pages from Google Books; couldn't get it to work
2. Looking for sources on the United Arab Emirates
3. Wanted to know where BW3 is located
4. Printer BW4 needed more paper; not really, someone had just tried to print a job on a paper size that was not loaded in the printer
5. Looking for resources on the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and how states and universities are using it
6. (Chat) Looking for how to cite a song in APA
7. Wanted to upload a video from a Flip camera

The shifts are picking up as the semester begins to wind down.

Reference Questions, 11/3/2010

Here we are again. Shift #1:

1. (Phone) Had a question about tomorrow's RefWorks workshop
2. (Email) Wanted to know when a book she requested would be available for pick up
3. (Chat) Wanted to know what constituted a print source in APA
4. Left a book on the reference desk last night and was looking for it; it had not been reshelved

Hour 1 of 4 down. Three more shifts on the desk to go.

Shift #2:

1. Looking for classroom B
2. Looking for ITEC 490 instruction session
3. Wanted to know when classroom A is closing
4. Wanted to borrow a voice recorder

And now begins the last 2 hours. Here we go again. Shift #3:

1. Looking for a fax machine
2. Wanted to know how to print in the library
3. Wanted to know how to download something off of a voice recorder he used for an interview
4. Question about printing from a laptop
   
5. Looking for a fax machine
6. Needed to find the book Living in the Environment
   
7. Wanted help on searching business journals
8. (Email) Looking for back issues of the Grapurchat online
   
9. Wanted to know where to go to add money to her printing account
10. Needed to print on the 4th floor
11. Needed to know how to find a book in the stacks
12. Looking to check out a camcorder
13. Looking for articles on cattle and animal welfare
14. Looking for a way to come up with better keywords

This was a steady shift and my last reference shift of the week. I will bring you more exciting reference activities next week.

Reference Questions, 11/2/2010

It's election day, and I'm on the reference desk once again. Life is grand.

1. Wanted to know how to print in color
2. Needed help finding 2 books
3. Patron wanted to know if you could print from the scanner computers; you can't so we tried to email the file to her so she could go to another computer and print it; the file was too big and could not be attached; so we got a flash drive so we could take it to another computer to print; the computer we took it to said that it had no printer installed on it so I had to take it to the Front Desk so they could print it for her
4. Wanted to borrow an ink pen
   
5. Looking for an article, all he had was the year and 2 author last names
6. Had question about putting money on RU Express
7. Had question about why calculating box was taking so long
8. Had question about why calculating box was taking so long
9. (Chat) Question about how to cite something from Opposing Viewpoints
10. (Chat) Freshman wanted me to give him a paper topic using Hamlet and some element of modernization; sorry we are not allowed to hand out paper topics
11. Looking for the computers with scanners
12. Having trouble printing
13. Wanted to know where the DVDs are located
14. Question about printing
    

It's been a busy shift. The semester is drawing to a close so I guess students are scrambling to get their papers and projects finished.

Reference Questions, 11/1/2010

It's the day after Halloween and we have candy at the desk. Maybe that will bring the questions in.

1. Looking for some tape
2. Looking for a book on Vincent Van Gogh's paintings
3. Wanted to take my picture and ask me 5 questions about the library
4. Looking for a fax machine; sent him to Walker
5. Looking for a copier

I found it interesting that the students would walk by and look at the candy, but would not stop and get any. At Jackson this basket wouldn't last an hour.

Reference Questions, 10/28/2010

It's hard to believe we've reached the end of October. This semester has flown by. I'm assisting with the APA Boot Camp this afternoon. We librarians know how to name a workshop.

1. Wanted to sign up for the APA Boot Camp
2. Wanted to sign up for the APA Boot Camp
3. Looking for a stapler or a paper clip
4. Wanted to sign up for the APA Boot Camp
5. Looking for articles on the photography code of ethics

I love it when I get real reference questions.

Reference Questions, 10/27/2010

It's 2:00 p.m. Do you know where your reference/instruction librarian is? Well, I'm on the Ref Desk, and I'm tired.

1. Having trouble printing
2. Having trouble printing
3. (Phone) Professor having trouble with the online instruction request form
4. Had a question about printing on the Macs
5. (Chat) Drive by chatting
6. Question about APA in text citations; wanted to know when you used block quotations (on quotes of 40 words or more)
7. Student needed help finding a book on the 5th floor
8. Wanted to know how to print in color
9. Wanted to know where to pick up color print outs
10. (Chat) Drive by chatting
    
11. Wanted to borrow some headphones

Steady shift with few surprises, can't ask for more than that.

Reference Questions, 10/26/2010

Tuesday night on the reference desk. Yes, I'm missing Glee for this.

1. Had question about printing in color
2. Wanted to "rent" a voice recorder
3. Question about printing money
4. Couldn't find a document she'd saved to the computer she was working on
5. Having trouble printing
6. Having trouble printing a PDF to the Pay for Print printer. She had tried to print it several times and it wasn't working. On a lucky guess I changed the Comments and forms drop down menu from document and markups to Document and then it printed
   

Printing and computer woes continue. This is really ridiculous.

Reference Questions, 10/25/2010

Team taught 2 classes this morning. Now it's Ref Desk time.

1. (Email) Question about this week's APA workshop
2. (Email) Question about next month's APA workshop
3. Needed some tape
4. Having trouble printing
5. Needed to pick up some books he had ILLed
6. Was looking for a computer to print from
7. Wanted to know where to check out books
   

Fairly steady shift. I have 1 more class to team teach and then 1 to fly solo on. This is a very busy day.

Reference Questions, 10/22/2010

Friday afternoon on the reference desk. So glad I get to go home after this hour.

1. Wanted to know where the Main Collection Level 5 is located

It was a very slow hour, Friday's often are.

Reference Questions, 10/21/2010

I have 2 shifts on the desk today. First 1 at 8:00 a.m., and the second one is at noon. I did not get a single question during the first shift.

My second shift is a lunch shift. It may get a little more traffic.

1. Question about the APA workshops that are being offered this semester
2. Wanted to sign up for the APA workshop; thought it was today, but it's next Thursday
3. Looking for books on the French Revolution
4. Looking for the book Probability and statistics for engineering and the sciences by Jay Devore
5. Needed help finding a book in the stacks
6. Wanted to know which level we are on
7. Having trouble printing on a Mac
8. Wanted to see the periodical Confederate Veteran. It is located in special collections and I could not get a hold of Gene, so I gave the man Gene's contact info.
9. Looking for the copiers
10. Needed help finding a book
11. Was trying to print from the scanner computers
    

And I was right. It was a very high traffic shift.

Reference Questions, 10/20/2010

I have an early shift here on the desk today, filling in for a sick colleague. Hello 1:00 p.m.

1. Having trouble printing
2. Looking for the bathrooms

Woohoo, two questions. At least I was able to use this time to work on a LibGuide.

Back for shift #2. Let's see how this goes...

1. Looking for an outlet to plug into

Fun times always.

Reference Questions, 10/19/2010

I'm working solo on the reference desk this evening for 2 hours. Let's hope no crises break out, because I have no back-up.

