Librarian's service saves some walk across campus
Elizabeth Ellis: for The Muleskinner
Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Life & Leisure
For students who have classes in the Ward Edwards Building, heading over to the library can be a long walk. But now, the library is coming to them.
Every Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., librarian Carol Smith can be found on the second-floor landing of Ward Edwards waiting to answer students' questions.
"Students walking to their classes can't miss me," Smith said.
"Librarian in the House," was started by Smith last semester, and she had 17 consultations. Smith said she will answer any questions from simple questions that students may have as they walk between classes about an MLA citation to sitting down and helping students figure out where to go for research questions.
"Librarians love to answer questions. It's a calling," Smith said.
And, if she can't answer the question, chances are she'll know who you can talk to. There are librarians for every major area, there to help students with major-specific questions.
"The library (and finding things) should be as easy as a Google search bar in the sky," Smith said. And that's her goal-to demystify the research process.
"Students don't really think about research," Ursula Harris, a management major, said. "(Smith) was extremely helpful. Things that would have taken me days and days instead took hours after I used the skills she taught me."
The consultations are open to any students in any major who need help. Smith is hard to miss, sitting on the second-floor landing instead of in an office.
"One of the most difficult things is to ask a question," Smith said. "I'm here to try to help facilitate that, to make that first question all the easier. Because once you start, it's hard to stop."
This is the second time the library has tried an outreach program. About four years ago, the library tried an outreach program, with a librarian in the Union. Unfortunately, it didn't take, but Smith is optimistic about "Librarian in the House" being more successful.
"Students go to the Union to eat and relax, not do homework," Smith said. "Being in Ward Edwards, students are on their way to or from class and are more likely to sit down and talk with me."
Depending on how successful this program is, other departments may someday have their own 'Librarian in the House,' as well.
However, there are multiple ways to reach someone from the JCK Library for help on the other six days out of the week. The library is open most week days until late evening, they reply to emails, instant messaging and even text messaging.
"If there was one thing I would say to the student body, it would be to simply ask a question," Smith said.
Every Wednesday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., librarian Carol Smith can be found on the second-floor landing of Ward Edwards waiting to answer students' questions.
"Students walking to their classes can't miss me," Smith said.
"Librarian in the House," was started by Smith last semester, and she had 17 consultations. Smith said she will answer any questions from simple questions that students may have as they walk between classes about an MLA citation to sitting down and helping students figure out where to go for research questions.
"Librarians love to answer questions. It's a calling," Smith said.
And, if she can't answer the question, chances are she'll know who you can talk to. There are librarians for every major area, there to help students with major-specific questions.
"The library (and finding things) should be as easy as a Google search bar in the sky," Smith said. And that's her goal-to demystify the research process.
"Students don't really think about research," Ursula Harris, a management major, said. "(Smith) was extremely helpful. Things that would have taken me days and days instead took hours after I used the skills she taught me."
The consultations are open to any students in any major who need help. Smith is hard to miss, sitting on the second-floor landing instead of in an office.
"One of the most difficult things is to ask a question," Smith said. "I'm here to try to help facilitate that, to make that first question all the easier. Because once you start, it's hard to stop."
This is the second time the library has tried an outreach program. About four years ago, the library tried an outreach program, with a librarian in the Union. Unfortunately, it didn't take, but Smith is optimistic about "Librarian in the House" being more successful.
"Students go to the Union to eat and relax, not do homework," Smith said. "Being in Ward Edwards, students are on their way to or from class and are more likely to sit down and talk with me."
Depending on how successful this program is, other departments may someday have their own 'Librarian in the House,' as well.
However, there are multiple ways to reach someone from the JCK Library for help on the other six days out of the week. The library is open most week days until late evening, they reply to emails, instant messaging and even text messaging.
"If there was one thing I would say to the student body, it would be to simply ask a question," Smith said.
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