3. Instantaneous gratification

[deborah]

Continued from Ease of self service.

3. Instantaneous gratification

Here the librarian can help infrastructurally (writing better search tools, providing proactive instruction, improving the metadata). But in this day and age, users are accustomed to scheduling themselves so that when they need to find something, the needed now. The need it from their desktops, without moving, without picking up the phone, and without speaking with another human being. I'm not sure there's any assistance in librarian can given that situation besides providing the infrastructure and education before the moment of need.

So that was my long blathering. Thoughts?

Comments

Re: I dunno

[deborah]

I found IM reference *very* frustrating. The patrons -- usually 18-22 year olds who are comfortable with 20 AIM window -- would happily wander off in the middle of something while I was asking them questions. Frequently a reference interview would take longer than my shift, and the user wouldn't be around for me to explain that someone new was coming in. And yet all while I was monitoring the window for new IMs, my number one priority was supposed to be manning the desk and being alert for physically present patrons, followed by phone reference. It was enough to drive a girl mad.