1. Looking for Mountain magick by Edain McCoy and Folk medicine in southern Appalachia by Anthony Cavender; they were both checked out
   
2. Wanted to know if pay-for-print was an option on all computers
3. Wanted to know if their were printers in the instruction classrooms
4. More fun with printing...Computer said it had no printers installed on it and I couldn't get it to locate any
5. Having trouble with an Excel spreadsheet; it was in protected mode
6. More fun with Excel...he thought it was only allowing him to type one character in the box at a time; however all characters appeared when he pressed enter
7. Looking for a fax machine; I have no idea if we have one or not so I sent him to the Front Desk
8. Looking for a pencil with an eraser
9. Looking for a pair of scissors
10. Wanted to know where to find the book The bluest eye by Toni Morrison
11. Looking for the RU Express cash machine
12. Looking for the library conference room

This was a pretty steady shift with some very fun computer/printing problems. If we had a day without printing issues, the world would probably implode.

Reference Questions, 10/18/2010

My very first solo shift on the desk. And it's a full house my friends.

1. Looking for 2 journals: Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives
   
2. Had a question about how to use the 3 hole puncher
3. Having trouble opening an attachment; had him switch browsers
4. (Chat) Drive by chatting
5. Couldn't print on the 4th floor; had her come down to the 3rd floor
   
6. Wanted to know if she could check out journals
7. Looking for resources on surfing for research paper
8. Having trouble with a locked computer
9. Needed to find a computer to print from
10. Looking for a stapler
11. Wanted to borrow a glue stick; we didn't have one
12. Question about scanning
13. Having trouble printing
    

Of course I finally get a busy shift when I'm by myself! :)

Reference Questions, 10/15/2010

The lunch shift on the reference desk and I am starving! The coffee shop was out of M & M cookies. They are always out of everything on Fridays! Here we go for shift #1:

1. (Chat) APA in-text citation question
2. (Phone) Wanted to know if out theses were available online. They are not so I explained to her that she was going to have to request it through ILL.

Shift #2, the last reference shift of the day:

1. Need approval to check out reference books

The fact that students here are allowed to check out reference books is interesting. It should be pointed out that the students need reference librarian approval to check out reference books and that we only check out books that we feel are not frequently used. For example, the student from shift #2, questions 1 wanted to check out volume 1 of the Encyclopedia Britannica. I had to refuse that request.

Reference Questions, 10/13/2010

Here on the reference desk again. This time for a 2 hour, end of the day shift. Let the printing chaos begin! (Fun times.)

1. Needed help finding a book on the 4th floor
2. Needed to pay for a pay for print item; I sent her to the Front Desk
3. Wanted to check out a voice recorder; I sent him to the Front Desk
4. Having trouble printing to the pay for print printer
5. The pay for print printer was not coming up as an option to print from on her computer
6. (Chat) Looking for peer reviewed journals
7. Looking for a manila folder
8. Looking for a pair of scissors
9. Looking for the pay for print printer
10. Wanted to check out a reference book, the Encyclopedia of Furniture
11. (Chat) APA citation question concerning government websites
    

These shifts all vary so much. You never know how busy they are going to be. This was a fairly busy shift compared to the shifts I've had recently.

Reference Questions, 10/12/10

My schedule is all messed up this week. I'm here on the reference desk on a Tuesday morning, since I worked last night. I am a creature of habit and I am not a fan of having my schedule changed. Oh well, back to the normal schedule next week. I'm teaching one UNIV 100 game class today. I always look forward to those classes.

1. Having trouble logging into a computer; person who had used the computer didn't log out and so it had locked while they were still logged in; had to reset the computer
   
2. Needed a few sheets of scrap paper
3. Wanted to know where lost and found is located
4. Needed to borrow a pen
5. (Chat) Question about putting money on RU Express
   

Not too bad for a one hour shift.

Reference Questions, 10/11/2010

Here on the reference desk 8-10 tonight. Assisted with teaching a workshop on RefWorks this afternoon, so that moved my night shift to Monday for this week.

1. Wanted to know if the book Fertilizers, pills, and magnetic strips : the fate of public education in America was available; it was not
   

Another slow desk shift. A person could get spoiled by this.

Reference Questions, 10/8/2010

I had a one hour shift this morning at 8 a.m. Got zero questions. Shift #2 starts at 4 p.m. We'll see if it's any livelier. From the looks of the library, I doubt it.

And I was right, not a single question yet again. I shall get used to this soon enough.

Reference Questions, 10/6/2010

The 5:00 p.m. shift on the reference desk. Somebody stop me...

1. Wanted to know if we had a section that contained only monologues
   
2. Wanted to know how she could print in the library

Yep, we were rocking and rolling on this shift. ;o)

Reference Questions, 10/5/2010

It has been reported that the reference desk has been crazy this afternoon. We shall see if this trend continues.

1. Looking for peer-reviewed articles on football and athletes
2. Problem trying to use RU Express money to pay for a print job
3. Looking for a current book section to browse
4. Wanted to know on what floor he could find 2 different books
5. Needed help finding the Atlas of Central America
6. Student was using a citation builder and wanted to know what it meant when it asked for the title of the periodical.
7. Student was having trouble printing
8. Student wanted to know if it was OK to research the author of one of the articles she was using for a paper she was writing
9. Looking for a book on reserve
10. Looking for an atlas of Southeast Asia
11. (Email) Student had left a notebook at the Front Desk and wanted to know if it was still there
    
12. Wanted to know where she could put money on her RU Express account
13. (Email) Student wanted to know how to cite a website in APA format
14. (Email) Follow up to #13

Well, tonight was the first time I had ever answered any reference questions by email. No sweat. ;)

Reference Questions, 10/4/2010

I'm teaching 3 classes this week. The first one is today at noon. But for now, it's 8 a.m. on the reference desk.

1. Faculty member having trouble logging onto one f the reference computers
2. Faculty member looking for the DVD The Silent Lives of Boys
3. Questions about printing one sided
4. Student brought me a flash drive that had been left in a computer
   

Shift #2: Now it's time for the reference desk at the 3 o'clock hour. Rumor is that the emergency drill that we've been hearing about now for a few weeks is going down in the library sometime during this shift. Channel 7 News is here to cover it. Can we say slow news day. ;)

1. A reporter wanted to borrow a piece of paper
2. Looking for the bathroom.
3. APA in-text citation question
4. Looking for headphones
5. Looking for headphones
6. Looking for his lost flash drive
7. Wanted to know how to add cash to her RU Express for printing
8. Having trouble with Word 2010; had to restart the computer
9. (Chat) APA citation question
10. Wanted to know where to check out books
    

Well the drill happened about 4:10 or so and it cut about 40 minutes of of my 2 hour shift. A similarity between here and Jackson seems to be the APA citation questions. It is one of the most frequent questions I get. The same was true at Jackson. APA is a popular citation style and no one seems to understand it. :)

Life as an academic librarian...so far

Today begins my third week as an academic librarian, and I am very fortunate. Fortunate to have a job, and to have found such a wonderful library environment to work in. I've been doing a lot of reading, and I've been taking weekly meetings with my supervisors as they are helping me to get my library legs. The librarians here are wonderful. They are all very willing to help me out, and to teach me the ways of the library. I am reading to help supplement my knowledge of academic librarianship and library instruction. I will soon be taking over liaison duties for the Accounting, Finance and Business Law department, and I am very excited about this new challenge. I have also decided to pursue an MBA while I am here, and I will probably begin taking classes during the Summer. I have taught 3 UNIV 100 classes since I started here, and I am scheduled to teach 3 next week. I am feeling more and more at ease on the reference desk and in answering questions about the library and it's resources. I am also working with another librarian to retool the library's "How Do I?" page. In the near future I will become the go to librarian for RefWorks, and I will be team teaching upcoming workshops on it and Prezi.

