The Act of Referring

The readings this week concerned users and how information professionals react or regard them in their professional practice. They were a tidy mixture of one short and humorous looking into personal information economy, a different article that was a narrative for a Museum controversy I've read about in past history classes, and two conventional articles that were tied to the reference desk.

After reading an article in 818 that misrepresented the Galileo Affair and even placed Copernicus, a Catholic priest, after Galileo, it was refreshing that the author avoided the erroneous claim that the Enola Gay bombed Nagasaki even though her crew did. Perhaps that plane, Bock's Car, was even less noteworthy and faced the scrap heap or was sold to de Gaulle before the 'Bomber Gap' began. The article rightfully pointed out administrative errors that exacerbated an almost inevitable problem but it rankles me when groups, whether they be veterans or museum administrators, refuse to let facts get in the way of their beliefs.

Perhaps because of my limited reference experience, or past readings on its effectiveness, but I have very little faith in the reference interview. The cognitive theory certainly has a place in reference and discussion can only enhance service but patrons will rarely sit for the whole spiel, especially the exit interview, when they are there with a specific purpose and won't see the advantage to themselves and others if they spend a few minutes telling the librarian what they did correctly. Furthermore, staff might be chained to their desk with patrons in person or remotely. Speaking of being chained...

 The Elmborg article struck an interesting chord about the similar aims of composition instruction and research but neglected the significance of instructional context. Composition instruction, and research instruction for that matter, either in a writing center or a coursework dedicated class, have students locked in their seats for a set period of time. Some compositional instruction is one-on-one but this often includes a finished product that needs touching up. For guidance in basic composition, or basic research, it may be quite wasteful for a qualified staff member to give instruction that universities give to competent bachelors and masters students.