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.