Re: broad questions

[Joy Kingsolver <joykings@MCS.NET>]

Roy & list,

The archives here is part of an institution that includes a museum
& a library, so whenever a new exhibit goes up, we get a lot of these
broad questions from people wanting to know more.  The library puts
together bibliographies in advance to hand out to visitors, and I've
started keeping folders with handy information on further research, so that
when people call I can easily give them some references.  People seem grateful
for any kind of help like this, and it makes it easier for me as well.

The expectation that we can just email people whatever they need
is a whole other nightmare.  Someone called the other day, asked
for about 100 pages to be photocopied, and said, "could you just
email that to me?"  I always count to 10 before answering, but I don't
really have a solution.

Joy Kingsolver
Chicago Jewish Archives

>These are just two examples; I get at least half a dozen questions
>like this a week.  Most of them I answer by saying there are lots of
>resources on this topic in your local library; why don't you go there
>and look them up?  Nicely, of course.
>
>It really seems that the email and web era have greatly increased
>this kind of question; we used to get them in the mail but not
>nearly as many.  Livin' in the modern age, I guess...
>
>

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to listserv@listserv.muohio.edu
      In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
                    *or*:  UNSUB ARCHIVES
To post a message, send e-mail to archives@listserv.muohio.edu

Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html

Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>