|
|
Open discussion
Anita Cohen-Williams (IACAGC@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU)
Wed, 2 Mar 1994 17:09:26 -0700
type of illiteracy that is rampant in today's universities. Many professors,
and graduate students, have no idea on how to properly use a university
library. Granted, this problem is NOT limited to anthropologists, but
definitely concerns them.
University professors seem to regard the library as 1) a place where
students go to check out books; and 2) a study area where books can be also
placed on reserve. It seems to be totally above their heads that major
research can be accomplished at these institutions, and when these same
professors bother to send their T.A.s or R.A.s in to do their research, the
bibliographies that they provide are usually so confused as to be almost
worthless.
Many university and college libraries have a self-guided tour booklet
available, or failing that, a series of tours at the beginning of each
semester to acquaint people with the services of the library. Most libraries
have a library instruction department that will give personal tours and/or
instruction to professors who request them.
Is it too much to ask that faculty become better acquainted with their
respective libraries so that when questions are asked of the reference
librarians, we can serve them better? Or is this yet another rhetorical
question?
Anita Cohen-Williams; Reference Services; Hayden Library
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1006
PHONE: (602) 965-4579 FAX: (602) 965-9169
BITNET: IACAGC@ASUACAD INTERNET: IACAGC@ASUVM.INRE.ASU.EDU
|