It is a very exciting time for me professionally right now. A plethora of emotions wash over me. I am scared, overwhelmed and elated all at the same time. I am very happy to declare that I indeed made the right decision in pursuing reference work. I have my whole career before and I cannot wait to see how it plays out. The sky's the limit at this point. :)

Reference Questions, 10/1/2010

Ah, the first day of October. I am so very ready for Fall and cooler weather. I've been getting my wish this week. Let's hope it continues.

Shift #1 yielded no questions. I have another shift this afternoon. We'll see how it goes.

Shift #2:

1. (Chat) Looking for the an article with only the author or year. Didn't have the title or journal. :|

This was a very slow reference day. Such is the way of the world.

Reference Desk, 9/30/2010

8 a.m. on the reference desk.

1. (Chat) What I call a drive-by chatting. The person said hi and then immediately closed the chat.
2. Student told me that tray 3 was empty on printer BW2. I told her it was supposed to be.

These one hour shifts do not produce many questions.

Reference Questions, 9/29/2010

I'm beginning to feel more comfortable at the ref desk with each shift. I'm so glad that I am settling in so well.

1. (Chat) Question about citing an article that did not have a journal in APA format
2. Looking for an eraser to borrow

This was a slow hour on the desk. :|

Reference Questions, 9/28/2010

My first evening on the desk. This will be a 4 hour shift. Lovely. :)

1. Looking for a tape/digital recorder
2. Student had question about how to use scanner
3. (Phone) Student worked called in sick
4. Looking for room 230D
5. Looking for the bathroom
6. Looking for printer BW5
7. Student wanted to know how to print in color
8. Wanted to know how to print a powerpoint in color
9. (Chat) Question about APA citation style
10. Looking for a pen to borrow
11. (Chat) APA citation style question
12. Wanted to know how to use the scanner
13. Looking for the Greek sign in sheet. The Greek peeps have to log so many hours in the library a week. Learned something new :)
14. Wanted to know where he could print
15. Had a question about inserting pics into a powerpoint presentation
16. Assisted a student in using the electric 3 hole puncher
17. (Chat) APA citation style question concerning in-text citations
18. (Chat) APA citation style question concerning in-text citations
19. Wanted to download special fonts in Adobe Illustrator to the computer she was using; the computer would not let her and there was nothing I could do about it
20. (Chat) APA citation style question concerning author's name

It was a busy night. The library was packed! That's always good to see. :)

Reference Questions, 9/27/2010

Not supposed to be on the ref desk until 3, but I got called to the desk during lunch to answer 2 history inquiries so I decided to log them in my archive. I knew the answer to these 2 questions instantly. It's times like these that I know I am in the right place. :)

1. Student was looking for articles on the Ottoman Empire and daily life. I immediately thought of JSTOR and hit a home run. I found the absolutely perfect article.
2. Student was looking for books on the Ottoman Empire. Most of our books on the subject were checked out, but we did have a lot of ebooks on the subject so I pointed those out and explained how to use them.

Shift #1:

1. Looking for a highlighter to borrow
2. Question about printing from a Mac
3. Having trouble printing pictures; turned the Word Doc into a pdf and then it printed correctly
4. Looking for books and articles on the Ottoman Empire and daily life
5. (Chat) Looking for articles for a lit review on normal cervical dilation in nulliparous women
6. Having trouble with the copier. Sent her to the Front Desk, they handle that.

Got some real reference questions. Yay! :)

Reference Questions, 9/24/2010

I have 2 shifts on the reference desk today. The 8:00 a.m. shift and the lunch shift. Time to guide those ships in the right direction. :)

1. Having trouble printing from one of the Mac computers
2. Looking for the pay for print printer
3. Having trouble printing a pdf
4. Having trouble printing from IE. All university services hate IE for some reason. I suggested for future reference that she never use IE with Radford services.
5. Looking for the periodicals (in print)

Shift 2:

1. No questions on this shift. How sad. :(

Reference Desk, 9/22/2010

Back at the desk again. Yesterday's class went very well, and I have been assigned to teach two classes next week. I am learning more and more about this place everyday. It won't be long before all of this is old hat. :) Shift 1 (9 - 11):

1. Had question about whether or not he was allowed to use the 2 computers on the second floor.
2. Looking for classroom A
3. Looking for a textbook for a class
4. Looking for a textbook for a class
5. Looking for change
6. Having trouble with a Word doc. It froze when she tried to print it. I tried to cancel the print job in order to unfreeze it, but when that didn't work she had to force the program to quit.
7. Wanted 2 blank sheets of paper
8. Student had a question about the APA workshop that is being taught today. Wanted to know where it was going to be.
9. (Chat) APA in text citation question

Shift 2 (3-5):

1. Wanted help finding a reference book. Couldn't help them because they were playing the UNIV 100 Game.
2. Looking for book reviews
3. (Chat) Wanted to know how to get to the first floor. (With the way this building is laid out that is a very good question.)
4. Having trouble printing her paper that contained pictures. Had her turn it into a pdf per Sarah suggestion and it worked. :)
5. Wanted to know if they could use the stapler
6. Looking for a book and an article about propaganda
   
7. Question about scanning

I finally got a few chat questions. Yay me! ;)

Reference Desk 9/21/2010

Another day, another reference shift. So far, McConnell is definitely not as hectic as Jackson was. Then again this is only my third shift on the reference desk. Things can change in the blink of an eye on the reference desk.

1. Looking for a stapler

Got that one question right before the shift was over. :) I teach at 11:00 a.m.

Reference Desk, 9/20/2010

First day at the reference desk as a professional librarian. How exciting. :) I admit I'm a little nervous about it. Must show no fear. Shift #1:

1. Student had trouble printing because document opened in protected view. Had to figure out how to get document out of protected view so that it could be printed. Had to figure out how to get document out of protected view so that it could be printed. Went under document settings. It was a 97-2003 Word doc, was trying to open in Word 2010.
2. Student brought up keys that had been left at a computer in the back. I took the keys to the lost and found at the front desk.
3. Student was having problems printing from a Mac. Student needed to make sure her RU login ID was being used instead of her full name. After that was changed it worked.
4. Student had question about printing from her laptop. Gave student instructions about wireless printing. Suggested that if that didn't work that she email the paper to herself and print from one of the computers here in reference.
5. Student wanted to save a webpage as a pdf. Was unable to help her figure it out, but she figured it out herself after a few minutes.
6. Closed classroom A, opened classroom B
7. Looking for the bathrooms
8. Looking for Classroom A
9. Student having trouble opening assignment in Blackboard. Suggested she try another browser, it worked then.
   

