[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

We coud get together during the wek and I can show you Peldon. Text or call me on 0428 880577 and we can make a time that suits you.

It’s easy to do, don’t worry 🙂

Rob

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Thanks for your informative and interesting post Ruth. The librarians and library staff doing this course have insights into how reference services work that give a really useful perspective that’s helping me to understand this area, that I’m pretty sure I might have taken for granted in the past. I’m loving the forums for that reason. Like Katherine, I’d like to know more about research libraries having read your post and will follow up. Great to know that QAGOMA provided such a positive experience – as someone interested in aboriginal art and artists, particularly in Queensland, I’ll feel less reticent about approaching the reference librarian now! Your statistics about increasing mobile use are also interesting – on Friday I listened to a lecture about human/computer interaction in IFN616 Online Information Services that predicted the demise of the mobile phone and laptops, as we know them today, in favour of wearable devices like watches and glasses. I just hope reference librarians are still reachable as I wink and blink into my digital specs!

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Ruth, I just thought I should add – in hindsight, I can see where my post could be interpreted as arguing for reference librarians to ONLY teach people to fish but that was absolutely not my intention. I was really trying to argue that the two things are complementary. And, as Chris rightlly argued, there is certainly a place for classes in “fishing” for the more determined fishermen among us, where teaching could be done in a more intensive and focussed manner than in the reference environment.

Cheers!

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Great to have your understanding Debbie! I think that’s right – students like us just know that we need help, especially in the beginning, and I don’t think that mature age students are alone in this. Frank Menchaca mentions this idea specifically in Harriet Verma’s article and his comment was the starting point for my reflection. It hit a nerve with me and I immediately knew that I wanted to write a point of view reflection about how lost students can feel in this age of information overload. Having librarians on hand who can help seems so important, and reference librarians are the first port of call for many of us. I also want to feel that I have learned something about finding information for myself, as well as having an answer found for me – perhaps not everyone feels that way. With reference work expanding in nature however I think the comment that librarians need to find ways of working smarter rather than harder rings true.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 8 months ago by Robynne Kilborne Blake.

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Thanks Ruth, it’s great to have the perspective of working librarians.

As you might have guessed I don’t have a library background and this piece was written as a “point of view” – that is, my own point of view as a student who hasn’t studied for a long time. Maybe it’s to do with being a mature aged student but I find I lean heavily on reference librarians. I do recall though being an undergraduate and wandering through the stacks hoping to magically “discover” the correct answer lurking in the shadows 🙂 Thankfully things have changed, and with the help of librarians! As I mentioned in the Twitter chat, I would love to have a librarian spend some time with each of my classes right at the beginning of semester to provide some guidance. Since classes at the beginning often elicit higher attendance rates one would have a better chance of reaching more students.

Whichever way this goes, I’m all in favour of reference librarians!

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

I really liked your post Stacey – it made me feel that my fear of wasting people’s time wasn’t limited to me alone! I find virtual reference service at the QUT library really helpful for that reason and certainly, as an online student for part of the time. However, as you say, there are times when a face to face interview cannot be replaced – I think the nuances are quite different and different messages can be relayed and received in person, especially when you are “stuck”. So it would definitely be comforting to think that the the 2 services could exist side by side. Let’s hope so!

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Thanks for your comments Chris and I’m sorry I didn’t note your comments on the Twitter chat – it was a pretty wild and wooly ride trying to keep up with everyone! My post is simply a cry from the heart – as a student after many years away I just know I need help and the reference desk is always my first port of call when I get stuck and can’t unstick myself. I’d be so happy to attend classes in research skills at the library if I knew when and where they were available as an alternative to badgering the reference librarians. Maybe you’re right and that raising awareness of the existing services is all that is required. All I know is that I need librarians!

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Hi Lisa, definitely understand how you are feeling. When I started my undergraduate degree the law school had no computers at all and only in my final year was 1 computer made available to all of the students in the school! I learned about technology on the job and what a difference it makes – doing this Masters course is light years away from those early years. Thanks for sharing your feelings, it sure hits a nerve with me. I’m also a reluctant Twitter user but already I’m finding a lot of information about libraries and librarianship that I might never have discovered otherwise. It’s going to be worth it so hang in there!

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Thanks for your post Chris.

Being a pro-active seems to to be an essential part of a librarian’s job. It can’t be easy anticipating every user need but, on the other hand, an inter-library loan seemed like an obvious next step in meeting your request. The response time was fast but if the content of the response isn’t great that creates an instant negative to balance it out.

I wonder how many jobs that librarian was trying to juggle at once?

If answering chat questions was just added on to the many things he/she had to do without providing sufficient time to do so perhaps that could have contributed to the problem.

Thanks again!

 

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Hi Lisa, crochet is an excellent super power! I haven’t had time for crafts over the past few years but I’m definitely going to give it a red hot go this year 🙂

Looking forward to seeing you in class, crochet needle at the ready 😉

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Hi Georgia, I’d love that super power too! When you figure out how to do it can you post or tweet it ASAP???? 😉

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Hi Kym, hope to see you in class tonight. It was nice to meet you last time.

Don’t ever let those pesky non-perfectionists get you down! Getting it right the first time is rarely a bad thing.

See you soon.

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Great superpower Leena! Excited supportive people are my favourite kind – they can make things seem do-able when your own enthusiasm starts to flag a bit. Keep it up 🙂

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Hi Will, I totally understand how you feel about Twitter but I too am going to give it a concerted try this semester. Good luck!

Love your super power, especially the part about letting her sleep – that’s definitely part of it 😉

[Robynne Kilborne Blake]

Reading is absolutely the best super power. I’ve moved countries and my books have just arrived in my container – soooo happy!

Best of luck with your job in a fine arts related field Steph. I’d love to do that too, so many books, so much art, ao little time 😉

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