Ask a Librarian March Madness Month

Where each day brings a surprising fact, a fun activity, or an Ask a Librarian award … and a chance to brag about our incredible services!

 And the Ask a Librarian Award goes to…

 

Okay, just to clarify – the Collaborative Desk, which opens at 10am, closes at midnight Sunday thru Thursday, and at 5 pm Friday and Saturday.  The Academic Desk is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday thru Friday.  Got it?  Good!  Now just find one of those non-wobbly office chairs, lower the fluorescents, and get out your Jiffy Pop…

Question:  What is the Best Campfire Story by Ask a Librarian participating-library staff?

Answer:   This one by Rhonda Kitchens of State College of Florida – Manatee/Sarasota:

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It was a dark and stormy night…

In preparation for State College of Florida – Manatee/Sarasota migrating to the PRIMO-interface (for LINCCweb 2.0), I worked a few hours on the academic desk… at night… long after the academic desk actually closes (at 4pm).  I wanted to see how the migration was affecting some users.  One night, I realized I had gone too far when I had 3 active requests up at the same time.  I misread a patron’s explanation of her professor’s requirement for “6 Bib. References”.  I read:  6 Biblical References.  From there, I waxed poetic on Edith Wharton’s literary biblical references, nutrition suggestions from the Old Testament and was heading towards sage advice for family life from the prophets.  In fact, I felt at the very top of my game.  However, the stunned patron let me know her college wasn’t really religious.  Rereading her query, I could only imagine what she thought Ethan Frome had to do with writing a pro/con paper.

To the men in white coats, Rhonda managed to utter three ominous words: “Alone… statewide… academic.”

~

Rhonda, we feel your pain!  But we just looove your consistent enthusiasm, and the initiative you take to share your comments, compliments, questions, and campfire stories.  (Hint, hint everyone – share your stories and thoughts with us.  We want to hear from you more often!)  Thanks for creeping us out, Rhonda, and for your continued & thoughtful engagement.  Watch for a secret prize to arrive on your doorstep in the next few weeks…

Word of Mouth Marketing (WOMM) – Spread the Word!
Inform your patrons with these talking points:
· For live help when you’re not in our library, visit askalibrarian.org (or find the link on our library’s website).
· You can use Ask a Librarian for free.
· Ask a Librarian is a website where you can go to get your questions answered by a real librarian.
· Ask a Librarian is open until midnight ET Sunday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. ET Friday and Saturday.
· If Ask a Librarian isn’t open for chat, you can always email your question to us, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.