Not bad for a one hour shift. It went well and I was able to answer some of the questions with no assistance. It is a learning process though. The more I do it, the better I'll be at it.

Second shift on the desk today. Another hour of knowledge dropping fun. Shift #2:

1. Student was looking for the book The Coal Tattoo.
   
2. Student wanted to borrow some scissors.
3. Looking for classroom A
4. Looking for classroom A

Today consisted of mostly directional questions and printing problems. This library makes Jackson look like a printing Nirvana. Hopefully all of the printing bugs will be worked out soon. Tomorrow I team teach for the first time. We'll see how that goes.

Just when I think I'm out...

Well, I am truly speechless. I received a very surprising phone call yesterday afternoon. It was the director for the library I had interviewed at 2 weeks ago. He was calling to offer me the job. I truly thought they had already offered the job to someone else. You see I interviewed for the job on a Wednesday, and at the end of the interview I was told that I would hear something if not Monday then definitely Wednesday. So when I didn't hear anything, I assumed that they had given the job to someone with more teaching experience, like had happened with the other job I interviewed for that week. I am so glad I was wrong. After he said they wanted to offer me the job, all I could say for a full minute was OK. I know I sounded like a complete idiot! :) But who cares, we are moving to VA!!! I will be a reference and instruction librarian there. Now the real fun begins...

The Temp Job

The temp job that I started in June has been a colorful garden in a bleak landscape for me. I am really enjoying the work I am doing on the NC DOCKS project. I find a great deal of satisfaction in being able to work on a certain article or profile and then I can go to that item in the IR and see the result of my hard work. It's always nice to have something to show for the time an effort you invest. I'm glad I took that Digital Libraries class in during the Fall 2009 semester. I feel that it gave me a good foundation to build upon as I progress in this position. Thank God for this job and this library.

The Job Search

Anyone who tells you that looking for a job is a rewarding experience is a liar. I've been applying for jobs since December 2009, 37 in all, and this whole experience has not rewarded me in the least bit. I have had 4 phone interviews and have been on 4 job interviews. I have not had a single job offer. I have also turned down 2 other in person job interviews, because this whole process is too taxing and difficult for me to go for interviews for jobs that I do not want or are in places I do not want to live. This job search has left me more frustrated than I have ever been in my life, with very little confidence in myself, and at times, to question my faith. But I'm in good company, many of my fellow graduates have not fared much better. I can count on 2 fingers the number of library school friends that now have professional jobs.

While this experience has not been rewarding, I have learned a few things.

1. Never go on a job interview without knowing what they are going to pay you (at least get a range) or what benefits they offer.
2. Do not schedule 2 interviews 2 days in a row, especially if they are day long interviews. Not a good idea.
3. Never go on an interview for a job you do not want. These interviews are very stressful and taxing on the psyche. It is not worth the stress and aggravation to go through the interview process for a job you would turn down if offered.

With the Fall semester approaching there will be fewer and fewer academic jobs available. I am very unsure and confused about what my place in the library world should be. I'm trying to stay positive though. I really wanted to leave NC, but it looks like fate is trying to keep me here. We'll see how it plays out. I am a very impatient person and this summer has been torture for me. I'm disappointed that I will not be leaving NC. I really wanted to get out of here and experience new places. But who knows, I may look back on this in 5 years and say this was the greatest thing that could have happened, staying in NC. I hope so.

One positive thing that happened this summer is the temporary job that I have in Technical Services at Jackson Library. It is wonderful. I am working on the North Carolina Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (NC DOCKS) project. NC DOCKS is a cooperative effort to make the scholarly output of the University of North Carolina System more available to the world. Current institutional participants include Appalachian State University, Eastern Carolina University, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, and UNC Wilmington. NC DOCKS includes many full text articles, audio recordings, dissertations, and other formats. All materials are indexed by Google and are freely available to scholars and researchers world-wide. I have been retrieving articles, reformatting them and then uploading them to the IR. I've also been preparing an IR follow-up report by reviewing what has been uploaded and what still needs to be uploaded for the faculty members that the staff have been working on. I'm really enjoying my work there. I've always wanted to work in Technical Services. I hope this leads to a future in cataloging for me. Cataloging is what I always wanted to do anyway.

Reference Questions, 5/8/10

This is my last shift ever at Jackson. It's Saturday, and graduation is less than a week away. Yay!

1. Looking for a color printer
2. Needed guest login

This library was empty tonight. I can't believe I only got 2 questions. The only excitement was when a student walked past the desk in a Speedo and a t-shirt. I do not know what he was thinking. What a great story for my last shift. :)

Reference Questions, 5/5/10

Well this is my last weekday on the desk. Only one more shift left in this reference internship. Graduation is in 9 days.

1. Looking for Barry Miller
2. Looking for the microfilm of the News & Record
3. Looking for novels in French
4. Needed to compress a folder on their computer so they could send it to their professor
5. Looking for a water fountain
6. Needed to know how to put money on their ID
7. Looking for children's books
8. (Chat) Question about borrowing books over the summer
9. Guilford County school teacher needed to know where to go to get a library card
10. Looking for the Mossman Building
11. Looking for a color printer
12. Looking for a fax machine

It was a slow Reading Day in the library. Traffic all over campus is down. I guess everyone has finished up all their work.

Reference Questions, 5/2/10

May is finally here and graduation is only 12 days away. This is a Sunday on the ref desk, and finals start next week. I've been told it's been a slow day. Let's hope the trend continues. I only have 2 more ref shifts after this one. :)

1. Wanted an audio book for Shakespeare's The Tempest. Got the impression that she just didn't want to read it, because when I told her that she couldn't check it out because it is on reserve she started asking about a DVD of it
2. Looking for scholarly print journals on the economy
3. Had a question about whether or not the Journal of Education for Business is a scholarly journal
4. Looking for a scanner
5. (Chat) Having trouble finding journal articles on public health; they were trying to use the journal titles line on the library home page and that is only for finding specific journal titles
6. (Chat) Wanted to know what would happen if they stole a book; i wish I had told them they would go to jail; they just had never heard the security alarm go off and didn't believe it worked; i assured them that it does work
7. (Chat) Wanted to know why the chat handle is iMinerva; listen people I am the goddess of wisdom; duh
8. (Chat) Wanted to know where the ILL link is located
9. Computer problem in the reading room

It was another dead night on the desk. I guess no one is getting ready for finals yet. This coming week will probably be slammed.

Reference Questions, 4/30/10

Well it's the last day of April and one of my last shifts here at Jackson. I only 2 more shifts after this one. How sweet it is.

1. Looking for articles and books on Sly and the Family Stone
2. Guest log-in
3. Helped patron with Facebook, um yeah...
4. Looking for an article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry from 1988 (even had a screaming toddler with her, lovely)
5. Guest log-in
6. Looking for HEAT bus schedules
7. Question about saving to the R drive
8. (Phone) Address lady wanted the address to the Daily Telegraph in London; a shift is not complete without a call from her

Talk about a slow shift. They may really want to reconsider not having this shift staffed. This is the second Friday 5-8 shift that I've had this semester that has been completely dead.

