Thank you for all who responded. Most people said the biggest two hints are in
showing them how to find books using the Library of Congress numbers and to remind
them that the reference librarians are there to help. Some of my hints are.....
1. pack small so you don't have to carry so much around with you. For example, you
don't want to juggle a huge purse, a coat, notebook, pencils, cd's, and books
around everywhere you go.
2. bring plenty of dimes for the copier's.
3. bring a small notebook and pencil to write down LC numbers
4. LC numbers do a better job of keeping all of the information about one subject
in one location. If you find one book, look around on the shelf in the same
location and you will probably find many more.
5. Take a quick look through the book first to see if it is exactly what you need
before you check it out.
6. If there is only one chapter you need out of a book, consider just making notes
from that chapter or photocopying the pages instead of checking out the whole book
(this is especially true if the book is over 500 pages long.)
7. Make sure you write down all of the information for your citations page.
8. Ask for help. The reference librarians are there to help you.
9. Ask the right questions. Many times, you need to know what you want to find to
be able to ask the right questions.
10. Take a map of the library and study it before hand. Keep a map with you. If
you struggle to read maps, take a friend.
11. Realize that popular magazines and journals are different. Many librarians
will have the journals bound and placed along the books.
12. Schedule a tour of the library if you are in a group. Pay attention to the
tour.
13. Look at the rules and procedures for the library. Make sure you are aware of
them beforehand.
14. Know how to use the databases. Many of the databases let you send the
information back to your email account. Use this instead of trying to print off
pages and pages of information.
15. The reference librarians are your biggest friend towards finding what you
need. They are there to help you. Let them do their job.
16. Remember a university library is to study. They don't like it when you are
loud and annoying. And no, they don't want to hear how "hot" they are from a group
of high schoolers.
17. Do what can't be done from your home computer first. For example, if we offer
the same databases from school, save using them for last. Use the resources that
we don't have.
18. Cell phones turned OFF!
19. Find a computer. This is often a task just in itself. Use it quickly and then
get off. Don't hog it because you want to play around. Realize there are several
other people who need to use it too.
20. Be polite and on your best behavior.
Anyway, those are just a few of my suggestions for them. I have added a few that
were suggested from many of you on the listserv. I do spend quite a bit of time
going over the difference between a dewey number and a library of congress numbers.
I also show them what a microfiche and microfilm are (I don't spend as much time
with it as I use to as most stuff is getting digitized instead of on microfilm).
Some one shared that in their local colleges and universities, students are able to
get a copy card. This is similiar to a credit card that students can purchase and
then use to make copies. I haven't seen one before but that sounds like a great
idea.
Have a great weekend. Brenda Lemon Chapman
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