I would like to share an experience that I had at a library the other day. I live in a large metropolitan area where there are many library branches, over 60 to be exact. One day when I needed a book for class I went into my local branch and requested a single book. At the time the library was pretty busy but I was helped in an efficient manner by the librarian. She easily looked up the book I needed, found the branch that it was at and requested it for me. She then told me that it would usually take four days to receive the book and I left. This transaction took all of 2 minutes. FYI I received my book three days later.
Flash foreword to the next library visit…I went to the same library with a list of books that I needed for class, however I had done my research. I printed every title with the authors name and the branch that had the books available. This information all came from the library’s own catalogue. List in hand I happily went down to my local branch foolishly assuming that I would receive assistance.
(more…)