Reference Questions, 4/27/10

Well, this is going to be an all-nighter for me. I'm on the desk from 9-12 and then I have to pick my Dad up at 2 a.m. to take him to the airport. I hope to be in the bed by 6 a.m. I don't have to be anywhere tomorrow until 5:30 p.m. so hopefully I can sleep most of the day. This is really going to screw my sleep schedule up though.

1. A fellow LIS student had a question about the LISSA water bottles
2. (Chat) A fellow ref intern had a question about the schedule
3. Question about citing a article from an EBSCO database
4. Question about when the ref dept closes tonight
5. (Chat) Had a question about the closing announcement
6. Wanted to know what part of the library stayed open all night

Talk about a slow night. I figured we'd be a little bit busier than this. Oh well, I'm not complaining. :)

Reference Questions, 4/21/10

Only 2 more weeks left in the semester. I am so glad this is coming to an end. I had a job interview yesterday. I do not believe I will get the job, but it was good experience considering it was my first professional job interview.

1. Printing question
2. Looking for the undergraduate University Bulletins from 1991 and 1992
3. Looking for the current undergraduate University Bulletin
4. Wanted to copy and article
5. Looking for sources on Haiti
6. Printing question
7. Wanted to know where to get a copy of the current undergraduate University Bulletin
8. Looking for the bathroom
9. (Chat) Having trouble with the Dissertation database and didn't know what a browser is
10. Having trouble accessing the Peabody Journal of Education online; I was able to access it, I suggested he switch browsers
11. Looking for books on weight training
12. Looking for his class that was supposed to be meeting in the library; if they are not in the CITI lab then I do not know where they are
13. Looking for articles on bloggers vs. film critics
14. Looking for a book that was referenced in his textbook

A slow shift for a Wednesday.

Reference Questions, 4/17/10

Only one more Saturday on the desk this semester. I am so glad this semester has flown by. The library is dead today. It's alumni weekend and there is a lot going on around campus, so everyone is outside enjoying the beautiful weather.

1. Looking for lost and found
2. Wanted to know when the library closed tonight
3. Needed a guest log in
4. Needed to use the guest print card
5. Needed to use the guest print card
6. Looking for an audio book that she checked out a few weeks ago and returned; it's no longer in the catalog
7. (Phone) Address lady wanted the address to ITV in London; she irks me to no end
8. Looking for the new book by Elizabeth George
9. Looking for the bathroom
10. Looking for government documents on the FLDS (Waco, TX) and the FBI
11. Wanted to know when the library closed tonight and tomorrow
12. Needed a guest log in
13. Looking for Tower 3
14. Looking for the reference bulletin board to post a flier
15. Looking for lost and found
16. (Chat) Someone complaining about how cold it always is on
17. Having trouble accessing articles at home

A slow shift with very few reference questions. Good times always.

Reference Questions, 4/14/10

Here I am once again. I do not believe I have too many more of these shifts left. This semester has flown by, and I am so glad that it has. On a positive note I do have a job interview next week. Hopefully many more are on the horizon.

1. Looking for info on the history of sororities and fraternities on campus
2. Needed to know how to cite law reviews and had a question about how to find books and had an ILL question
3. Looking for a biology journal and a gov't document
4. Looking for the SuperLab
5. Looking for Life magazine; strangely it was at the reserve desk
6. Looking for a book on drug abuse
7. Looking for Poetry magazine
8. Printing question
9. Looking for articles for an annotated bibliography on mental disorders and recreation
10. Looking for Something About the Author
11. Looking for Death Dealer: The Memoirs of the SS Kommandant at Auschwitz by Rudolf Hoss
12. Looking for the play Pizza Man by Darlene Craviotto
13. APA citation question
14. Looking for the reserves
15. Looking for the reserves
16. APA citation question
17. Looking for resources on Castiglione
18. Looking for the book Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
19. Needed something to clean off a computer screen with
20. Looking for Tower 2
21. APA citation question
    

A power outage around 1 today provided some excitement. It took all the printers down for about an hour. We were without power for about 5 minutes. I cringe to think of all the people who lost the papers they were writing. Then for some reason with 10 minutes to go in my shift, my computer restarted itself. I was in the middle of helping a student too.

Reference Questions, 4/7/10

Well, I'm sick at the ref desk today. Between a sinus infection and terrible allergies I am not a happy camper. I also feel like I'm going to fall asleep sitting up. I'm moving at half speed today. Oh well, at least I have 2 monitors at the desk now. Dual monitors is the way to go. Awesome! :)

1. Wanted to know how to put money on the SpartanCard
2. Looking for sites to search for jobs at universities
3. Looking for the SuperLab
4. Looking for the ILL office
5. Looking for the bathroom
6. Looking for info on regulatory and political guidelines for restaurants
7. (Chat) Looking for a general online encyclopedia
8. Printing question
9. (Chat) Had a questions about advising
10. Wanted to check out a book at the ref desk
11. Grad student wanted to know how to find and check out a book
12. Looking for the book Freakonomics by Steven Levitt
13. Looking for books on child abuse or drunk driving
14. Printer out of paper
15. Looking for a Bible to check out
16. Complaint about people being loud and eating in the ref dept
17. (Chat) APA citation question
18. Looking for 2 books by Edmund Husserl
19. APA Citation questions
20. Looking for print editions of Congressional Quarterly Weekly and CQ Almanac
21. (Phone) Looking for a book that listed all copyrights
22. Question about a flash drive

The shift that wouldn't end. I hate being sick and at the ref desk. We were slammed at times too. I wish I could go home, but oh well I'm going to class tonight. :c(

Reference Questions, 4/3/10

Another Saturday on the reference desk. I'm on the low desk today, which always seems strange because I'm so used to being at the other desk.

1. Looking for sources on Eliza Southgate Bowne. A tricky questions indeed. Thank God for Biography and Genealogy Master Index.
2. Needed a guest log in
3. Needed some tax forms
4. Wanted to know what "in process" meant under the status of a book
5. Looking for a large paper clip
6. (Chat) Looking for a specific article
7. Wanted to know if she could log into one of the computers in the ref dept
8. (Chat) Looking for British newspapers online from the 19th century
9. Needed to know how to restart a computer

Slow shift today, but that's not a surprise. Tomorrow is Easter. Most people probably went home for the holiday.

Reference Questions, 3/31/10

It's hard to believe this is the last day of March. This semester is flying by. Only 44 days til graduation. :)

1. Looking for her class that was meeting here in the library; had no idea where in the library and thought I would know
2. A history professor was looking for the latest issue of Reviews in American History. There was a book review of his new book in it. I printed it out for him.
3. Another student was looking for her class that was meeting in the library. Again they had no idea where and thought I would know. Does no one pay attention in class anymore?
4. Looking for a guide to playing the piano
5. Looking for books on wireless telecommunication
6. Looking for the play Fourteen by Alice Gerstenberg
7. Needed to use the ref print card
8. Found a purse left beside one of the computers and was turning it in
9. Needed help finding journal articles and with ILL
10. Someone wanting to buy a Frisbee from Mark
11. Looking for books about the Salem Witch Trials; wanted a book that was rated R; had to explain that books are not rated, he was surprised; then he wanted an audio book because he doesn't like to read
12. (Chat) Having trouble accessing journal articles
13. Reading Room printer was acting up
14. Wanted to become a Friend of the Library; sent him to administration
15. Looking for sources on Guatemala
16. Looking for a group study area
17. Looking for articles on refugees and Greensboro, NC
18. Looking for articles on off campus living

Another exciting shift in the books. :)

Reference Questions, 3/27/10

Shifts two days in a row. This is a first. I'm sure I'll see more action today than I did yesterday.

