We have a number of curmudgeon faculty, who refuse to learn to use the
computerized resources for themselves; they much prefer allowing us to
dazzle them with our mastery of all things computer.  There is a young
woman whom I know each one of us in the Reference Dept. has helped
multiple times.  She is always in need of being shown how to use the
catalog or one of the many databases.  We have patiently shown her time
after time and I am sure we will continue to show her for as long as she
continues to attend classes here.  But she isn't the "best" story.  We
have another young American woman who signed up for our Research
Consultation service 4 separate times, all for the same topic, because
we weren't helping her find what she needed.  All in all, we weren't
surprised that she wasn't quite getting it, since she thought
Philadelphia, PA was a foreign country, and her vocabulary didn't
include the word "previously".  What did surprise us is that this person
is a junior.

Happy holidays to all.

Frances Piesbergen
Ref. Leadership Team/
Govt Docs Coordinator
Room 320 (MC 60)            Dep.#0326
Thomas Jefferson Library     ph. (314) 516-5084
Univ. of MO - St. Louis       fax: (314) 516-5853
One University Blvd.            e-m:  sfrpies@umsl.edu
St. Louis, MO  63121

-----Original Message-----
From: SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum
[mailto:SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of Max Shenk
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2004 1:17 PM
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Time to lighten up!

O.K., serialisters... I had something happen today which I wanted to
share, and I thought it'd be a good chance for everyone to lighten up
and post their Amazing But True Patron stories.

Mine is:

I work at a community college library periodicals desk. This morning, a
student came to the desk and asked if she could see "The Harvard
Journal."

"We don't have a title called The Harvard Journal," I said. "Do you
need the Harvard Business Review? Harvard Educational Review? Harvard
Health Letter?" I sent her back over to the reference desk to get more
information, assuming that she'd come back with a citation from the
indices.

Five minutes later she comes back again: "I need Current
Controversies."

"We don't have anything called Current Controversies... there's a title
called Issues And Controversies, but it's shelved in the reference
section."

She goes back to the reference desk...

Five minutes later, she comes back a third time...

"I need Harvard Education Review."

"What issue?"

"Uhhh... fall... 2000-something."

She went over to the reference desk a FOURTH time and this time didn't
return. I assume she found what she was looking for online.

Will she be able to grasp the concept of "Do you want fries with that?"
is my question.

Your turn.

Max Shenk
Periodicals Assistant
Brendlinger Library
Montgomery County Community College
Blue Bell, PA  19422