ROOTS-L Archives

From: Network Planning <>
Subject: Library Reference Desks
Date: Thu, 14 Sep 89 11:50:39 EDT

> Anytime anyone needs addresses, call your nearest large library.
> Example: I have family who were farmers so I wanted to try to
> see if I could write the Grange. I called our reference dept.
> here at UB got the address and wrote them. Very helpful and handy.
>
Ahmen.... I may be spoiled working at a research University and living
in Philadephia, but...

Virtually every University or College Library, and most large Public
libraries staff a "Reference Desk". Most large corporations also
maintain their own libraries with reference departments.
These desks are stocked with all kinds of useful stuff -
almanacs, dictionaries, gazzetters, indexes, etc.
They specialize in settling "barroom bets" - "who hit more home
runs - Babe Ruth or Muhamad Ali? - and "normal, but obscure" information,
such as the address of the Senator from such-and-such a place.

In smaller or specialized libraries, you will find that the normal
librarian is the only one on staff, but is usually willing to answer
the simple query - often, by being able to refer you to the "best place
for the answer".

> Are my messages coming thru O.K. Before they weren't and I don't
> know what I was doing wrong. Let me know if you get this, please.
> Good luck!!

Yes, Betty, in case you didn't guess.

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• Library Reference Desks by Network Planning <>