1. Wanted to know if it was ok to go upstairs and pull some microfiche
2. (Phone) Wanted to know what time we closed and when the reference desk closed
3. (Phone) Wanted to know if the guest computers had a spot for a USB drive
4. Looking for the water fountain
5. Question about printing at the microfilm machines
6. Looking for a book about John Galt, it's called Atlas Shrugged, he wants to check it out the next time he's in the library
7. (Chat) Question about ILL
8. Looking for books on the profession of social work
9. (Phone) Wanted to know if Blackboard is down at the library, and it is. Lovely. I do not remember getting an email about scheduled downtime this weekend. I guess it was unscheduled maintenance.
10. (Phone) Question about searching the library catalog
11. Looking for books on the CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
12. Bathroom location question
13. Question about how long is Blackboard going to be down
14. Question about accessing journals online
15. Help with logging into the student computers
16. Needed to use the guest print card
17. Needed help finding a book
18. The printer in the Reading Room is acting up, again.
19. Problem with the microfilm machine
20. (Chat) Looking for sources on the culture of Wales
21. Question about when we close

Now this is a little more like what I am used to.

Reference Questions, 3/26/10

This is my first Friday shift ever. I have heard that they are usually quiet. We'll see...

1. Been here for over an hour and have not gotten a single question
2. Two hours and no questions
3. Wanted to know if I had change for a $20
4. Needed a guest log in and wanted to know what time the library closed tonight, was open tomorrow and closed tomorrow.

Two questions?! That's it in 3 hours. And I thought it was slow during the summer.

Reference Questions, 3/24/10

At the reference desk once again. :) Only 16 more shifts left until graduation.

1. Looking for the Merck Index
2. (Chat) Had a question about accessing scholarly journal articles
3. Question about the location of Tower 3, and how to find a book up there
4. Printing question
5. Looking for novels in Spanish
6. Looking for a unoccupied computer
7. Printing question
8. Restroom location question
9. Looking for Steve
10. Needed guest log in
11. Looking for the encyclopedias and the book First Family by David Baldacci
12. Looking for something on reserve
13. Looking for the Reading Room
14. Looking for a book she could check out on human anatomy
15. Looking for a dissertation and what turned out to be an unpublished conference paper
16. Looking for who was responsible for the cases beside the ref desk, it's archives so I sent him up there
17. Printing question
18. (Phone) Address lady needed the corporate address for Applebee's and the president's name
19. (Phone) Address lady needed the corporate address to the Discovery Channel, and the name of the president of Discovery. I could not find it.
20. Question about reserves
21. (Chat) Question about the Information Commons screens
22. Printer was out of paper
23. Transfered a chat to Steve
24. Helped students who were doing their Library CSI worksheets. Not really sure if I was supposed to help them or not.
25. Printing question
26. Looking for an open computer
27. Looking for Lynda
28. Looking for the writing center
29. Looking books on wellness

Next up a Friday shift!

Reference Questions, 3/21/10

Sunday night on the reference desk. I hope it's a slow one. :)

1. (Chat) Looking for an article
2. Looking for books on multitasking
3. A guy told me that the pictures located directly across from me were not taken in Spain. They were labeled Spain and he just wanted me to know that they were not taken there. I let Jenny handle him. I was on a chat at the time anyway.
4. (Chat) Question about renewing books
5. (Chat) Question about accessing the OED
6. (Chat) Question about what a thesis statement is
7. (Chat) Looking for an article
8. (Chat) APA citation question
9. (Chat) Looking for an article
10. (Chat) Question about renewing books
11. Needed a guest log in
12. (Chat) APA citation question
13. Looking for a book on lethal injection
14. (Chat) APA citation question
15. MLA citation question
16. (Chat) Question about accessing a journal article

I do not believe I have ever gotten this many chats in a shift. It's raining so I guess people are staying in and using chat.

Reference Questions, 3/17/10

St. Patrick's Day at the ref desk. I have on my green and I'm ready to answer questions and accept any job proposals. :)

1. Looking for a dictionary
2. Looking for books on the CIA for a research paper
3. Looking for the reference section
4. (Phone) Needed help accessing an article in PsycInfo
5. Needed guest log in
6. Needed to use guest print card to print
7. Looking for sources on fast food franchises
8. Had a question about Amtrak from Greensboro to Raleigh
9. Looking for the book drop
10. Looking for the Foust Building
11. Needed to use guest print card to print
12. Looking for the book Voices from the Storm: The People of New Orleans on Hurricane Katrina and Its Aftermath by Lola Vollen and Chris Ying
13. Needed help accessing PsycInfo
14. Looking for sources for a research paper about gender similarities or differences in academic achievement
15. Looking for Sophocles Oedipus Rex
16. Nursing student looking for articles on art therapy for children, couldn't find anything in CINAHL so I suggested looking in PsycINFO
17. God bless the nursing students. They always have interesting searches. The one that I suggested PsycINFO to needs evidence based articles and PsycINFO does have an option for that on the search page. So I suggested using evidence based as a search term. I'm sure she'll be back up to the desk again shortly.
18. Someone looking for Lynda
19. Question about the ref computers
20. Looking for sources on acculturation
21. Needed research help on an education topic
22. Looking for a book in the closed stacks
23. Needed guest log in, but said they weren't doing research so I couldn't give them one
24. Looking for the book The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson
25. Student from #21 had another question about education research
26. Looking for his class, they were meeting in the CITI lab, I believe he was an hour late

A normal shift which is always nice. Now off to finish up a presentation and eat some veg sushi, I hope. :)

Reference Questions, 3/3/10

The first shift of March, how lovely. Graduation approaches, just 72 days away now. I will be ordering my cap and gown today. It brings a tear to my eye.

1. A student was looking for articles on discrimination and Pepsi Co. She had found one through Google, but it wanted her to pay for it. I showed her some databases that she could use instead of Google.
2. Needed to get on the guest computers
3. Wanted to borrow some tape
4. Looking for a book on text and fonts
5. (Chat) A student wanted to know if we had discontinued access to Britanica Online. Unfortunately we have. I was not happy about this either.
6. A student wanted to know if she could check out CDs from the Music Library. (She thought only music students could check out from there.) She also needed to know where it was located.
7. The student from #4 was back. The book I sent her to find was not what she was looking for. So I helped her find another one. Hopefully this one works out better.
8. A student had a question about reserving collaboratories.
9. A student needed help searching PubMed for diabetes and carpal tunnel syndrome.
10. A student was looking for the book Captives as commodities: the transatlantic slave trade by Lisa A. Lindsay. He was very happy that the library had it and he said I was awesome. Always nice to hear.
11. A student was looking for a textbook. It was on reserve. I love how students think we have a room that houses every single textbook used on this campus.
12. Looking for the ILL office
13. Looking for the ILL office
14. A friend of the library had a question about checking out new books.
15. A student needed the library hours sheet.
16. (Chat) A student was having trouble with one of the computers in a collaboratory on the 6th floor. We sent ERIT up to help them.
17. Looking for the ILL office
18. Looking for Stephen Dew's office

Reference Questions, 2/24/10

It's snowing here today. Hopefully evening classes will be canceled. Can I be that lucky? 79 days to graduation.

