Question for Sept. 20: Librarians, what's going on?

["Steve Curwood" <SCurwood@aol.com>]

One of the biggest problems of using the internet for research, of
course, is browsing. The limitless nature of internet browsing is
frustrating, compared to the act of looking over a bookshelf to
check out what might be of help on a given subject. Ironically
there is more likely to be a real person on hand near the
bookshelves--a librarian--than on the internet. Librarians can
synthesize all the needs that are raised for today's agenda: what
people want and where to find it. So today's question has several
parts, with the first specifically aimed at those people who are
being asked, you librarians. Please tell us the kinds of requests
you are getting, and share some anecdotes of the requests and the
outcomes.


Steve Curwood
NPR's Living On Earth