1. A student (probably a basketball player he was taller than my husband and was wearing a UNCG warm up suit) was looking for his lost keys. I sent him to lost and found at the circ desk.
2. Looking for the Stone Building.
3. Looking for CQ's Politics in America 2010.
4. Looking for books on digital media.
5. A research assistant for a professor was looking for the Oxford Miscellany. I tried everything I knew, and then referred her to Mary. I'm sure Mary will be more help than I was.
6. A student wanted to know what distinguished a reference book from a regular book.
7. Help with printing.
   
8. Two students needed microfilm for Sports Illustrated.
9. (Chat) A student wanted to know if we had ebook copies of Indian wars in North Carolina, 1663-1763 and Indian massacre and Tuscarora war, 17ll-'13. We didn't.
10. Needed to make color copies of a magazine for an art class.
11. Looking for the book Art in America. However it is a magazine.
12. Looking for books on edible chemical dyes
13. A student was having password issues. I sent him to the SuperLab.
14. A student wanted to know how to cancel a print job.
15. (Chat) Looking for German language CDs
    
16. Looking for the TRC
17. Looking for the Current Lit section
18. Looking for books with the G call letter and for the copier
19. Question about accessing a database, L'Annee philologiques
    
20. Question about APA citations
21. Looking for a scanner

Reference Questions, 2/21/10

Sunday on the ref desk, and the library looks pretty quiet for now. Let's hope it lasts.

1. A WWSU student wanted to check something out. I sent her to the circ desk.
2. (Phone) A student was looking for journal articles and was having trouble finding them because she though the article title was the journal name. Yep.
3. Helped a patron file his weekly certification with the ESC. That was a first.
4. Oh how I love the art students. They just want to browse the art books. To the 4th floor you go. Have fun.
5. A student needed journal articles or books on dance in Costa Rica. They had to be hard copies, not electronic. Some of these professors have weird requests.
6. (Phone) Address lady needed the address to Costar Group. I was able to find this one, so she wasn't rude to me today.
7. The cell phone guy was looking for a website on Wilmington Hollywood. I found it and then he wanted me to print it off.
8. A student needed help with the microfilm machine.
9. One of the Friends of the Library needed to get on a guest computer. He then thought the computer was moving too slow and let me know about it.
10. A student needed books on China and its military and economy.
11. OK Friends of the Library wanted to email something to himself, but he doesn't know his email password. He is not the most computer savvy person on the planet and try to explain things to him is not the easiest thing. Oh I hope he leaves soon.
12. (Chat) A question about checking your Spartan Card balance.
13. Again showing the FOL guy how to find an article in journal finder.
14. A student needed to know where the PN section was in the reference dept.

I am not complaining, but this was a slow shift for a Sunday. Spring Break is less than 2 weeks away and it cannot come quick enough. On a side note, my Vampire Book Display is still a big hit. I will be adding 5 more books to it tomorrow. Yay vampires!

Reference Questions, 2/17/10

86 days til graduation, hurry please.

1. A student was looking for a play by Daivd Auburn called Proof.
2. A student was looking for scholarly articles on McCarthyism and labor unions.
3. Looking for the lost and found
4. Looking for the lost and found
5. Some people from UNCG Theatre's production of The Seagul came by and gave me a tea bag of Russian tea. It kind of made my day. :)
6. A student wanted an envelope. Ok....
7. A student needed help finding articles on underage drinking.
8. A student was looking for the 2nd floor of the library where the books and tables are.
9. Looking for the lost and found
10. (Chat) Looking for La Perfecta Casada by Fray Luis de Leon. The library didn't have it so I had to walk the person through how to ILL it.
11. Looking for a German English dictionary
12. Paper jam in the reading room printer
13. A student wanted to know what business sources we had for researching a company she is working with, the Carolina Cookie Co.
14. More printing problems in the reading room
    
15. Wanted to know how to search for articles in USA Today
16. Looking to put money on a FirstCard
17. A Guilford College student was looking for books on the Algerian War or La guerre d'Algerie.
18. A question about the free printing
19. Looking for a textbook, still?
20. A student was looking for scholarly articles and books on Satanic Ritual Abuse.

That was an interesting way to end a shift. I was able to find several sources for her, interesting indeed.

Reference Questions, 2/10/10

Another Wednesday shift has arrived. I'm still not used to these Wednesday day shifts. Every Tuesday I feel anxious when I get to school and realize I'm not wearing dress clothes. Then I remember I don't have a Tuesday shift anymore. I'm such a creature of habit.

1. A student was looking to check out a laptop. I pointed her to the circulation desk.
2. (Chat) A student was looking for books on Minoan Civilization.
3. A student was looking a free computer to print from.
4. A Guilford College student was looking for Mammon and Manon in early New Orleans : the first slave society in the deep South, 1718-1819 by Thomas N. Ingersoll.
5. A student was looking for some government docs on the Battle of Kings Mountain.
6. A student was looking for a Spanish textbook. We did not have it. :(
7. A student had a question about the bones that are kept at the circulation desk.
8. A student was looking for sources on poverty and immigration in the US.
9. A Guilford College student was looking for newspaper resources on Jack the Ripper.
10. The guy looking for free cell phones was back. He is having a really hard time accepting that cell phone companies will not give you free phones and free minutes with no obligation from you!
11. (Chat) A question about checking out books.
12. A student was looking for the Petty Science Building.
13. A question about the location of the nearest bathroom.
14. (Phone) A student was looking for a study guide for the PSB Exam. We did not have any.
15. Looking for a pencil sharpener.
16. Looking for the CITI lab.
17. A student wanted to know if you could check out magazines.
18. Looking for the CITI lab.
19. A student was looking for a SUDOC, but had written the number down incorrectly and couldn't remember the search terms he had used to find it in the first place.
20. (Chat) A student was having some trouble accessing the full text of a couple articles on EBSCO SOCIndex.
21. Someone came by and picked up a form that Marc had left for them.
22. A lady was looking for Tim Bucknall's office.
23. A student was looking for an article from a journal called Radical America. We do not have access to it, and he did not have time to ILL it.
24. A student was looking for articles on Marcus Garvey.
25. Looking for the bathroom.

Another shift closer to graduation. :) The vampire book display seems to be a hit too. I had to add 5 more books to it today. :0)

Reference Questions, 2/7/10

Super Bowl Sunday, and here I am on the desk. When I volunteered of this shift I did not realize what day it was. Oh well, I'll be home in time to catch most of it.

1. A patron wanted to know where he could get a free cell phone with free minutes. He saw something about it on TV. I told him it sounded like a scam. He insisted that he had a friend that had one. I suggested he email his friend.
2. A student had a question about APA citations and citation software.
3. (Chat) A question about library hours.
4. A patron needed a guest username and password for one of the guest computers.
5. A student wanted to know if the card station in the Atrium was working. Hope so since ours is down.
6. A question about library hours.
7. A student needed help with PubMed. She was looking for articles on childhood obesity and physical activity.
8. A student was looking for the Almanac of American Politics and CQ's Politics in America.
9. (Phone) Address lady, she is ALWAYS so pleasant, was looking for the corporate address to Trader Joe's. I told her that I was on their website and was having trouble finding the physical address. She said thank you and hung up before I could say anything else. At least it was a short conversation.
10. The ref printer was out of paper.
11. A question about library hours.
12. A high school student and her dad wanted to know how to find specific books here in the library.
13. A student was looking for a biography of Woodrow Wilson that was written by his stepson. I could not find anything on it.
14. A patron needed a guest username and password for one of the guest computers.

Slow shift, but not surprising it is Super Bowl Sunday. Most people are attending parties, not working on papers. :)

Reference Questions, 2/3/2010

Here we are again, on the desk during feeding time. Let the sharks circle. :) On a side note my book display on vampires went up yesterday. Yay me!

1. A student needed to print, but didn't have their FirstCard.
   
2. (Chat) A student was looking for articles from the 1940s in the New York Times on the Cold War and communism.
3. A student was looking for books on creatine. All the books had been checked out so I directed her to the articles.
4. An LIS student was having trouble finding the spainsh encyclopedia that her professor wanted her to look at.
5. A student had a question about getting on the ref computers.
6. A student was looking for the CQ American Politics and the Almanac of American Poilitics. They seem to have wondered out of the ref dept.
7. A student had a question about accessing an article she had received through ILL.
8. A student was looking for older copies of the CQ's Politics in America and The Almanac of American Politics.
9. A student was looking for The Elements of Style by William Strunk.
10. A student was looking for a textbook.
11. A student was looking for the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
12. A student had a question about a record he had pulled up in the catalog. The contents on the record were different from the actual book contents. He wanted the book that matched the contents in the record.
13. Two students were looking for the MLA citation guides.
14. A student had a printing question.
15. A student was looking for the Reading Room.
16. A student was looking for somewhere to print.
17. A professor was looking for Writing Well by Donald Hall. The closest library that has it is NCSU.
18. A student was looking for the CQ's Politics in America and The Almanac of American Politics.
19. (Chat) Looking for a citation for Michael F. Mooney v. Fr. Mark Haight et al. A fun chat indeed.
20. A student was looking for the new book section.
21. A student was looking for the CQ's Politics in America and The Almanac of American Politics.
22. A student was looking for the circulation desk.
23. A student had the call numbers for some books, but wasn't sure where they were located.
24. A student had a question about MLA citations.

Another shift closer to graduation. :)

Reference Questions, 1/27/10

Back for another fast paced day shift. I expect to get more reference questions today than I did last week.

1. A student was looking for issues of Time magazine from the 1950's.
2. A student was looking for the reserves.
3. A student was looking for articles on catering.
4. A student wanted to where she could find books with the call letter J.
5. A student needed to watch an online movie for a class and wanted to know if she could use the computers in the ref department to do that.
6. A student was looking for a thesaurus she could check out
7. A student was looking for a textbook.
8. A student was looking for the ILL office.
9. A student was looking for a book of criticism on the poetry of Robert Lowell.
10. A student had a question about wireless printing in the library.
11. Three students were looking for LIBR 032.
12. A student wanted to know if you could check out magazines or if you could photocopy from them.
13. A librarian needed a guest username and password to test something out.
14. A student was looking for books on weather.
15. Two students were looking for the new books.
16. A student was looking for an article from the New York Times from 1950.
17. A student wanted to know where to go to get his laptop certified for use in the classroom. Huh?
18. (Phone) A patron was looking from a guy names Alston Noah or Noah Alston. He was in the Confederate Army, 3rd Cavalry in Texas during the Civil War. The guy does not exist. Strange call.
    
19. A student was looking for the reserves.
20. A student was looking for the reserves.
21. A student was looking for a mailbox.

Not as crazy as it was last week. Even got several real reference questions. :) I'll be back Sunday night.

Reference Questions, 1/23/10

The first Saturday of the semester and here I am on the reference desk. Oh what fun. ;) At least I'm sitting on the low desk. Jason wanted to stay on the high desk. Fine with me. It should be a slow shift anyway.

1. A student needed to reset her Novell username and password. I sent her to the SuperLab.
2. (Phone) A question about the library's hours.
3. (Phone) A librarian from GPL called and wanted to know if a GTCC student could come and use our computers to work on a math lab for a class. That is what the guest computers are for. :)
Moved up to the high desk so Jason could go grab some lunch.

4. (Phone) Gerald called to check on something Jason had called him about.
5. A patron needed a username and password for a guest computer.
6. A student wanted to know if this was the reference section and if she was allowed to go in and look for a book. These people always make me smile. They respect the books.
7. (Chat) A student wanted to know if they should use the same topic for two different assignments.
8. A WSSU nursing student was looking for books on nursing theory.
9. A nursing student was looking for research articles on art therapy and children.
   

This may have been the slowest shift i have ever had during a semester. I am not complaining.

Reference Questions, 1/20/10

My first shift of the semester. I am now on during the day, Wednesdays from 11-2. Let the questioning and the search for textbooks in the library begin. :)

1. A student wanted to know where LIBR 032 is located.
2. A student wanted to know where the bookstore is located.
3. A student wanted to know where LIBR 032 is located.
4. A student wanted to know where LIBR 032 is located.
5. A student wanted to know where the bookstore is located.
6. A student was looking for reserves.
7. A student wanted to know where LIBR 032 is located.
8. A student was looking for reserves.
9. A student was looking for a book called The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
10. A student was looking for some textbooks. He got lucky, we had them; older editions of course.
11. A student had a question about free printing.
12. A student was looking for a computer with a webcam.
13. A student was looking for the Science Building.
14. A student had a question about logging into the ref computers.
15. A student wanted to know where LIBR 032 is located.
16. A student wanted to know where LIBR 032 is located.
17. A student was looking for computers that she could print from.
18. A student wanted to know where LIBR 032 is located.
19. A student had a question about printing.
20. A student was looking for reserves.
21. A student was looking for a textbook.
22. A student was looking for a private study area and the career services center.
23. A student was looking for the library administration office.
24. A student was looking for the library administration office.
25. A student was looking for Tower 4.
26. A student was looking for the library administration office.
27. A student was having trouble logging into the system.
28. A student was looking for a textbook.
29. (Chat) A student had a question about printing. They wanted to know if you could print into the SuperLab from the reference area. That is a no.
30. A student was having trouble with the hole puncher.
31. A student wanted to know how to look up textbooks.
32. A student was looking for a textbook.
33. A student had a question about connecting to the wireless network, and also wanted to know where the bathroom is located.
34. A student was looking for the APA citation guide.
35. A student was looking for resources on free trade and textiles and apparel.
36. A student was looking for reserves.
37. A student wanted to know where LIBR 032 is located.

Not a bad first shift. Just mostly directional and textbook questions. I'm up for the first Saturday of the semester. We'll see how that goes.